The Beatitudes
TRANSLATION
(1) And seeing the multitude, he went up the mountainside. And when he sat down, his disciples came to him. (2) And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, (3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (6) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. (7) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (8) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (9) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called ‘Sons of God.’ (10) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(11) “Blessed are you when others reproach you and persecute you and ascribe all kinds of evil to you falsely for my sake. (12) Rejoice and be glad, for great will be your reward in heaven. In this way they persecuted the prophets who came before you.”
OBSERVATIONS
The nine-fold repetition of “blessed” in these twelve verses along with the repetition of “for they/for theirs” seven times distinguished this introduction to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, often called “the Beatitudes.” “Kingdom of heaven” (vss. 3 & 10), “righteousness” (vss. 6 & 10), “God” (vss. 8 & 9), and “persecuted” (three times in vss. 10,. 11, & 12) were also repeated.
OUTLINE
I. Jesus declared a series of blessings for those disciples who abandon their own pursuits to follow him. (1-10)
II. Jesus declared blessed those disciples who experience persecution for his sake. (11 & 12)
IDEA STATEMENT
Those who abandon their own pursuits to follow Jesus as his disciples despite persecution will experience untold blessings both in this life and in the life to come.
APPLICATION
The word most English versions render as “blessed” is not an easy word to translate. The Greek word “makarios” can mean “fortunate” or “enviable.” A phrase that might better convey the actual significance of this word in its context is “O, the joy of” or “O, the delights of” those to whom God extends his benefits. It certainly should not be translated “happy” or “lucky” implying that chance or fate is in any way involved. Perhaps a phrase like “God favors those who” captures the meaning even more effectively.
J. B. Phillips, an Anglican clergyman and author of the paraphrase, The New Testament in Modern English, suggested the following set of “Beatitudes of Man” that stand in stark contrast to the lives Jesus called his disciples to pursue: “Happy are the pushers, for they get on in the world. Happy are the hard-boiled, for they never let life hurt them. Happy are they who complain, for they get their own way in the end. Happy are the blasé, for they never worry over their sins. Happy are the slave drivers, for they get results. Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world, for they know their way around. Happy are the troublemakers, for they make people take notice of them.”
The eight “beatitudes” which Christ prescribed for his followers have a certain logic to their order. We are to begin the life of discipleship by acknowledging our spiritual poverty and respond to that poverty by mourning over our utter neediness. Such humility leads us to a spirit of “meekness,” that is, a yearning for training and growth as well as a hungering and thirsting after righteousness which we can never find in ourselves. As we yield to the Lord’s working in our lives, he produces in us mercy toward others, personal purity of heart, a desire to become peacemakers, and a willingness to endure whatever persecution may come our way for his sake. In essence, the more we pursue Jesus in a discipleship relationship, the more we grow to be like him.