THE BEATITUDES

 

THE BEATITUDES

1Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3” Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4“Blessed is those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5“Blessed is the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6“Blessed is those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7“Blessed is the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8“Blessed is the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10“Blessed is those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you”.

MATTHEW 5:1-12

COMMENTARY

On one occasion, while Jesus retired to pray to a hill, in Galilee (Luke 6:12,17), He saw the multitude of people in need, coming to Him for consolation and healing (Luke 6:19) and having mercy on them, He not only healed them, but also taught them like this:

1 = BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT

Jesus is not referring only, as some modern Christians think, to the acknowledgement of our lack of possibility to please GOD through our own efforts. But to the comparison of a spiritual state of need, or lack of guidance, comparable to material poverty (Luke 6:20).

Blessed are those who are not bound to any attachments that prevents them from being open to listen and accept the message of God, as the poor are open to the help of anyone who shows them mercy.

2 – BLESSES ARE THOSE WHO MOURN

Blessed are those who are victims of injustice and disgrace, because GOD will do them justice and supply them.

3 – BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

Blessed are those who are humble, because GOD will entrust the new earth to those who are free of personal ambitions and rely on God.

4 – BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Blessed are those who desire righteousness on earth, because GOD will bring the righteousness they desire.

5 – BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

Blessed are those who forgive those who act against them, because equally GOD will be merciful with them (Matthew 6:14).

6 – BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART

Blessed are those who do not have malice in their souls, because they will be admitted into GOD’s presence.

7 – BLESSED ARE THE PEACE MAKERS

Blessed are those who love peace, and promote understanding and tolerance among humans, because that is exactly what GOD wants from humanity, to live in peace and love each other. For that reason, they will be called ‘Children of God’, because they desire and do as their heavenly Father desires.

8 – BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE

Blessed are the ones who suffer persecution for upholding righteousness, because they love GOD’s will, and therefore GOD will grant them salvation

9 – BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN OTHERS REVILE YOU ON MY ACCOUNT

This continues on from the last beatitude.

Not only those who by nature love Justice and uphold it against all odds, but specially those who do it because that is the will of GOD and have submitted to Christ’s rule.

Blessed are specially those Christians who are reviled and persecuted, through violence and lies and false testimonies, because they will share in the same blessing of the old prophets of GOD who suffered persecution for the sake of YHWH.

They will not only inherit all the other blessings mentioned above, but also a GREAT REWARD, apart from all that, from LORD YHWH Himself.

(Matthew 10:39)

LORD JESUS also mentioned a series of condemnations not mentioned here in Matthew’s account, but it is in the gospel of Luke 6:24-26, that clearly contrast the virtues mentioned in the Beatitudes.

It is important to note here, that Lord JESUS is referring to the personal desire of justice and innocence of every man. Not to the imputed Justice of the redeemed. Because with this JESUS lets us know that the concepts of justice, righteousness and honesty are born from the sense of God’s will printed by GOD in our inner self at birth (Romans 2:15).

To long for justice and truth are natural qualities in all humans in their natural state, before they become corrupted by sin in adult life.

But then, LORD JESUS, makes the point of the last Beatitude, where exalts the believers in His Name, to the highest reward in Glory, including all those mentioned before that.

Omar Flores.