The Sermon on the Mount is widely considered Christ’s most famous address. Within the message that He shared with a large number of followers, Christ shared some statements known as “The Beatitudes.” This collection of powerful statements gives us greater insight into the attitudes and principles that God wants us to apply to our own lives. Today, let’s take a deeper dive into these statements of Christ and learn more about what they mean for us.
Matthew 5:3-12 (NIV)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kind of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Within these 10 verses, we find some of the most powerful teachings of Christ. The Sermon on the Mount, which takes up three chapters in Saint Matthew’s Gospel and is also discussed in Saint Luke’s Gospel. While the Sermon on the Mount is widely regarded as Christ’s most famous teaching, the Beatitudes, which are listed in the verses we just read are considered the most poignant, powerful words that Christ ever spoke.
It’s easy to quickly read through these verses without taking the time to consider what they truly mean. Today, we’re going to break down the Beatitudes so we can better understand the message that Christ was trying to convey to His people. Understanding these verses will not only allow us to better understand how to be effective disciples, but it will also give us greater insight into the message the Christ was conveying to His followers on that day, and in turn, conveying to us.
In order to better understand these lessons, we will take a look at each one individually.
Matthew 5:3 (NIV)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The phrase “poor in spirit” speaks to the need that we understand our own spiritual poverty. Before we come to know Christ, we have nothing to offer. Fortunately, God did not call us into relationship with Him based on anything that we could bring to the table. Instead, He wants a relationship with us despite our own spiritual lack.
When someone is poor in spirit and they realize it, they recognize their need for a Savior. The “Kingdom of Heaven” as referenced in these verses refers to membership into the family of God. When we recognize our sinful nature, we become “poor in spirit” and find acceptance into God’s family.
Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
All of us have experienced times of mourning. When we lose a loved one or face seasons of significant adversity, we often find ourselves going through the mourning process. This promise from Christ not only speaks to those moments, but also recognizes the mourning that is brought about by our recognition of our own sinful nature.
When we realize how our sin has hurt the heart of God, mourning is a natural result. Whether we’re mourning the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the end of a relationship, or our own sinful nature, God promises to comfort us. There are multiple verses of Scripture that speak to God’s comforting nature for His people who are mourning.
Matthew 5:5 (NIV)
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
There are a lot of misconceptions around the idea of being meek. In today’s culture, we often view those who are meek as individuals who silently sit back and allow themselves to be mistreated. That’s not meekness. Instead, the type of meekness that Christ was promoting in this verse is about being humble in the eyes of God.
As we’ve already established, none of us brought anything to the table when we entered into a relationship with Christ. However, it’s important that we remain humble over the life of that relationship. Even on our “good” days, we are not deserving of God’s grace. However, He wants to give it to us. It’s equally important that we never put ourselves above others because we are members of God’s family.
Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Having a hunger and thirst for righteousness means that you have an inner longing for the things of God. When you look at the relationships in your life, you probably want to know more about the other person than you know now. For instance, if you are in a romantic relationship, you probably love finding out new things about your partner. Our intimate relationship with God involves us constantly seeking to know Him more.
God has promised us that if we truly crave more of His righteousness, He will fill us with it. When you crave more of God by committing to study His Word more, He will open your eyes so you can better understand Him.
Matthew 5:7 (NIV)
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
All of us need God’s forgiveness every day. No matter how long you have been a Christian, there are still mistakes that you make on a daily basis. God promises us that if we will extend mercy to others, we can receive mercy from God.
There are other passages in Scripture where Christ says that if we forgive others, God will forgive us. Those statements build on this foundational truth. The key to receiving the mercy that we need from God is found in extending that same kind of mercy to others.
Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
The process of being purified is just that, a process. When we initially come to Christ, our hearts are riddled with the darkness of sin. Over the duration of our relationship with Him, we become purified and live righteous lives.
God promises that those who allow Him to purify them will one day see God. The eternal life in God’s presence that has been promised to those who allow themselves to be purified from the inside out by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”
God’s people are called to bring peace to the world that we live in. If there’s one thing that we could all agree on, it’s that this world needs more peace. The peace that we have as a result of our relationship with Christ is meant to be shared with those around us. Part of being God’s child involves creating peace when and where you can. While you may not be able to create world peace, you can cultivate peace in your relationships with other people.
Matthew 5:10 (NIV)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
The world is filled with Christians who are being persecuted for their faith. While we all have our own examples of persecution, it’s important to remember those who are imprisoned and even killed for their faith in Christ. They are promised a place in God’s eternal family because of the pain that they have faced in this life.
Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV)
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kind of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Finally, even if the persecution you face doesn’t involve physical torment, there is a reward for you in Heaven. As Christians, we are subject to mockery from the culture that we live in. If you endure those things, God has promised you a great reward in Heaven.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to practice the beatitudes in my own life. Bless those who are being persecuted around the globe for their faith. In Christ’s name, Amen.