Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV)
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, 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 for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 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 revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Explanation:
This passage comes from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, and this particular group of verses is known as “The Beatitudes,” from the Latin word beatus, which means “blessed, happy.” This “happy” describes more than a temporary emotion; it describes a constant state of well-being that can only come from a relationship with God. Jesus is speaking to His disciples, who have already made a commitment to Him as the Messiah, as distinguished from the crowds, who were merely curious about this teacher whose ideas turned the teachings of Jewish leaders upside down. They believed that lineage, power, and ritual set them apart, but Jesus tells them here that it is their need for God, their vulnerability, that does so.
Jesus’s purpose was to impress upon His disciples the tension of knowing the power and presence of God, and living in our everyday lives. Each verse is an example of trading something in the here and now for something better in eternity. He points every one of the above people groups back to their need for God. The “poor in spirit” are simply those who recognize they need God’s help, “spiritual beggars” as one source put it. “Mourners” are those who suffer spiritual, emotional, or financial loss from their own sin, but then recognize the need for God’s forgiveness and healing. The “meek” are the gentle souls who humbly trust in God to direct all of their outcomes, instead of forcing their own. Those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” acknowledge that God is the ONLY source of justice; they are satisfied with this relationship and trust God will handle everything perfectly as only He can. He reminds us that “mercy” goes both ways, and that the “pure in heart” pursue uprightness in every aspect of their lives. “Peacemakers” promote God’s shalom peace, which is total well-being personally and communally. God is pleased when the “persecuted” put Him above all else; this takes courage and commitment amid opposition, but God WILL remain faithful to His promises. Jesus Himself was no stranger to persecution, and He warns His disciples (and us) that we can expect the same. But instead of “bearing down” or “getting through” these life situations, He tells us instead to “Rejoice!” Our reward in heaven will come, and it’s going to be beyond anything we could ever imagine. That is a trade I am willing to make every time.
Application:
Which of the Beatitudes do you most identify with? Which do you struggle to relate to? Think about why that is (pride, misunderstanding, ignorance), and ask God to help you see these verses His way. Then ask Him for renewed courage and confidence to rely on Him in every life situation.
How does the eternal perspective Jesus speaks of in these verses make you feel about your present troubles? Does it help that no matter how difficult your situation, Jesus has spoken that “You are blessed”?
Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? If so, Jesus tells us to “Rejoice!” If you aren’t sure you handled the opposition the way He would want you to, ask Him for help the next time. If you’ve never been persecuted for your faith, ask the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart, mind, and response in the event that you are.
Devo Plus:
Verse one tells us that “he sat down,” which was a common posture of Jewish teachers in Jesus’s day. But I also think He takes this posture with us because He really wants us to get this. Parenting coaches often suggest getting down to a child’s level before disciplining them so as not to appear condescending or demeaning; Jesus does the same here. Even though heaven is our ultimate goal, He knows we have to live here now, and He wants us to do it well.
For a beautiful rendition of the above verses in song, listen to Jon Guerra’s song “Kingdom of God.”
For more verses on: Mourning and godly grief: 2 Corinthians 7:10 Meekness and peace: Psalm 37:11 Persecution: Any of Paul’s letters
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You so much for being patient while we understand our need for You. This is never an easy realization for us, but we pray that the deeper we grow in our relationship with You, the more we can learn how much we need You. You are our perfect example of how to live, and we humbly ask for Your help in becoming more like You every day. Help us to always keep You and Your teachings at the forefront of our minds. Thank You most of all for loving us so; we are truly blessed to be called Your children. Amen.