Blessed Are Those........

When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. The He began to teach them, saying:
The poor in spirit are blessed, for the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted.
The gentle are blessed for they will inherit the earth.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled.
The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy.
The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see Godthe peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God.
Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven, for that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:1-12

In Isaiah 61:[ the Messiah brings good news to the poor. Jesus, here, is saying that the poor in spirit are those who recognise their need for repentance, theirs is the Kingom.

The promise of the Kingdom comes in verses 3 and 10, much like a bracket around all that goes in between, the remaining beatitudes.

The first three beatitudes identify Jesus as the servant Isaiah prophesied about in Is 61.

Psalm 37:11 identifies the gentle as humble and inheriting the earth, or the land.

The disciples were the new Israel going into a promised land, a new, recreated earth that lasts all eternity. This is our hope and future.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will have it imparted to them, they will not find it by self effort.

Merciful people are those who show mercy to others, forgiving them with a kind heart.

Peacemaking involves resolving conflict promptly, apologising when needed and making acts of restitution, refusing to seek revenge and humbly serving and loving one's enemies.

The purest form of righteousness is pursued by disciples who know their good deeds will demand great sacrifice and will result in pain rather than immediate reward. 

I find the beatitudes very carthartic. They cleanse my soul, challenge my attitudes and humble me, ready to believe again. Amen!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Who Rules?

The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers, I will pout out my fury on them like water. Hosea 5:10 World leaders of church and state are now all highly visible. When they are not open to consultation or do not listen they make judgements that are judged as foolish by both God and man. In Australia we just celebrated Australia Day and at this time various people are honoured for their contribution to society. Our Prime Minister, Mr Abbott, without consultation, conferred a knighthood on the Queen of England's husband, Phillip. Almost to a person, Australians judged this to be foolish. Even supporters have now distanced themselves. Imagine what it is like when church leaders follow their own emotions or the emotions of their people and change what is acceptable to God. For example, no longer considering adultery something that precludes a man from ministry. We might think we are clever, but actually going with a sinful flow. Where is God in all this? My emotions ar...
Read more

Know Your Sword!

So he took Him to Jerusalem, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "if you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: 'He will give His angels orders concerning You, to protect you, they will support You with their hands, so that you will not strike Your foot against a stone.' And Jesus answered him, "it is said: 'do not test The Lord your God." And the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time. Luke 4:9-11 In this third test Satan quoted scripture but Jesus knew His scripture and was not going to be deceived by his enemy twisting the truth. I am amazed at what Satan tempted Jesus with. He did not know Christ. He had succeeded in tempting the first Adam yet he was thwarted in this attempt. Jesus had lived 30 years and been tutored in godliness with contentment, he was prepared, baptised in the Spirit and sold out to the Father's purpose. Every time our enemy comes against us we ...
Read more

Little Things Grow

The boy's mother said to Elisha, "as The Lord lives and you yourself live, I will not leave you. So he got up and followed her. 2 Kings 4:30 The Shunamite woman had travelled to Mt Carmel to find Elisha after the death of her son. Although Elisha had sent his servant Gehazi to the boy with his staff the woman had come to find Elisha and was not leaving without him. I like this lady's spirit. I am sure The Lord God Almighty also valued her heart. She had a heart for God and made room for Him in her world. Now, having lost her son she knew what to do: find Elisha and not let him go until he came to restore her son. What made the Shunamite woman believe that Elisha could raise her son? Was it the same faith that made her provide him a place to stay in her home? I believe it was God working in her life. I am grateful for her faith, I can read and be encouraged. We do not know her name yet her story lives in scripture. What a little thing it was to feed Elisha and then provide ...
Read more