I might have been naive when I was first a Christian. When I read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, I thought that the Lord Jesus Christ was teaching about individuals. I also wrongly thought that you could just be in one category. Has any of my readers got confused that way?
So, now that I am a mature Christian and digging for every piece of wisdom I can receive from the Lord, I took a look again. WOW! I recognized that the Beatitudes were blessings that are given to all Believers! Here is my journey:
Matthew 5:6 (KJV 1900)
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Hunger – 4277 πεινάω (peinaō): vb.; ≡ Str 3983; TDNT 6.12—1. LN 23.29 be hungry, be in a state of hunger (Mt 25:35); 2. LN 25.17 desire strongly (Mt 5:6; Lk 6:21+)
Thirst – 1498 διψάω (dipsaō): vb.; ≡ Str 1372; TDNT 2.226—1. LN 23.39 be thirsty, a basic bodily desire for liquid (Mt 25:35; Jn 4:13), also a figurative extension of a spiritual need that God can satisfy (Jn 4:14; 7:37; Rev 7:16; 21:6); 2. LN 25.17 desire strongly (Mt 5:6)
(James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
1. Christ says that those that desire his teachings strongly, that have spiritual needs that cause a frantic searching for answers or a deep desire to know God, will be blessed.
2. He saw that you were hungry and thirsty for the real Word of God and righteousness, and He provides bread for you to learn deeper things! You are blessed! You are being FILLED with new understanding and new learning of the Word of God which leads to righteousness.
3. Note how both the Greek words for hunger and thirst mean to “desire strongly.” This desire speaks of the spiritual needs that God can satisfy in Christians. Praise be to God!
Matthew 5:7 (KJV 1900)
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Merciful – 1798 ἐλεήμων (eleēmōn), ον (on): adj.; ≡ Str 1655; TDNT 2.485—LN 88.77 merciful, pertaining to those who show compassion on the lowly (Mt 5:7; Heb 2:17+) (Ibid)
4. That that show compassion on the lowly, shall receive compassion from the Lord. It is what Christians do.
Hebrews 2:17–18 (KJV 1900)
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
5. The Lord Jesus Christ knows how to be merciful in all things pertaining to the LORD God.
6. It is the attribute of mercy and faithfulness of a high priest that makes reconciliation for the sins of the people.
7. Jesus will give mercy to us if He sees us giving mercy to those lower than us.
8. And let us not forget the most famous standards of mercy for the LORD God in the Lord’s Prayer!
Matthew 6:9–15 (KJV 1900)
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
9. Before forgiveness can be offered, mercy must be bestowed. The LORD God and the Lord Jesus Christ are watching to see that Christ’s followers are compassionate, even when they don’t
have to be! That is the basis for which their mercy is applied to each of us, and the extent that forgiveness of debts is given.
Matthew 5:8 (KJV 1900)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Pure in heart – 2754 καθαρός (katharos), ά (a), όν (on): adj.; ≡ DBLHebr 3196, 3197; Str 2513; TDNT 3.413—1. LN 79.48 clean, physically clean (Mt 23:26; 27:59; Jn 13:10a); 2. LN 53.29 pure,
ritually clear of responsibility, innocent Mt 5:8; Lk 11:41; Jn 13:11; Jas 1:2710 (Ibid)
10. Another standard of Christ is to be “pure in heart.”
11. He declares them that have purity of heart as blessed because “they shall see God.”
12. Pure in heart means to be clean, ritually clear of responsibility, and innocent.
13. It is easy for baptized Christians to be clean and innocent of sin, because they are washed in the blood of the lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ.
14. But, consider the “ritually clear of responsibility.” That means that Christians no longer must sacrifice a lamb for their sins. Once they are clean, they are clean forever. Christ’s blood washes them completely, once and for all.
15. Christians that have pure heart, and they would not be Christians if they did not, WILL SEE GOD!
Matthew 5:9 (KJV 1900)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
16. Christians make peace and reconcile differences when possible. They are never war-mongers, gossipers, trouble-makers, fighters, hypocrites or worldly rioters.
17. Children of the LORD God do not fight to force their belief or standards upon anyone on their own. If the LORD God is not directing the fight and sharing His mighty power with you to be
victorious, then you must be at peace with everyone in your life.
18. Christians may have to separate from those of the world that seek to create harm through fighting if peace cannot be obtained. Jesus teaches us the rules of confrontation later in His Word which we will study soon.
Matthew 5:10–12 (KJV 1900)
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
19. Christians ARE ALWAYS persecuted for righteousness’ sake!
20. If you find a Christian in this world that have not been persecuted, then you have NOT found a Christian. It is a fact of life for Christians in this fallen, sinful world.
21. Jesus promises blessings to come to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
22. Those persecuted get to dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven
23. Even simple persecution, like when men revile you and say all manner of evil against you falsely because Jesus is in your life; that type of persecution also brings blessings.
24. When even simple persecution comes to you, Rejoice! And be exceedingly glad! You will receive great reward in Heaven.
25. The Prophets of old were persecuted, and you will be persecuted also. This is the reality of following Christ.
Check these Beatitudes out as a group! They all are about being a CHRISTIAN, a follower of Jesus Christ! So many times, Christian leaders teach the Beatitudes as very individual specific blessings for certain people that have hardships in life. But it is not that at all! Jesus begins his teachings by talking of all the blessings EVERY Christian has by following Him! Thanks be to God!
We are all the poor in spirit, mournful, and meek. All Christians hunger and thirst after righteousness, are merciful, and stay pure in heart. Christians are peacemakers. They experience persecution for righteousness’ sake! Do you understand?
The Beatitudes are the blessings that come to Christians and explain exactly the basic standards of following Jesus Christ. Every Christian reading the beatitudes is experiencing the conditions that bring the blessings forward!
No instruction of these standards of basic Christian blessings are needed. They come to the Christians as they accept their Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and are baptized with His Holy Spirit. These blessings are what Christians carry with them as a direct result of following the teachings of Christ.
