The Beatitudes are one of the most famously well-known parts of the Sermon on the Mount.
This is where Jesus pronounces particular blessings according to certain things, and over the years entire sermons and studies have been conducted based on just these Beatitudes – many of which try to use this list given by Jesus as a “goal post” or “spiritual checklist” of sorts that people must work towards or strive for to obtain extra blessings or favor from God, or to try to be better Christians.
Today, I would like to share with you a different perspective – one not based on mere human behaviors in order to “be better”, but one based on seeing the finished work of Jesus, and truly receiving what He has accomplished.
You see, when Jesus taught, He wasn’t merely upholding the Law, with its rules and regulations (He had to do that because He was under the Law Himself when He walked on the earth) – but more importantly, He was preparing everyone for what He was about to do; the change that was coming. And within the Sermon on the Mount, are some of the most striking pictures of Jesus for us to see, and I am excited to share with you today in this study.
Now the Sermon on the Mount is the single longest “sermon” given by Jesus in the entirety of scripture. And although it has been given the popular title of the sermon on the mount, I really don’t like that title, because one of the informal uses of the word “sermon” today, also has come to mean something tedious, slow or boring; and when Jesus speaks, you can be sure that whatever He is saying will surely be none of those things!
I mean sure, if you are reading His words with legalistic, man-centered or performance-minded lenses on, then absolutely everything will be tedious and it will scratch against your spirit, (believe me, I know all about that!)…
If however, you read His words with the new covenant perspective, in the light of His finished work, then they are absolutely teeming with vibrant life, and excitement and joy, as you see pictures of Him, that had previously gone unnoticed, and this is what we are going to do and see today.
In this series, we are not going to cover the entire Sermon on the Mount – although we may get there at some point, but we are only going to cover the Beatitudes; and there is quite a bit to see here!
So let’s begin by reading the Beatitudes, and see what we have ahead of us; which is Matthew chapter 5, verses 1 through 12 to start with:
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came to him:
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
These twelve verses of Jesus’ teaching are commonly named the Beatitudes. They are called this mainly because in the Latin, each of these nine blessings begins with the word beati, which translates to happy, joyous and rich (in every sense of the word). The corresponding word in Greek is μακάριοι, and it Hebrew it is בָּרוּךְ.
Now the typical way that these are read and received and taught in most churches is with a performance mindset and a man-centered focus: We need to be more pure in heart! We need to be more humble! We need to hunger and thirst after righteousness!
In-fact you often hear this kind of language spoken by most Christians today.
While I do agree, that we should certainly be pure in heart and humble… the question is how we go about it. The legalistic ones will read these words of Jesus and then clench their fist tightly and declare: “This day forward, I will make a stronger effort to be more pure and humble! And I will hunger more for you God!” – and to themselves and all the onlookers, it will sound very good and holy to make such a declaration.
Yet already they are in essence missing the point of it all (and the first picture of Jesus, that He was showing them here)
You see, self-effort was already shown to be utterly worthless when it comes to spiritual achievement. It was in-fact shown to be so from the very beginning. And what Jesus was doing here, was not giving people a guideline for self-improvement – but He was showing them how things were going to improve since the Kingdom of God was here!
Keep in-mind that Jesus had just finished declaring at the end of Matthew chapter 4, that the Kingdom of God was here now (speaking of Himself and His authority), and He was going around healing all disease, raising the dead and casting out demons, – and He later gives authority for others to do the same. The Kingdom of God is now on full display, it is here, and Jesus is describing how things are changing.
In short, these words are not words describing tasks for you to perform – they are describing what is being done upon you courtesy of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. This is why these are happy and joyous and rich statements! This is why today you may absolutely count yourself as blessed!
This fact is made even more clear with other statements made by Jesus further along in this chapter; but let’s meditate on these points for a few moments:
Blessed are the poor in spirit. The Greek word used for “poor” here, means beggarly and destitute. This is the state that everyone is in originally apart from Christ. Take notice that this is not referring to physical finances here, but specifically poor in spirit. A condition that only becoming a completely new creation in Christ and being born again can solve. And that’s exactly what He has accomplished for us according to 2nd Corinthians 8:9:
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.”
Next, Jesus says Blessed are those that mourn. He promises that they will be comforted. This is much more than simply nice words. Spiritually speaking this happened already, and is happening continuously now. Let me explain…
Jesus said in a conversation regarding fasting, that His disciples have no reason to fast while He is with them, because the practice of fasting is connected with mourning (see our study on fasting for more about that).
But He then continued on to say that the days were coming when He would be taken away, and then they will fast because they would be in mourning (Mark 2:18-20).
This event happened when Jesus was taken and crucified.
Then, after Jesus’ resurrection He was with them again; and their mourning was turned to joy – and not only that but He proceeded to give them the Holy Spirit just as He had told them earlier in John 14:16. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter. And Jesus promises to be with us always in Matthew 28:20.
This is how those who mourn are being comforted continuously today. As people every day are being reborn into Christ, and the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) is indwelling them and washing them in the love and peace of Christ Jesus!
So already, just in the first two verses we have looked at, we have seen some amazing pictures of Jesus, and His accomplished work for us!
As you can see, these are far more than behavioral guides – but wonderful truths about Jesus and His New Covenant of Grace and who we are today in Him!
Be sure to join me again next week as we continue seeing Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
Be blessed.