Beatitudes Week 1

What comes to mind when you hear the word “Blessed”?

Blessed is an interesting word. It really focuses in on the idea of happiness. Though is we look at the definitions of Blessed we find a very different story.

Adj. Made holy consecrated

Informal: Mild expression of annoyance

I couldn’t help but think about the classic southern phrase. Bless your heart. that blessing that isn’t a blessing.

When we share with people that they are blessed it is almost always a positive thing. It is something that we look as a good thing with each other.

Is it more though than just being happy. Is it more than just good fortune.

Jesus is casting for us a very different perspective on what it is to be blessed when he preaches the Sermon on the Mount.

Let’s read some of the Passage.

Matthew 4:23–5:12 NIV

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. 1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus builds the foundation of the beatitudes on the foundation of preaching the gospel and the healing of the sick. He is focused on spreading the good news of the Kingdom of heaven and that leads people to gather around him and sets the stage for the sermon on the mount.

Is blessedness a feeling or something else?

Blessedness is not just a subjective feeling but it can be measured as an objective reality. Blessedness is something that Jesus pronounces upon us. It is something that is given it is poured out on us as believers by God.

What does Poor in Spirit mean to you?

Poor of spirit does not mean that someone is lacking faith or love it is the humbling of ones spirit and recognizing that they depend on God. It is when the world would look at us and say we are poor. that we don’t have the things that the world would view as desirable but are seen as giving of our selves to God. That God recognizes that we have to rely on God in our lives to be whole and new and it is the giving of ourselves that is most important.

How do you understand the Kingdom of Heaven?

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven

the progressively redeemed society inspired by love; the future transformation of this world; apocalyptic hope for the next world; and an open-ended symbol possible of many interpretations.

It is the hope of the future of the World and existence completely lead by God. Imagine for a moment living in a world that is ruled exclusively by God.

How can we draw encouragement from this first Beatitude?

For me it is the reliance on God and it is the dependence on God that gives me hope. That is a very difficult thing that we have to give in to. To utterly rely on God and to give him our all so that we can trust in him. It is this submission and recognizing the need for God to reign over my life that I can find hope because i know that God is in control.