Untitled Sermon (34)
5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto 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 they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
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.
O THE BLISS OF THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE BROKEN FOR THE WORLD’S SUFFERING AND FOR THEIR OWN SIN, FOR OUT OF THEIR SORROW THEY WILL FIND THE JOY OF GOD!
O THE BLISS OF THOSE WHO ARE ALWAYS ANGRY AT THE RIGHT TIME AND NEVER ANGRY AT THE WRONG TIME, WHO HAVE EVERY INSTINCT, IMPULSE AND PASSION UNDER CONTROL BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES ARE GOD-CONTROLLED, WHO HAVE THE HUMILITY TO REALIZE THEIR OWN IGNORANCE AND THEIR OWN WEAKNESS, FOR SUCH PEOPLE CAN INDEED RULE THE WORLD!
O THE BLISS OF THOSE WHO LONG FOR TOTAL RIGHTEOUSNESS AS THE STARVING LONG FOR FOOD, AND THOSE PERISHING OF THIRST LONG FOR WATER, FOR THEY WILL BE TRULY SATISFIED!
It does not mean only to sympathize with a person in the popular sense of the term; it does not mean simply to feel sorry for someone in trouble. Chesedh, mercy, means the ability to get right inside other people until we can see things with their eyes, think things with their minds and feel things with their feelings.
O THE BLISS OF THOSE WHO GET RIGHT INSIDE OTHER PEOPLE, UNTIL THEY CAN SEE WITH THEIR EYES, THINK WITH THEIR THOUGHTS, FEEL WITH THEIR FEELINGS, FOR THOSE WHO DO THAT WILL FIND OTHERS DO THE SAME FOR THEM, AND WILL KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT GOD IN JESUS CHRIST HAS DONE!
So, the basic meaning of katharos is unmixed, unadulterated, unalloyed. That is why this beatitude is so demanding a beatitude. It could be translated:
Blessed are those whose motives are always entirely unmixed, for they shall see God.
O THE BLISS OF THOSE WHOSE MOTIVES ARE ABSOLUTELY PURE, FOR THEY WILL SOME DAY BE ABLE TO SEE GOD!
There are people who are always storm centres of trouble and bitterness and strife. Wherever they are, they are either involved in quarrels themselves or the cause of quarrels between others. They are troublemakers. There are people like that in almost every society and every church, and such people are doing the devil’s own work. On the other hand—thank God—there are people in whose presence bitterness cannot live, people who bridge the gulfs, and heal the breaches, and sweeten the bitternesses. Such people are doing a Godlike work, for it is the great purpose of God to bring peace between men and women and himself, and among all people. Anyone who divides people is doing the devil’s work; anyone who unites people is doing God’s work.
So, this beatitude might read:
O THE BLISS OF THOSE WHO PRODUCE RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS ONE WITH ANOTHER, FOR THEY ARE DOING A GODLIKE WORK!