Blessed

Blessed.  Matthew 5.1-1

Last night I stopped on the way home from a long grueling day to get a bite to eat, and send out Morning Briefings. The shop owner came and sat down, inquiring about what I was writing. (Always happy to oblige that question!) After finding out my new friend is a Christian, I asked him what he thought about the Beatitudes. He had an interesting response—kinda shook his head, and said something about not really ‘getting’ them or caring too much for them, but also saying he’d never been much of a Bible scholar either. “I get it,” I said. “I had to memorize them at some point in my Christian schooling, but I never took the opportunity to seek out their meaning.” But now I am taking the opportunity to study the meaning of the first recorded message of Jesus. I pray that you will seek understanding of Jesus’ words as well. “Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”1 Simply, if the Beatitudes tell us anything, they tell us that we will never be truly happy if we lead self-centered lives. But there is a richness in the teaching that we are meant to understand. It is the lack of understanding, I believe, that causes folks to skim through them, read around them, or feel totally intimidated by them because there is no way they can embody them. But here’s the thing--“The Beatitudes are no spiritual “to do list” to be attempted by eager, rule-keeping disciples. It is a spiritual “done” list of the qualities God brings to bear in the people who follow Jesus.”2 The word that starts each verse is blessed which some have interpreted as happy; but to reduce the beautiful concept to happy is missing the spiritual aspect of which Jesus was talking. The Greek word, for blessed is makarioi, meaning "the blessed joyful happiness of the soul" received from God to everyone who enters into the kingdom of heaven.3 ‘See the difference from just happy? Getting ready to address his disciples, Jesus sat down, and looked beyond them to the crowds who had gathered as well, and began his sermon, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven…”4 Lest there be confusion, by using the word ‘poor’, Jesus was not referring to material status. Take a look - poor in spirit: from the Greek word, ptochos5 – means ‘One who is bent or folded; metaphorically one utterly destitute.’ Further, the word "poor" carries the idea of complete dependence on something other than one's self. I believe this to be the beatitude of first and greatest importance. When Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit, he meant, Blessed are those who recognize they are without hope apart from a relationship with God. It is the knowledge of how far short we fall of the holiness of God that drives us to him for mercy. We oft compare our ‘goodness’ or righteousness to that of other people, and think we stack up pretty good, right? We are to compare ourselves to an all-righteous, all-holy God. Suddenly, things become quite clear. And once calling on his name for his merciful love and forgiveness of sins, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. How do you know if you are poor in spirit, and have the kingdom of heaven? You do not put trust in your own self-righteousness, or compare your good works or character to those of other people, but only God, and then in humility, accept his mercy. A man's pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor. Proverbs 29.23

Christine

PastorWoman.com

Question: Would you consider yourself ‘poor in spirit’? Why or why not? Which of the beatitudes most speaks to you/

1 – Matthew 5.1-12, The Beatitudes

2 - Ronnie McBrayer, How Far Is Heaven?: Rediscovering the Kingdom of God in the Here and Now 3 – StudyLight.org

4 – Matthew 5.4

5 – ptochos - πτωξος (Strong's Concordance #4434)