We should all be familiar with what is often called Jesus Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount.” Chapters 5 to 7 of Matthew contain Christ’s first recorded words of instruction to His disciples, and so provide us with an introduction to His way of thinking and what He considers to be important for our spiritual development.
These words of His were not addressed to the multitudes, but were spoken to His disciples on a mountain, far from the masses. Christ did not speak to them in mere parables, but rather in profound words of spiritual direction. His words are just as vital today as the day when He spoke them 2,000 years ago. They are found in the verses commonly known as the “Beatitudes”(Matthew 5:3–10).
But what does the word beatitude mean? And how can we instill into our minds and hearts the attitude Christ calls for in the Beatitudes?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, “beatitude” means “supreme blessedness” and is from the Latin word beatitudo. The context of the word as used by Christ is that those who receive these blessings do so as fruit of their actions and attitudes as true Christians. In other words, the Beatitudes are the result or the fruits of what we do and how we think. It requires a change in the way that we naturally think. It is a precursor for all of Christ’s future instructions as to how we should think.
Let us take each one in turn and use other scriptures to help us better grasp the meaning.
Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
“…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Christ tells us that the reward for being poor in spirit is the Kingdom of God. As with all of the Beatitudes, the opposite tells us just as much. Those who are not poor in spirit will not be in the Kingdom of God.
Notice Isaiah 66:2 (last part): “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
Understanding that we have no innate spiritual strength or power is the beginning of humility. Divesting ourselves of all of our pride in our self-perceived spirituality is not easy when we have always thought that God must have noticed how wonderful we are and how wise we are. Did God call us because He really needed our spiritual riches? No, He does not need them.
Throughout this article we will see just how much Jesus Christ practiced what He preached in respect to the Beatitudes. Philippians 2:5–7 tells us, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation….”
He emptied Himself of His power and strength and relied totally on His heavenly Father. He said in John 5:30, “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Do you still rely on your own thinking and your own spirituality, or are you “poor in spirit”?
An absence of this quality is one of the faults of the Laodiceans, which Jesus Christ described in Revelation 3. “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy [i.e. spiritually], and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked’” (v. 17). When we see our spiritual poverty we can turn to God for all of our spiritual strength.
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
“…for they shall be comforted.”
This of course applies to times of grief in our lives such as the death of a close family member or friend. But it also refers to a “mourning” for our country as we see its sins around us. Ezekiel 9:4 tells us about an angel who was directed by God to set a mark on those who mourned for their countrymen. “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” While the rest of the people were slain, the set-apart people were spared.
Jesus Christ mourned for Jerusalem because of its sinfulness. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37).
Scripture tells us this about mourning: “Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:9–10). Of course we understand that we cannot go about all day long mourning and being sorrowful, because there is “a time to weep, and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).
Blessed Are the Meek
“…for they shall inherit the earth”—not heaven!
Does the word “meek” mean weak? No, not at all. In fact, Jesus Christ said that He was meek (Matthew 11:29, KJV) and He was by no means weak. For years we have understood that the word means “teachable,” and so it does. But there is more to the meaning than just that. The real meaning is “to trust entirely on God and subsume the self to God’s will.” Meek individuals will display fruits of gentleness, humility and kindness. They are a pleasure to know and being with them uplifts and encourages. They do not boast or brag or tell you how great they are. These qualities were displayed by Jesus Christ when He was on earth.
Blessed Are those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
“… for they shall be filled.”
The person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness is one who has discovered the need to “feed on Christ” as Dr. Meredith has told us to do so many times. Scripture says: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:1–2).
This sustenance is not physical, but spiritual. When we develop the godly habit of daily prayer and Bible study we yearn for inner satisfaction. If we go beyond a certain time in the day without prayer and study, we develop an inner aching that can only be satisfied through contact with God. This is the hunger and thirst that Christ spoke of.
Jesus Christ shocked some of His disciples when He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:53–58).
How did some of His disciples react? “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (vv. 66–69).
What about you? Do you take it seriously when Dr. Meredith exhorts us to “feed on Christ”? If you have discovered the real meaning of “hungering and thirsting after righteousness” you will wholeheartedly agree with him.
Of course the physical tool of fasting—going without food and water for a set time—is the way we put our attention on our need for spiritual food, which in the ultimate sense we need more than the physical.
Jesus spoke to His disciples outside Samaria. They urged Him to eat some food but He said, “‘I have food to eat of which you do not know.’ Therefore the disciples said to one another, ‘Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work’” (John 4:32–34).
Blessed Are the Merciful
“…for they shall obtain mercy.”
Mercy and forgiveness go hand in hand. It is not easy to forgive others while we are busy nursing our own hurts and offenses. We take great care of our hurt feelings and grudges, yet Scripture tells us so many times that we cannot continue doing that. “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). And in Psalm 103:8–12 we learn this about God: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Developing the quality of mercy takes practice and perseverance. Do you need to forgive anyone? Can you let them go free in your mind? Can you accept that you have been guilty of so many offenses for which you would hope to receive mercy? So be merciful and forgive others. It is not a choice but a command.
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
“… for they shall see God.”
We read: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Purity of thoughts and motives comes from God. It replaces and roots out malice and bitterness. It refreshes and cleanses us, leaving us pure as snow. Purity leaves us with a clear mind and spirit. Purity purges us of anger and hatred and leaves us with the ability to speak the words of Christ, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34, KJV).
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
“… for they shall be called sons of God.”
In the “Wild West” the Colt 45 gun was called the “Peacemaker.” God’s peacemakers, however, make real and lasting peace. Unlike the United Nations peacekeepers who try to maintain peace, peacemakers are proactive and go out of their way to establish paths of peace for others. They open dialogue with their enemies and speak words of peace, and not of war. Doing this makes us vulnerable, as we run the risk of being rejected. Nevertheless, true Christians are ready and willing to act boldly to make peace. Scripture reminds us: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:13–18).
Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted For Righteousness’ Sake
“… for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
With this, we have come full circle. The fruit of the first Beatitude, for those who are poor in spirit, is the same as for those who are persecuted for righteousness. Being a real Christian will bring on persecution—but, like our elder Brother who has gone before us, we will stand and be strong in the Lord.
The blessedness that comes from this way of thinking—and this entire way of life—is an inner contentment that cannot come from the ways of this world. Look around, and you will see that so many people in the world are empty, without the blessed contentment that you as a Christian can know and experience.
Yes, as Christians we are called out of this world and its ways of jealousy, envy and pride—attitudes that produce only strife and discord. Do you want to have inner peace and contentment? Then practice the way of life that Jesus Christ gave us in the Beatitudes!