THE BEATITUDES II

THE BEATITUDES II

Starting at the beginning, Matthew 5:1, we read that when Jesus saw the crowds he went up on the mountain. Was he trying to get away from the crowds? In other places where we read about Jesus going up on mountains, it often was for a quiet time to pray (Mat. 14:23, Luke 6:12). However, here it says he called his disciples to him. Then, it says he began to teach them. Since we just read that it was his disciples he called to him, it is reasonable to conclude it was his disciples he was talking to. Some have apparently used that logic, that way of thinking, to say that what follows was therefore not for all believers. They say it is too hard for most people to practice what Jesus talks about in these chapters. Is this just an excuse? I really don't believe there is anywhere in the New Testament, the part of the Bible concerned with Jesus' story, where it says that the teachings of Jesus are only for his closest followers, like the disciples. I believe they are for all of us. In fact, knowing how the crowds went after Jesus to hear his teachings, I suspect they were there, listening from right behind the disciples.

In the older translations, each of these statements begins with the word 'blessed'. It is not a word we hear very often in everyday English nowadays. Why might that be? First, should we look at what it means? One translation replaces it with the word 'happy'. Interestingly, the Encarta Dictionary that comes with my Word program does not even give 'happy' as a synonym, a word of similar or equal meaning. About 'blessed', it says: "Made holy, declared holy, or bringing happiness or good luck." To me, the first part makes sense. We usually find the word blessed used in situations where we are thinking of something holy or sacred. We talk about Jesus' mother as the Blessed Virgin Mary. We talk about prayer time as ''blessed quietness'.

Luck, on the other hand, is defined as "the arbitrary distribution of events or outcomes, something that seems to happen by chance rather than as a logical consequence." As young people would say, 'random'. Some would say 'it's your destiny'; 'it's your fate'. In other words, it is something beyond our control, something that just happens, a coincidence.

Now, I ask you then, does holiness and being blessed then have anything to do with luck? I think not. A blessing is something someone gives you. A state of being blessed is something you may be given. Ultimately, finally, in the end, I think blessedness is something only God can really confer on us, give us. If I have a lot to be thankful for, I prefer not to refer to myself as lucky. I would rather say I am blessed, as it is only by God's grace that I believe I am what I am and have what I have. If God is our Creator and sustainer, how can it be otherwise? That is why, when I am wishing someone well, no matter what the circumstance, e.g. on a greeting card or in person, I try not to say ‘Good luck’. I would rather use the word blessing. I might even refer to someone as fortunate, but not lucky.

So, when we say, "God bless," whatever we are referring to, it is not something to be said lightly, superficially; it is serious. If I say, "God Bless you" to you, it is really a prayer to God to do just that. So, to end this meditation, I do want to wish you God's Blessings. As Believers, this is something we can do for one another.

THE BEATITUDES I

THE BEATITUDES

Introduction

After completing an introductory 14-unit study with 10 units on The Ten Commandments, the Bible’s Old Testament laws believed to have been given by God to the prophet Moses some 3500 years ago, for an ESL Bible class I was teaching some time ago, I went on to the New Testament. I said that I thought it would now be a good comparison to turn to a message Jesus Christ gave as recorded in The Gospel according to Matthew. I am referring to the so-called Sermon on the Mount, chapters 5 – 7. This is often regarded as the greatest summary of Jesus teaching. It is also noteworthy for its linking, its connecting, of what the Hebrew people called The Law, which I had just written on, to what he was teaching. Some scholars think these chapters are not one message or sermon but a collection of Jesus' teachings from several different times and places. Does that really matter? It's the content that counts.

The Sermon begins with a well-known set of teachings that have become to be known as The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1- 12:

  5:1 When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples

  came to him. 

  5:2 Then he began to teach them by saying:

5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. 5:12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

We can't do justice to this passage, deal with it properly, by trying to discuss it all at once.  There is far too much here. For a start, let us just read over the verses and try to think what they might really mean, meditate on them with prayer. Then we'll go on to look into them further.