At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry here on earth He delivered to the multitudes that were following Him, eight blessings to teach what attitudes and behaviors were needed to receive salvation. These blessings are all countercultural and contrary to what the worldviews were at the time and still are contrary to what the world has to offer.  These eight blessings are called the Beatitudes and can be ascribed as the Be-attitudes of what is required to be called a child of God.

As true followers of Christ these eight blessings are at the heart and soul of what Jesus is teaching us to become true servants of Christ and to walk in the light.  Each blessing comes with the right attitude and characteristics necessary for our salvation and to spend eternity with Christ forever.  Each blessing comes with a faithful promise and satisfaction of true joy, peace and contentment for those committed to living through and for Christ. 

These are the very words of Christ Jesus as He spoke these words of truth to the multitudes of His day and let them fill our hearts and souls yet today.

Matthew 5:3  “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”   What this means is when we come to God, we realize our own sinfulness and our spiritual emptiness and poverty.  We understand that pride and our self-serving ways separates us from the loving ways of God and that we are too weak to earn our way into heaven.  We recognize that pursuing the worldly pleasures and desires leave us empty and hollow inside.  We come to the realization that we are nothing apart from God and must totally depend and trust in God for everything in our lives. (see John 15:5)   Because of our natural spiritual poverty, there must be a death of self if we are ever going to truly be filled with Christ. (see John 12:24)  God’s faithful promise is  “ For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:4  “ Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.”   God wants us to be sensitive to the suffering, pain, and torment caused by sin (whether it be our own or others) and to be compassionate to those grieving the loss of loved ones.  “ Weep with those who weep” (see Rom. 12:15; 1 Cor. 12:26 and Rev. 21:4)  Psalm 30:5  “ Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”  Psalm 147:3  “ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  God’s faithful promise is  “ For they shall be comforted.”   (see also 2 Corinthians 1:3,4) 

Matthew 5:5  “ Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”  Being meek in the Bible is power under control with a gentleness as the fruit of a Spirit - filled life(Gal.5:22)  Jesus described Himself as “meek and lowly(humble) in (Matt. 11:29)  Meek is a virtue that draws strength, courage, conviction from God, not from self-centered human pride and resources.  A Biblical worldview says giving is receiving, dying is living, losing is finding, and living in the truth of God’s word.  Being meek as serving God and not thinking highly of ourselves.  God’s faithful promise with this blessing is “ For they shall inherit the earth.”

Matthew 5:6  “ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”  This speaks to the heart of those pursuing a right personal relationship with God and other people.  Right standing or righteousness from God is a gift of salvation given through faith in Jesus Christ to those who truly believe in Him.  As Jesus Himself said in John 6:35  “ I am the bread of life, he who comes to Me shall never go hungry, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”  Only God can deeply satisfy our longing souls, nothing in this world can even come close.  God’s faithful promise with this blessing is          “ For they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:7  “ Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”  To be merciful is to show compassion and forgiveness to those in need.  In the Lord’s prayer Jesus taught us to pray, forgive us our debts[trespasses] as we forgive our debtors [those who trespass against us]  (Matt. 6:12)  Mercy is what God pours out on us for our sinful inherent state of unrighteousness which deserves a just punishment.  God’s mercy is an act of salvation as the Apostle Paul says in Titus 3:5  “ He saved us , not because of our own righteousness, but because of His mercy.”  God is rich in mercy as found in  Ephesians 2:4,5  “ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love for us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”   God’s faithful promise with this blessing is “ For they shall obtain mercy.”

Matthew 5:8  “ Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”   Being pure in heart is having a wholehearted devotion and genuine love of Jesus Christ. (2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Peter 1:22)  A pure heart has no hypocrisy, no evil, is gentle, kind, giving, with a willingness to please God in all we think, say and do.  (see Gal. 5:22)  A true heart is empowered and led by the Holy Spirit in faith, truth and love.  A genuine heart draws close to God and lives in the presence of God through daily prayer, reading and studying His words of truth, wisdom, and knowledge.  (see James 4:8; Hebr. 10:22)   God’s faithful promise with this blessing is  " For they shall see God.”

Matthew 5:9  “ Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”   True peace is not found in this world but only through faith in Jesus Christ.  Let not your heart be troubled (see John 14:27)  The Apostle Paul speaks truth in Philippians 4:7  “ The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  (see also Rom. 5:1) Peacemakers are believers who seek to reconcile differences and restore relationships whether it be at work, home, community or through nations.  We see what peace Jesus Christ brought into the world with the declaration of His birth as found in Luke 2:14  “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”   The greatest gift to mankind.   God’s faithful promise with this blessing is  “ For they shall be called sons of God”

Matthew 5:10  “ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the  kingdom of heaven.”   Jesus Christ is warning His true followers, that if they(we) committed themselves(ourselves) to what is morally right, good, and true according to God’s word that the world would hate them. For as Jesus said in John 15:18,25 “ If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”  v 25 “ They hated Me without a cause. “   Jesus also said in Matt. 10:22  “ And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. “   Living our lives through faith in Jesus Christ is contrary to what the world has to offer and one can expect to be rejected and criticized for our beliefs.  God’s faithful promise for this blessing is  “ For theirs is the kingdom of God ”

These blessings are in direct contrast to what the spirit of this world offers which is to be self- reliant, self-sufficient, self-confident, full of pride and arrogance.  When we are full of self, we miss the blessings of God’s presence.   Empty self and allow God to come into your life.

Start today – Don’t delay and change your life - Let the power of God’s words speak to you and be filled with a peace and joy beyond measure.  

Sign up below and receive 60 additional scripture messages for free.  Find additional inspiration and encouragement found in the books “Finding Calm in the Storm of Everyday Living” or “Heart and Soul” either going to Amazon directly or hitting the home page of the store and scrolling down to books.