Week 23 Matthew 5
Jesus began his long Sermon-on-the-Mount (it’s got more than a hundred verses) with eight (what are called) beatitudes. They’re called beatitudes because each one of them starts with the phrase blessed are…
Each beatitude has the same formula: if I’m experiencing or living-out (what I’ll call) Quality Z then a) I am blessed and b) I’ll get some added outcome or benefit connected with Quality Z. So for example: if I have the Quality of Being a Peacemaker then a) I’m blessed and b) I get to be classified as being a son of God.
Jesus’ promise that I’ll be beatitude-ed when I start reorganizing my behaviour along his lines – so for instance if I start having more mercy for other people – is something to shoot for. Being beatitude-ed means that I’ll be blessed. That I’ll be shifting more into a state of personal well-being or gladness or happiness (most bible versions used the expression blessed are but a few use happy (for instance happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs).
Personally I think being blessed is the main thing since (I’m guessing) blessedness / happiness is an immediate state. Whereas the timing of the other supplemental outcomes is indefinite. It might take quite a while before I get to be comforted. Before I inherit the earth. Before I see God. These sound like longer-range outcomes.
Note: the Beatitudes are in Matthew 5:3-12. Quotes are from Matthew 5:9 (NASB) 5:3 (CEB) 5:4 5 & 8 (NASB)