The Beatitudes Revisited | Matthew 5:3-9

Growing to love the Beatitudes

Author

Caleb Lee
January 12, 2024

I’ll be honest.

I’ve struggled to love this passage. I viewed the Beatitudes as laws to follow rather than words of grace and blessing.

That I would somehow have to force myself to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, etc.

But that’s not what The Beatitudes are about.

3  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4  “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

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

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

7  “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:3-9

Rather, the Beatitudes serve to show the principles of Kingdom living. They show that God’s Kingdom doesn’t necessarily align with our current world’s ideas on living a “good life.”

And they also show the Father’s heart for His people.

We must not fail to notice that, in the seven Beatitudes, the blessing of each one is appropriate to the character. “Blessed are the poor in spirit” is appropriately connected with enrichment in the possession of a kingdom more glorious than all the thrones of earth. It is also most appropriate that those who mourn should be comforted; that the meek, who renounce all self-aggrandisement, should enjoy most, of life, and so should inherit the earth. It is divinely fit that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness should be filled, and that those who show mercy to others should obtain it themselves. Who but the pure in heart should see the infinitely pure and holy God? And who but the peacemakers should be called the children of the God of peace?

Charles Spurgeon

We are bombarded by this world to pursue more, to seek material gain, and to live in such a way that tears other people down. To be aggressive, to force our way into the “room where it happens.”

But salvation is a gift. Nothing we do will be good enough for a perfect God. So He made a way for us to be with Him. We can enter eternal life only through accepting the gift of Christ’s sacrifice.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

The Beatitudes aren’t a source of condemnation. They’re wonderful reminders that this world is nothing compared to the Kingdom. Even if we do not conform to the expectations of the world, we can expect greater things to come.

Have a blessed Friday, my friends.

Love you all.

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