Playing a Different Game | Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes (An Introduction)

Author

Caleb Lee
January 11, 2024

What’s your endgame?

It’s pretty common knowledge that you can’t leave the earth with anything you accrue while living. Not a comfortable truth, but a truth nonetheless.

Pursuing the things of this world leads to nothing, but pursuing the Kingdom of God leads to everything.

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

The Beatitudes

2  And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

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.

10  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11  “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes serve as an introduction to one of Jesus’ most famous sermons: The Sermon on the Mount.

And yet, even in the 8 short statements that He makes, they serve as both proclamations of what Heaven will be like and instructions on how to live on this earth.

And they’re quite countercultural. As is the norm with Jesus.

The values of God's kingdom often stand in contrast to the world's standards.

But we’re playing a different game here. One that leads to eternal life, but more importantly eternity with God. 

Have a blessed Thursday, my friends.

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