1
Blessed are the poor in spirit:
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Poverty not as in finances as some
might think but poor in spirit, the
opposite to being proud and
haughty. When we are poor in spirit
we are empty of self, only then can
we be filled. Being prideful causes
us to hurt others and ourselves.
Do we see that we cannot do
anything except through Him that
gives us life? Proverbs 6:16-19
talks of the things that God hates
and the first is haughty eyes. God
is not interested in what you have
or who you have become but your
relationship with Him. Humbly
come before His throne.
2
Blessed are they that mourn:
for they will be comforted
Jesus, in Luke 4, reads from Isaiah
61 that discusses mourning. We
may have lost a loved one and
may mourn deeply but could He
be referring to more than just
mourning death? Could it be they
had lost not only everything but
they were in a strange place being
oppressed with no hope? When
we come out of sin we may mourn
our past: how could we have been
as bad as we had been? We can
see the world we were once part
of and our softened hearts break
when we see it as God sees it.
However, our mourning turns to
gladness when we see a glorious
hope in Jesus.
3
Blessed are the meek:
for they will inherit the earth
This beatitude is very much like the
promise in Psalm 37:11, “The meek
shall possess the land.” A Messianic
psalm where the land of Canaan
was Promised to the Israelites.
Today, it is the New Covenant that
we will all inherit. Meekness and
humility is also one of the fruits of
the Spirit; they are produced in the
Christian by the Holy Spirit. When
you are gentle and humble you
can be a defender of the weak and
oppressed in Jesus’ name. We
have an eternal hope for the future
when we step up for Jesus.
4
Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness:
for they will be filled
This beatitude is deeper than
you may at first think, it’s not
just speaking about acts of
righteousness but the passion and
desire we have for it. In Isaiah 11:5-
6, foretell the characteristics of
Jesus; ‘the stem of Jesse’; He will
wear righteousness like a belt and
truth like an undergarment. Judah
had become very corrupt and was
surrounded with aggressive and
intimidating foreign countries.
They desperately needed a revival,
to turn away from self-centredness
and give fairness to the poor and
oppressed. The righteousness that
God wanted most is that they turn
away from sin. As then, today we
face many hard choices but some
do settle for the safe or popular
option not the right one. Just
because the majority feels that
something is right doesn’t make it
right!
5
Blessed are the merciful:
for they will be shown mercy
Grace is so apparent here. How
many times have you received
undeserved mercy? Therefore
should you not also be merciful?
Jesus has given you mercy but
it only manifests when you have
a deep spiritual experience and
relationship with Him. When you
understand that grace you also
show it, through acts of mercy to
others.
6
Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they will see God
The heart is used in the Bible to
describe the intentions of will and
thoughts that we have. The purer
we become the more we act out
the nature of God. “To the pure
all things are pure,” Titus 1:15
We have the best expectations
of others and wish the best for
them; we are not encumbered by
negative thoughts such as jealousy,
malice and offence. Matthew 15:19
describes people outside of God’s
faith from whose heart comes evil
thoughts etc... When we meet our
Lord He gives us a new heart, isn’t
He wonderful?
7
Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they’ll be called children of God
The whole purpose and plan of
redemption is to have peace with
God. We were once alienated
but now we are children of our
one true God. We should always
be reflecting God’s peace in this
hostile, hate driven world. Only
God’s righteous love will drive
out the hatred that thrives today
providing the place for peace to
dwell.
8
Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness:
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Timothy 3:12 says, when you live
a Godly life and be more like
Jesus, you will be ridiculed and
persecuted. Don’t let something
define you, let it refine you.
Sometimes, if you put your head
above the parapet it will be a
target but if you remain faithful
you will be blessed. Hold fast to
that as times will become more
difficult; persevere and yours is
the Kingdom of Heaven: what a
reward?
These beatitudes are revelations
for everyday living in the Holy
Spirit. Our hope/expectation rests
in Jesus and if we persevere and
remain faithful in Him, we will be
fulfilled when the King will say to
those on His right, ‘Come, you who
are blessed by my Father, inherit
the Kingdom prepared for you
from the creation of the world.’
Matthew 25:34 p
July - September 2017
By Teresa L. Randle
Missionary, Preacher
and Bible Teacher
SHARE | MAGAZINE
|
7