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Abundant Blessings

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

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

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

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

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

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

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

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

Matthew 5:3-11 ESV

It’s a blessing to watch a beautiful sunrise!

The above verses from the Sermon on the Mount are often called the beatitudes. Beatitude actually means “supreme blessing” and the translated Hebrew word means “the good life.”

Jesus has begun His ministry in Galilee. He has chosen His first disciples, Andrew and Peter, and John and James, fishermen. Jesus has been teaching in synagogues and proclaiming the kingdom of God as well as healing a multitude of people that had come to Him. A huge crowd is following as Jesus and His disciples climb part way up the side of a mountain.

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.  And he opened his mouth and taught them saying: Matthew 5:1-2

Most of the Jews of Jesus’ time believed they already had citizenship and blessings in the kingdom of God simply by being the descendants of Abraham and by following “the law.”

But Jesus brings a new point of view to the kingdom of God. He doesn’t say that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the righteous or religious (Pharisees and Sadducees) but to the “poor in spirit,” those who know they need God and seek Him. Jesus continues and explains that the kingdom of God is for the heartbroken, the meek, those who strive to be righteous, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted.

The kingdom of God is for all of us imperfect, sinful, flawed everyday people who know that we need Jesus. Just like the people in the crowd who followed Jesus to the mount and listened to the first presentation of the beatitudes, we desire the salvation and the promises and the blessings. We desire to know God.

I pray the beatitudes give us all encouragement to not only accept God’s favor and blessings but to also be a blessing to others that we meet.

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we discover the blessings of the beatitudes.

Abundant Blessings in the Lord!

3 comments

  1. More people need to read The Beautitudes. It would certainly go a long way in correcting and rebuking the misconceptions and behaviors a lot of religious groups have nowadays about who is righteous and deserving of love and kindness and who isn’t. It’s a scary time in this country and this world, and so much fear and hatred are being fomented among many of those who claim to be Christians but whose actions betray them. Jesus reminds us here of what really matters and who is truly deserving of salvation, you know? This is a timely reminder of what it means to be a Christian. Thanks as always for your wisdom, Peggy, my friend. 😊

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    • Thank you, Mike, for your honest and kind comments and support! We are living in “scary times.” A wise woman I know said, “If we call ourselves by His name, “Christian” but judge others and don’t live by his commands to love God and to love others it is the same as taking His name in vain.
      Should make us all stop and think.

      Thanks again, Mike, for your insights!

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