Matthew 5:1-9
5 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then 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 filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain 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.
Upon reading these Beatitudes (or Blessings) they don’t ‘sound’ very much like blessings. Being poor in spirit, mournful, meek, or hungry and thirsty aren’t attractive to a way (or theology) of glory, which caters to sinful flesh—desiring to evaluate God’s grace (and live) by sight and circumstance.
This is why the conclusion of the Beatitudes (beyond the assigned text) reveals God’s way (or theology) of the cross—through which God brings the New Man to live by faith. At verses 11-12 Jesus proclaims: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Christ is pointing out to all of the believing/baptized children of God who will hear His blessings repeated that—even as He fulfilled these Beatitudes for them, and in turn these sometimes uncomfortable blessings will again be exuded through believers—they need not be concerned while living in this fallen world which hates and rejects God. Rather, because God sees the believer’s repentant faith in the fully atoning merits of Christ, such faith is imputed (accounted) to them as the righteousness of Christ and they are, indeed, blessed possessors of great heavenly reward! Amidst all appearing tensions Christ remains our peace!
Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace for all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
