The Beatitudes have always baffled me. I can tell that they are beautifully written, yet when I read them, they don't completely make sense to me. I am sure that over the course of my lifetime, I will continue to learn more about the depth of what Jesus said here, but for now I sit and ponder what Christ is saying to me today in these words.
I think the first thing that I notice in this passage is the verse even before the actual Beatitudes begin:
"Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach." He sat down to teach THEM -- His disciples! I've always thought that He was teaching to the whole crowd. But if He was teaching to the whole crowd, He would have stood on the mountain so that everyone could hear him. Jesus saw the crowds, had observed the size of the crowd that was following Him, and was concerned that the disciples would fall prey to the fame and prestige that they were beginning to acquire as "Jesus' disciples". So, He took them, His inner circle of men, and began to speak to their hearts. He's not saying all of this to the crowd of people who are just intrigued by Jesus and what He's supposedly done to the people in the community (healed them), but He's saying this to those of us who already love Him and follow Him and serve Him. He's concerned that they are going to focus on the wrong things, so here is to what He is bringing them back. He's helping them re-focus.
Today, I am looking at this passage as something personal. To me from Jesus.
First of all, in some additional reading I did this morning, I learned that the Greek and Hebrew for the word "Blessed" in these phrases is like a child who knows that they will inherit their parent's farm. The child does not have to do X in order to gain Y, but rather, these passages are saying the "key element to her happy and secure life is that she and the community around her know that the farm will one day be hers. The first statement affirms a happy state that already exists. The second statement affirms a future that allows her even now to live a happy life." This is not an "if-then" format, but rather the connecting word is "for" (Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.) The "for" signifies something that already exists.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Poor in spirit" is the opposite of proud. The kingdom of heaven can only be accepted by people who understand and accept their need for Jesus. In order to inherit the kingdom, just as the above girl inherited her parent's farm, we must first come to the understanding that we need a Savior and that that Savior is Jesus Christ. In order to accept that, our hearts must be in a place of humility. Humility and self-sacrifice is key in the kingdom of heaven. May I never forget what Christ has done for me in order that I will always remember my calling to be likewise.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
I can remember my mom's funeral like it was yesterday. Let me tell you, if I die on the way to work this morning, make my funeral like hers. We were in the midst of mourning her death, and the tears were never-ending. Yet, we joined with hundreds of other believers, an incredible band, and an enormous choir and sang our hearts out to the Lord. It was as if all of Heaven was singing with us. I know we were not the only beings in that room that day. Our hearts were full, and I sensed deep down in my soul that there really is something more than what we can see here. It's real. My mourning reminded me that this is not my "home", and the joy I found in singing at the top of my lungs with hundreds of people whom I love and the energy that stirred in my soul reminded me that "home" is going to be amazing! In the midst of mourning, my heart was glad and my soul rejoiced. That is the comfort that comes in knowing Jesus Christ.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
One author describes the meek as being "those who humbly seek God. They are neither too bold or too timid." We have "confidence in approaching God" (1 John 5:14). We aren't just silent in a corner, waiting for what God wants us to do. We are a partnership with Him on this earth -- He doesn't need us, but He wants us. Again, we need to approach Him with humility, but we should approach Him confidence. According to the book below, the Hebrew word refers to the "poor and humble" which is how many translations characterize the word meek as we relate to God. The Greek term for "meek" focuses on relationships between people. Here the "meek" refers to one who "becomes angry on the right grounds against the right person in the right manner at the right moment for the right length of time" regarding the injustice done against others. Both of these views could be gems gleaned from the text. I'm going to have to do a little more study on that myself.
I think three parts are enough to think about for one day...and, I'm late for work. Until tomorrow!
Jesus Through Middle Easter Eyes. Bailey, Kenneth E. 2008
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