The Beatitudes

Jesus spoke the beatitudes, which are also called the Sermon on the Mount, to His disciples to help them live a better life.  These beatitudes will also help every other believer be a better example and by keeping them they will honor the Lord.  Jesus taught what He expected from His followers, which was a contradiction to the way that society lived and what they were taught.  Each beatitude started with a blessing, but may not have been what the disciples expected to hear.  

Being close to Jesus would have made them very popular with many of the people that were in the crowds that followed Jesus. Think of the time Jesus fed the 4000 and also the 5000 men plus women and children.   Many people loved to hear Jesus speak, saying at one point in time that He spoke like a man with authority, not as the Scribes and Pharisees.  With the disciples having all this prestige and popularity Jesus knew that there would be the temptation of thinking they were more important and better than anyone else.

Jesus chose these men for a specific purpose, but He loves all people the same.  The Bible says this in Acts 10:34-35, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

It also says this about the same subject in Romans 2:6-11, “For he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.”

Jesus wanted His disciples to know that if anyone seriously tried to live out these beatitudes they would surely run into opposition, then and even now in our day.  What matters to the Lord is faithful obedience to Him, not your popularity, financial status or your position of authority.  Jesus didn’t teach to be proud and legalistic like the teachers in that day were, he taught complete, heartfelt obedience.  

These beatitudes were in contrast from what was being taught, but keeping them would bring rewards and blessings, but maybe not in this life.  We also need to be careful, just like the disciples, because popularity could have caused them to think more highly of themselves than they should.  In our day many who have preached, taught and ministered in some capacity have become very popular and are subject to the same temptations and they may start using God’s Word to promote their own agenda, so guard yourselves and put God’s Word into practice including the Sermon on the Mount.  

You may think of the beatitudes as hard to live by, but if you strive to keep them they will be like good medicine and you will bring glory to the Lord because many will see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  It says this in 1 Peter 2:11-12, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

If you haven’t studied the beatitudes lately, maybe today would be a good day to refresh your memory.  If you have never read them, you can turn to Matthew chapter 5 and read verses 1-12, then start applying what it says there, to your life and you will become a changed person.  Something to think about!  May the Lord bless you and yours and have a super day!!