The Sermon on the Mount - and more specifically, The Beatitudes, are some of the most written and taught about passages of Scripture in the Bible.
The Beatitudes are snapshot statements on what life in the Kingdom of God looks like for the follower of Jesus. Each statement begins with a statement and ends with a completely unexpected conclusion. (In fact, some translators will include a “because” instead of “for” in each statement to help the reader more clearly see the correlation between the two statements.) For example, when Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” His audience would not expect Jesus to follow up that statement with “because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus’ intent is to show just how upside-down his values are from the world’s.
This upside-down value system Jesus offers is easy to forget. Living in a post-Christian culture, we can treat these statements as spiritual niceties and proverbial wisdoms when in reality they are shocking, counter-cultural statements about the ever-invading presence of God’s kingdom.
While not exhaustive, here is a breakdown of each of these statements along with Scripture cross-references to explore this passage more on your own.
Related resources: “The Beatitudes” sermon series from Desiring God, “How the Order of the Beatitudes Could Change Your Life” from The Gospel Coalition
1 - Blessed are the poor in spirit (v.3)
The poor in spirit are not proud or boastful. God has a particular affection for “the least of these”, the outcasts, the lowly, the destitute, the sojourner, the orphan, the widow. Such people recognize their shortcomings and are more able to humbly experience God’s grace and His Kingdom invitation. Like the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14, participants of God’s kingdom are aware of their sin and their need for God’s mercy. Eugene Peterson puts it this way:
You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
See Psalms 14:6; 22:24; 25:16; 34:6; 40:17; 69:29.
2 - Blessed are those who mourn (v.4)
Those who mourn do not avoid, distract, or numb themselves to the brokenness in themselves and the world around them. This promise is the first of several reversals in the Beatitudes. Life in the Kingdom of God is both something to experience now and something that will be experienced later after death for the believer. Mourning will one day turn to celebration, every tear will be wiped away, and suffering will be forgotten.
See Rev. 21 and Rev. 22
3 - Blessed are the meek (v.5)
Those who are meek do not seek after power. Flowing out of spiritual humility, a meek person is open, vulnerable, and quietly submits and trusts God’s rule and reign no matter their circumstances. And Jesus says these types of people, who willfully give up power, will one day inherit all of creation. This concept of inheritance implies adoption, that we are co-stewards and co-rulers of God’s creation. Joseph Dillow in The Reign of the Servant Kings says:
Inheriting is not always the same as entering. A person can enter another’s house, for example, without inheriting it. The Old Testament concept of inheriting involved not only entering but also becoming an owner of what one entered. In this beatitude, Jesus was saying more than that the meek will enter the kingdom. They will also enter into it as an inheritance and possess it.
4 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (v.6)
Those who hunger and thrust for righteousness do not demand personal gratification. Whenever Matthew speaks of “righteousness” he is referring not to initial salvation but to personal holiness and a desire to see that personal holiness extend to God’s people. As a participant of the Kingdom, they pray and work towards others encountering the presence and power of God in their lives.
Those who hunger are people like the poor Jesus has already mentioned. The term has OT roots both in conjunction with the poor (Isa 32:6-7; 58:6-7, 9-10; Ezek 18:7, 16) or by itself (Pss 37:16-19; 107:9).
5 - Blessed are the merciful (v.7)
Those who are merciful are not vindictive. Flowing out of the other Beatitudes so far, a humble, single-minded Kingdom participant is quick to extend forgiveness because they are fully aware of how much they have been forgiven. John Stott in The Message of the Sermon on the Mount says it this way:
A merciful person forgives the guilty and has compassion on the needy and the suffering. A meek person acknowledges to others that he or she is sinful, but a merciful person has compassion on others because they are sinful.
6 - Blessed are the pure in heart (v.8)
Those who are pure in heart do not have hidden agendas. To be pure in heart does not imply moral perfection or sinlessness but a single-mindedness in devotion to God - someone who knows they are saved by grace through faith and works towards orienting and prioritizing their lives more and more around the Lordship of King Jesus. This concept is prevalent throughout both Matthew and the Old Testament.
See - Deut. 10:16; 30:6; 1 Sam. 15:22; Ps. 24:3-4; 51:6, 10; Isa. 1:10-17; Jer. 4:4; 7:3-7; 9:25-26).
7 - Blessed are the Peacemakers (v.9)
Peacemakers are not divisive. Jesus followers make peace in mirroring King Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6-7). Though we were at enmity with God because of sin, Jesus conquers sin and death on our behalf and reconciles us to the Father. Isaiah predicts this of the Messiah in Isaiah 52:7. To be a peacemaker not only means we forgive others (v.7) but that we proactively herald the gospel that brings people into a peaceful relationship with God and with others.
8 - Blessed are the Persecuted (vv.10-12)
Those who are persecuted do not seek acceptance and approval from others because all of their acceptance and approval is found in Jesus. In Jesus’ conclusion of the Beatitudes, He reminds His disciples of both the current reality and future rewards of those who suffer. The world stands in opposition to life in the Kingdom. As a result, the righteous become targets of the unrighteous This happened to Jesus, The Suffering Servant, and the expectation is this should happen to us as well. (In fact, according to OpenDoors, the global church has experienced more persecution and martyrdom now than anytime in church history.)
See - John 15:18-25; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:13-14