The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12
1 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.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Beatitudes are nine blessings shared by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. They are not what the world deems to be blessings. They are very different against the cultures, lifestyles and mindsets of the people living there and then.

The Beatitudes are often described as "be-attitudes" because they represent the spiritual mindsets and character traits that the followers of Christ should develop and mature to become, and not some material goods to gain and possess. They are "attitudes to be" that reflect a blessed and kingdom-focused life.

The Beatitudes describe the spiritual character of the people in God’s kingdom. They are divine blessings, emphasizing humility, mercy, purity and peacemaking over pride and greed. These Beatitudes will lead to true happiness, blessedness and spiritual fulfillment.

1. Poor in Spirit
Those people who know they have spiritual needs are blessed. They know they need to fully depend on God, and the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

2. Those Who Mourn
Those who are sad now are blessed. They cry in sorrow as they see the decaying spiritual conditions of the people around them. But God will comfort them.

3. The Meek
Those who are humble are blessed. The earth will belong to them. They will inherit the earth through humility and gentleness, and not by military power, might and superiority.

4. Hunger for Righteousness
Those who are willing to do righteousness the way that God desires are blessed. God will fully satisfy their hunger as they seek for true holiness and justice.

5. The Merciful
Those who give mercy to others are blessed. Mercy will be given to them. Through their compassion, they will receive mercy from God.

6. Pure in Heart
Those who are pure in their hearts are blessed. God will be with them. And they will see God through their undivided attention and devotion.

7. Peacemakers
Those who work to bring true peace are blessed. God will call them His sons. They have become children of God.

8. Persecuted
Those who are persecuted and treated badly for doing good are blessed. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. They will inherit the kingdom.

9. Mistreated And Victimized
Others will say bad things about them and hurt them. Others will lie and say all kinds of evil things about them because they follow God. But when others do these things to them, they are blessed. They can rejoice and be glad. They have a great reward waiting for them in heaven. Others had done the same evil things to the prophets in the past.

In these Beatitudes, Jesus declares the true blessings of God's kingdom. He gives us a vision of a world redeemed by His love. He tells us the qualities of discipleship which will bring about that transformation.

The Beatitudes teach us what it means to be a child of God, seeking and living for the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

The Beatitudes also show the divine blessings of God which are very contrary to the worldly standards and values. They tell us what true blessedness is.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul. If he does not have any love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, he is not blessed even if he has all the material goods and gains, and power in the world!

True blessings are not material goods to possess and have but godly attitudes to be. Not what we have but what we are or have become.

Written on 5 April 2026