As we practice mercy in all our relationships, our hearts become purified enabling us to see the good in others - their God-given qualities: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” ( 5:8) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” ( 5:7). And insofar as we exercise that mercy, we become more merciful. As we turn to God for all things, we are filled with mercy towards others. The fifth, sixth and seventh blessings summarize the works of charity that constitute a life of righteousness. This marks the transition to the next three blessings. Therefore we read, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” ( 5:6). Such people desire to live a righteous life. Consequently, the fourth blessing speaks not only of humility, meekness and the desire to receive truth, but also of the desire to bring those truths forth in their lives. People who are of this nature are open to the blessings that flow in from God, beginning with the desire to serve the neighbor. These first three blessings speak about the qualities of people who acknowledge God as the giver of all things (“poor in spirit”), people who long for the comfort of truth (“they who mourn”), and people who are gentle and temperate in disposition (“the meek”). The third blessing describes this gentler disposition: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” ( 5:4). No longer eager to win an argument, or defend ourselves, our unruly lower nature (“the earth”) is tamed, quieted, and subdued. We find that we are agreeable, good-natured, and willing to admit our faults. When these lost truths are brought again to our remembrance, we remember that without God we are indeed “poor in spirit.” Relieved of the arrogance that believes we are the source of truth and goodness, we experience humility. That’s why the second blessing speaks about how God offers comfort during times of mourning: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” As we turn to the Lord in prayer and call upon His name, the Comforter comes to us, restoring lost truths, teaching us new ones, and filling us with hope and consolation. And when we forget that everything good and true is from the Lord alone, sorrow and suffering are inevitable. It is this acknowledgment - the acknowledgment of our spiritual poverty - which receives the kingdom of heaven.īut there are times when we forget this essential truth. To the degree that we acknowledge that all love and all wisdom is from God alone, and nothing from ourselves, we can receive the love and wisdom that constantly flows in from God. This is the main idea which reigns throughout the sermon. Jesus begins with the words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” ( 5:3). This is the part of us that follows Jesus up the mountain in order to receive the opening words of His most famous speech, referred to as the “Sermon on the Mount.” This is one of the great purposes of temptation - to remind us that without God we are utterly helpless.
One purpose served by temptation is to make us aware of our spiritual poverty, so that we might choose to acknowledge in heart that everything we have is from God. His instruction begins with this essential teaching: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” ( 5:1). Leap for joy and rejoice, for your reward much in the heavens for so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.”Īs the crowds begin to gather, and as great multitudes come to Him, not only from Galilee, but also from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from areas beyond the Jordan, Jesus decides to go up onto a mountain and preach. Happy are you when they shall reproach you, and persecute, and say every wicked saying against you, telling lies, on account of Me.ġ2. Happy they that are persecuted for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.ġ1. Happy the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.ġ0. Happy the clean in heart, for they shall see God.ĩ.
Happy the merciful, for they shall have mercy.Ĩ. Happy they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall be satisfied.ħ. Happy the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.Ħ. Happy they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.ĥ. “Happy the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.Ĥ. And opening His mouth He taught them, saying,ģ. And seeing the crowds, He went up into the mountain and when He had sat down, His disciples came to Him.Ģ.