Sermon on the Mount
Beatitudes
This devotional is written by Hannah-Rivkah Perkin.
Matthew 5:1-12
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Reflection
Although it might seem it at first, the beatitudes are not conditions of salvation or a google map that will enable you to enter God’s kingdom.
Each of the beatitudes begin with the word ‘blessed’ - a word which affirms the state of blessing that already exists. Each statement declares that these groups of people, who are normally seen as afflicted, are actually blessed. Those blessed groups do not have to do anything to attain their blessing because the beatitudes are declarations of God’s grace. They are blessings given as a result of God coming close to us - they are given to us by his kingdom.
Although the meaning of each beatitude is well worth exploring, let’s focus on verse 6: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness’.
In ancient Judaism, righteousness meant "to acquit, vindicate, and restore to right relationship." As such, righteousness is about being in right relationship with God and those around us.
The writer of Psalm 42 puts their desire for God beautifully well; ‘As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.’
The more we are in right relationship with God, spending time with him in prayer and worship and being filled by the Holy Spirit, the more we become like Christ. This Christ-likeness enables us to be more loving and merciful towards others. It enables us to be in right relationship with the people around us.
Pray
Lord, place in me a thirst to improve my relationship with you. Forgive me for when I have wronged you and others. Put in me a desire to be more loving towards to the people I work, live and spend time with.
Lord, I want to care deeply when relationships are going wrong - please disturb me when they are in disarray and use me to help heal and restore right relationship.
Amen.
Each of the beatitudes begin with the word ‘blessed’ - a word which affirms the state of blessing that already exists. Each statement declares that these groups of people, who are normally seen as afflicted, are actually blessed. Those blessed groups do not have to do anything to attain their blessing because the beatitudes are declarations of God’s grace. They are blessings given as a result of God coming close to us - they are given to us by his kingdom.
Although the meaning of each beatitude is well worth exploring, let’s focus on verse 6: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness’.
In ancient Judaism, righteousness meant "to acquit, vindicate, and restore to right relationship." As such, righteousness is about being in right relationship with God and those around us.
The writer of Psalm 42 puts their desire for God beautifully well; ‘As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.’
The more we are in right relationship with God, spending time with him in prayer and worship and being filled by the Holy Spirit, the more we become like Christ. This Christ-likeness enables us to be more loving and merciful towards others. It enables us to be in right relationship with the people around us.
Pray
Lord, place in me a thirst to improve my relationship with you. Forgive me for when I have wronged you and others. Put in me a desire to be more loving towards to the people I work, live and spend time with.
Lord, I want to care deeply when relationships are going wrong - please disturb me when they are in disarray and use me to help heal and restore right relationship.
Amen.
Recent
Archive
2020
January
New YearNew YearNew YearThe Path to Spiritual GrowthEvery Night with MattThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeHow to PrayThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
February
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeHow to PrayThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
March
The Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of LukeThe Gospel of Luke
2019
January
John the Baptist prepares the wayJesus announces the good newsJesus heals manyJesus forgives and healsJesus heals on the SabbathParable of the sowerLamp on a standJesus restores a demon possessed manJesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick womanA prophet without honourJohn the Baptist beheadedJesus feeds the five thousandJesus walks on waterThat which defiles
February
Faith of the Syro-phonecian womanFeeding 4000Jesus heals a blind man at BethsaidaTransfigurationJesus heals a boy possessed by an impure spiritJesus predicts his death a second timeDivorceThe rich and the kingdom of GodJesus predicts his death a third timeBlind Bartimaeus receives his sightJesus comes to Jerusalem as kingJesus curses a fig tree and clear the templeThe authority of Jesus questionedPaying tax to CaesarThe greatest commandmentThe destruction of the temple
March
June
July
A Fellowship of DifferenceLove your neighbourLove your enemyNeither Jew nor GentilePray for PrideEphesians 6:10-13Ephesians 6:14Ephesians 6:15Ephesians 6:16Ephesians 6:17Ephesians 6:18-20LoveLove, for the day is nearLove is patientGod is loveCreationSabbathThe Lord does not grow wearyPsalm 23Come all you who are wearyBe stillJesus asleep in the boatQuiet you with love
August
Proverbs 1Proverbs 2Proverbs 3Proverbs 4Proverbs 5Proverbs 6Proverbs 7Proverbs 8Proverbs 9Proverbs 10Proverbs 11Proverbs 12Proverbs 13Proverbs 14Proverbs 15Proverbs 16Proverbs 17Proverbs 18Proverbs 19Proverbs 20Proverbs 21Proverbs 22Proverbs 23Proverbs 24Proverbs 25Proverbs 26Proverbs 27Proverbs 28Proverbs 29Proverbs 30Proverbs 31
September
October
A Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleBack very soonSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the Mount
November
Sermon on the MountSermon on the MountOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritOpen to the SpiritLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the ThessaloniansLetters to the Thessalonians
No Comments