The initial observations of Matthew 5:2-12 can be found here, while an important word study on the term blessed can be found here. You can find the overviews of each verse at the following links:
For any person who does not have easy access to Bible software you can look up all cross references listed in this blog at the Bible Gateway website.
It is easy and quick to use and you can choose from many different
translations. The cross references are a big part of any Bible Study
that we may undertake!
Biblical Prinicples
1. What does the text mean given the original context?
- This was Jesus' first public sermon/teaching. He describes to the listeners what someone who wants to be part of the kingdom of God will need to be like.
2. Fundamental Universal Truths?
- To be in a right relationship with God one needs to be humble, meek, pure, hungering for righteousness and be ready for possible persecution. The rewards will be great.
3. What does this address in my own culture or even my own situation?
- The beatitudes are all about keeping one's focus on God and one's relationship with God. Earthly matters need to be secondary to God. I need to remember that. Our culture tends to be very quick fix and earthly focused.
4. Reinforced values? Difference? Does it require a change?
- The beatitudes reinforce most of what Jesus always says. He is always focused on His relationship with the Father and tells us to do the same. I don't know that it requires a full on change from me as much as a re-dedication and a redoubling of my efforts and focus!!
- And it makes all the difference in the world!! I need to be forcused on God at all times! What He wants me to do, how He wants me to be, how He wants me to pray....those should be my concerns.
- I need to know that I always need Him. I can't (and this has been proven over and over) get myself right without Him! And I WANT to be right with God. I WANT to be pure and meek and peaceful!
Application
1. An example to follow?
- Yes! Jesus not only lays out the example, HE IS the example!
2. Sin to avoid?
- Not in any certain words but it does seem we would want to avoid focusing on our own earthly concerns and our selfish desires.
3. Promise to claim?
- YES! If we do or are the way Jesus shows us to be (poor in spirit or humble, mourning our own sinful nature, meek or non-resistant to God's will, truly hungering and seeking righteousness, merciful!, pure in heart, peacemakers, and are ready for possible persecution) then we would have the kingdom of God, be comforted, be satisfied, inherit the earth, receive mercy, and see God! In other words BLESSED!
4. Prayer to repeat?
- Not specifically no
5. Command to obey
- Jesus does not state the beatitudes as a command per se but more of a description. But as mentioned before, to be meek means to be non-resistant to God's will. That would insinuate someone who is following God's commands.
6. Condition to meet?
- Yes! Each beatitude has a condition that must be met to be able to be in the state of blessedness.
7. Verse to memorize?
- I don't think it would hurt to memorize any of the beatitudes.
8. An error to mark?
- Not per se. The error would be, to not be as Jesus is telling us to be.
9. Challenge to face
- YES! It is always a challenge NOT to be concerned with our earthly and daily toils and troubles and desires!!
But as Jesus says in Mat_6:25-34
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
(Matthew 6:25-34)
My Application
- To keep diving into God's Word so as to continue learning more of His will and commands. To post what I learn on this blog, pray that I am posting correctly, and to continually pray for discernment, wisdom, help and guidance!
- To never lose sight of what is really important--God and my relationship with Him. I need to always know that I need Him to overcome my own weaknesses.
Thoughts from Commentaries
Believer's Bible Commentary:
- On Mat_5:4 -- states that mourning: "..is an active sharing of the world's hurt and sin with Jesus. Therefore, it includes, not only sorrow for one's own sin, but also sorrow because of the world's appalling condition, it's rejection of the Savior, and the doom of those who refuse His mercy."
- On Mat_5:7 : Here, Jesus is not referring to the mercy of salvation which God gives to a believing sinner; that mercy is not dependent on a person's being merciful—it is a free, unconditional gift. Rather the Lord is speaking of the daily mercy needed for Christian living and of mercy in that future day when one's works will be reviewed (1Co_3:12-15). If one has not been merciful, that person will not receive mercy; that is, one's rewards will decrease accordingly.
ESV Study Bible:
- On Mat_5:4 : those who mourn. The spiritual, emotional, or financial loss resulting from sin should lead to mourning and a longing for God’s forgiveness and healing
Final Thoughts
- As the Believer's Bible Commentary states, these Beatitudes were addressed to Jesus' followers. They are what He expects and what is to be expected. There is SO much to think upon. Blessed! A permanent state of relationship and closeness with God. Amazing. Humility, sorrow for sin, receiving and giving mercy. Making peace, helping to tell others about Christ. The possibility of persecution (in many forms).
- But the state of blessedness is the thing. It is what we all should want and strive for.
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