The Beatitudes: A Christian Portrait

Last night our church began a study of The Beatitudes, Mat 5:1-12. The message was an overview with two main points.

1. The Beatitudes are more descriptive than prescriptive. In other words, these are not so much attitudes that should be in the life of a believer as they are attitudes that are in the life of a believer. I say this for three reasons. (1) Each beatitude is divided into two parts; naming a Christian virtue and naming the blessing that is attached to that virtue. For example, poor in spirit is a Christian virtue. The “blessing” for the poor in spirit is “the kingdom of heaven.” Now if you will examine each of the 8 blessings of the 8 beatitudes, you would agree that these blessings are not for some believers, but for all believers. Therefore, if all believers share these blessings, does it not stand to reason that all believers will share these virtues to a degree? (2) The language is very exclusive. “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” literally means “the kingdom of heaven belongs to them only.” To who? The poor in spirit. Who are the poor in spirit? Believers. Not just some believers because humility is an essential Christian virtue and all believers will possess the kingdom of heaven. (3) When Jesus changes in vv11-12 from saying “them” to saying “you,” he reveals exactly who he had in mind. He was talking to his disciples. He was talking about disciples.
2. “Blessed” are the Believers. The word for “blessed” literally means “happy.” It would be perfectly accurate to say “Happy are the humble.” Now these “blessings” are eternal, spiritual joys because they are things such as seeing God, being satisfied, etc. The thrust of the Beatitudes then is that God means for his people to be happy people! True lasting happiness is found ONLY in the Christian life. Happiness comes in direct opposite ways from the world’s promise of happiness and fulfillment. True happiness comes from following Christ!

The end of studying the Beatitudes should be believers who realign our hearts according to these virtues and find ourselves to be extremely happy in Jesus!