Introduction to The Beatitudes

Opening Prayer                                                                                             Pg.1      
God of our salvation, Just as we come into your presence in great humility, we also come in the joy of being in your service, of spending time in Your word, learning in fellowship among like followers of Your Son Jesus. We are thankful for your word in our study of the beatitudes as given to us by Jesus. We pray that our fellowship today will bless each one here and give each of us  joy and purpose that we may be useful vessels in your service.  Be with those of our group who cannot be here today, we pray you will share our blessing with them. Be with those of us who are suffering illness and those who care for them. Restore their health and bring them back into our midst. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen    
The Study
This is the 1st in our study of the beatitudes as given to us by Jesus in his sermon on the mount. Each Beatitude consists of two phrases: the condition and the result. We will study each beatitude in the order as it is given in Jesus’ teaching. Overall this study gives us some insights as to what the beatitudes meant to the people of Jesus’ day,  and how they now apply to us as followers of Jesus. It is our purpose in this Study of Jesus’ teachings to learn from him how to live the beatitudes as disciples and as Christians, to lead others to him through our applying these principles to our daily lives.
The Location
On a great hill near Capernaum where Jesus sat down in a formal teaching attitude, This would become the most important sermon that will ever be heard, and Jesus was well equipped for the task. A strong voice,  and the location offered a sweeping scenic view of the sea of Galilee, and a place conducive to acoustic clarity because of the great mountain in the background. This was a teaching moment that has not and will never be equaled. It was for all those there, not just his disciples.  The beatitudes open the great sermon given on the mountain in Matthew 5. The word “beatitude” comes from the Latin word beatus which means “blessed.” Some have made a play on the word to call them the “be-attitudes.” The beatitudes show to us the blessings and responsibilities of being a disciple of Jesus. The Greek term means happy or fortunate
Why did Jesus begin his sermon with the Beatitudes?                                                                                 The twelve Apostles being chosen, the Lord wanted to initiate them in the teaching of the New Kingdom. He took them to the mountain of Koroun-Hattin near Capernaum. A great crowd followed Jesus to the top of the mountain.
There he sat in the manner of a teacher among his students, the disciples whom he had just named. Were ready and anxious to be taught. Thus Jesus started with a descriptive exposition of what the qualities are that must be lived in order to obtain the blessings offered to those in God’s world that would aspire to be counted among the blessed.
About Blessed:
The word, means more than ‘happy.’ Happiness may come from earthly things; blessedness comes from God. It is not bestowed arbitrarily; a reason follows each beatitude
Blessed. is translated from the Greek word  makarios (mak-AR-ee-os) which literally means fortunate or well off and is many times translated as happy. Society does not envision happy people as poor, mournful, hungry and thirsty, or meek.
                                                                                                                                          Pg.2      
There are (9) Blessings offered in the beatitudes. Some scholars (most) classify the eighth and ninth as one, therefore counting only eight. However there are actually two more blessings to which Jesus alluded. (1)The offer of a great reward in Heaven. (2) And one additional blessing. It is found in  John 20:29  “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”                                                                                                                                        

The blessings listed:                                                                    
(1) The Poor in Spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (2)Those who mourn, they will be comforted. (3) The Meek, they will inherit the earth. (4) Who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be filled. (5) Merciful, they will be shown mercy. (6) The Pure in Heart. they will see God. (7) The Peacemakers, they will be called children of God. (8)The Persecuted, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (9) Insulted, persecuted, falsely accused, because of Jesus, great is your reward in heaven, (10)blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Introduction to The Beatitudes                                                                        
What does the word Beatitude mean?
beatification, blessedness
happiness, felicity - state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

We can summarize the Beatitudes as prescriptive rules, each with its corresponding promised reward, as follows:
What to Be What You Get
Poor in spirit Possession (?) of the Kingdom of Heaven (shared with the persecuted)
In mourning Comfort
Meek Inherit the Earth
Hungry for Righteousness Righteousness
Merciful Mercy
Pure in heart Sight of God
Peacemaker Called Child of God (by God?)
Persecuted for Righteousness's sake Possession (?) of the Kingdom of Heaven (shared with the poor in spirit)
Reviled for Jesus's sake Reward in heaven

Jesus has given us the benefit of the wisdom of God in this one phrase;
“It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." I would consider it good Christian Discipleship then, if we take into account that every one of these beatitudes is dependent upon the other for them to be in effect, and not even one of them is of such powerful character as to proffer any of the blessings promised unless all the others are in consideration at the same time.


                                                                                                                                        Pg.3
In our study of the Beatitudes, we will attempt to gain insight into what these words of Jesus mean and how they apply to our own existence, in the context of our present day. We also hope to achieve a better understanding of what Jesus, was saying to his disciples as he taught these principles.

The message of Jesus is one of righteousness, humility, charity, and brotherly love. He teaches transformation of the inner person. Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, virtues in life which will ultimately lead to reward. Love becomes the motivation for the Christian. All of the Beatitudes have an eschatological meaning, that is, they promise us salvation - not in this world, but in the next. The Beatitudes initiate one of the main themes of Matthew's Gospel, that the Kingdom so long awaited in the Old Testament is not of this world, but of the next, the Kingdom of Heaven.

While the Beatitudes of Jesus provide a guide to a way of life that promises salvation, they also provide peace in the midst of our trials and tribulations on this earth.

An early contemplation on the Beatitudes came from St. Gregory of Nyssa, a mystic who lived in Cappadocia in Asia Minor around 380 AD. He described the Beatitudes this way:
"Beatitude is a possession of all things held to be good, from which nothing is absent that a good desire may want. Perhaps the meaning of beatitude may become clearer to us
if it is compared with its opposite. Now the opposite of beatitude is misery.
Misery means being afflicted unwillingly with painful sufferings."
So as we study these Nine Beatitudes, we should keep in the back of our mind, the opposite of each when making application to our day to day existence.

                                  Some typical questions for consideration:

1. How does one know if they are “poor in spirit?” Describe such a person.
2. Describe the different emotions involved in mourning.
3. What images come to your mind when you think of “meekness?”
4. What would be the character qualities of a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness?
5. What does it mean to be merciful?
6. What comes to your mind when you think of purity?
7. What kind of character is found in a peacemaker?
8. What are some of the persecutions in the world today?
9. What additional suffering is given in the ninth beatitude, and why?



Pro 6:16  There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
Pro 6:17  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18  a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
Pro 6:19  a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.