The Beatitudes Broken Down

When I first read the Beatitudes I was stumped.  It didn't make much sense.  In fact it sounded like nonsense to me.  After learning more, I understand now what the Beatitudes mean and am happy to explain it to others. The subject of God's kingdom isn't just different than the world's kingdom, they're actually opposite. This is a fallen world, nothing like the perfect kingdom of heaven. They are at opposite ends of the spectrum.  According to the Beatitudes, the worse off you are in the world, the better off you are in the eyes of God. If we are willing to suffer anything and everything in this life for Jesus and partake of his suffering, we will be generously rewarded in heaven.  Partaking in Jesus' suffering is part of being saved and continuing to live in this world.  If we are saved and disciples of Jesus we are in this world but not of it.  We will be rewarded for suffering because we are showing our own sacrificial love, the same way Jesus showed his most glorious display of sacrificial love on the cross.

Referring to his disciples, Jesus said:

John 17:16

"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

I found this tidbit on Wikipedia:

"The term beatitude comes from the Latin adjective beatus which means happy, fortunate, or blissful. Far more than "happiness" or "joy", the word "blessed" in these teachings has been defined as an "exclamation of the inner joy and peace that comes with being right with God"."

This life hurts.  Most of the time on this earth we aren't recognized for who we are or what we're capable of doing.  Life is just not fair, but we were never promised that it would be fair or easy.  We were only promised God would never leave or forsake us.  I think inside we long for heaven where everything will be fair.  I often have to remind myself that this isn't heaven by a long shot, and someday all of this will be worth it.   I believe that the beatitudes are where we find our hope when we are weary, tired and discouraged from this world.  This is where we find the hope of a better future.  It won't always be this way!  Everything in this world is backwards.  Someday, in the kingdom of heaven everything will be made fair and as it should be.  Those who are last here in this world will be first, and first will be made last.  Knowing this gives you some perspective, and makes it a little easier to endure anything and everything.  It's far wiser to endure temporary suffering for an eternal reward.  Eternity is far vaster and greater than this short life.  In light of knowing this, it makes it easier to  delay gratification and endure hardship for the eternal reward.  As Rick Warren says: "life is a test, a trust and a temporary assignment".  We need to live for the eternal, not the temporal and keep storing up our treasure in heaven, not here on earth.  Heaven is our ultimate destination.  Ponder that for a minute, and then read the Beatitudes, or "Beautiful Attitudes". These paraphrases I found online really help a lot with translation and meaning.

Matthew 5:1-12
New King James Version (NKJV)
The Beatitudes

1 And seeing the multitudes, He (Jesus) went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who humbly recognize their need for God, for they will enter into his kingdom.")

4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
(Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who mourn for their sins, for they shall receive forgiveness and life eternal.")

5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
(Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who submit to God as Lord, for they will be heirs to everything God possesses.")

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
(Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who passionately long for the Lord, Jesus Christ, for he will satisfy their souls.")

7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
(Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who show mercy through forgiveness, kindness and compassion, for they will receive mercy.")

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
(Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who have been purified from the inside out, being made clean and holy, for they will see God.")

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
(Paraphrase: "Blessed are those who have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and who bring this same message of reconciliation to others. All those who have peace with God are called his sons.")

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Paraphrase: "Blessed are those daring enough to openly live for righteousness and suffer persecution, for they will receive the kingdom of heaven.")

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.