Blessed... to be blessed is to be acknowledged by God as his son or daughter and to be significant to his Kingdom as I express these attitudes.
Matthew 5:1-12, commonly known as the Beatitudes, describes attitudes that Jesus calls His followers to embody, along with the blessings and eternal rewards they will receive. Here’s a breakdown of each verse, explaining the attitude, the promised result, and its eternal, spiritual value;
Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)
1. Verse 3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Attitude: Humility and recognizing our spiritual need before God.
Result: The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Eternal Value: Those who acknowledge their dependence on God will receive eternal life in His kingdom.
2. Verse 4 - "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Attitude: Sorrow over sin and brokenness in the world.
Result: They will receive divine comfort.
Eternal Value: God will wipe away their tears and give them everlasting joy in His presence (Revelation 21:4).
3. Verse 5 - "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Attitude: Gentleness, humility, and submission to God.
Result: They will inherit the earth.
Eternal Value: The meek will reign with Christ in the new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 21:1).
4. Verse 6 - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
Attitude: A deep desire for God's righteousness and justice.
Result: They will be spiritually fulfilled.
Eternal Value: God will fully satisfy their longing by making them righteous in His presence forever.
5. Verse 7 - "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
Attitude: Compassion and forgiveness toward others.
Result: They will receive God's mercy.
Eternal Value: Those who show mercy reflect God’s character and will receive eternal mercy in His judgment.
6. Verse 8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Attitude: Inner purity, sincerity, and single-minded devotion to God.
Result: They will see God.
Eternal Value: The pure in heart will have unhindered fellowship with God for eternity.
7. Verse 9 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
Attitude: Working to bring reconciliation and peace.
Result: They will be identified as God's children.
Eternal Value: Peacemakers reflect God’s nature and will share in His eternal family.
8. Verse 10 - "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Attitude: Willingness to endure suffering for standing up for what is right.
Result: The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Eternal Value: Those who suffer for Christ will receive eternal rewards and reign with Him.
9. Verses 11-12 - "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Attitude: Joyful endurance of persecution for Christ’s sake.
Result: A great reward in heaven.
Eternal Value: Sharing in the suffering of Christ leads to eternal glory and honor before God.