The Beatitudes

祝福

前言 - 马太福音4:23 ~ 5:2

耶稣走遍加利利，在各会堂里教训人，传天国的福音，医治百姓各样的病症。 祂的名声就传遍了叙利亚。那里的人把一切害病的，就是害各样疾病，各样疼痛的，和被鬼附的，癫痫的，瘫痪的，都带了来，耶稣就治好了他们。当下，有许多人从加利利，低加波利，耶路撒冷，犹太，约但河外，来跟着他。

耶稣看见这许多的人，就上了山，既已坐下，门徒到他跟前来。 祂就开口教训他们。

耶稣的祝福 - 马太福音 5:3 ~ 10

祂说，“虚心的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。 哀恸的人有福了，因为他们必得安慰。 温柔的人有福了，因为他们必承受地土。饥渴慕义的人有福了，因为他们必得饱足。 怜恤人的人有福了，因为他们必蒙怜恤。 清心的人有福了，因为他们必得见神。 使人和睦的人有福了，因为他们必称为神的儿子。为义受逼迫的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。”

这些祝福到底是什么意思呢？

“虚心的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。”

有些人很谦虚，从来没有想要把自己抬的比应得的地位高。耶稣曾经说过，如果一个人谦虚如同孩子，那这个人在天国里要被称为最大的。在《箴言》书里，我们看到：自高的必降为卑；自卑的必升为高。

“哀恸的人有福了，因为他们必得安慰。”

我们的一生中会有许多事情发生，悲痛、忧伤的事也常有出现；但是上帝会安慰他们。如果一个人违背上帝的旨意，以至于使上帝也感到惋惜，这个人应当为自己的过错痛哭流涕。

“温柔的人有福了，因为他们必承受地土。”

温柔也是一种谦虚的表现。摩西是在圣经里被描述为一个个很谦虚和温柔的人，因为他知道无论他做事做得怎样成功实际上都不是他自己的功劳，而是上帝赐给他的能力才会成功。

“饥渴慕义的人有福了，因为他们必得饱足。”

一个饥饿的婴孩一定会哭着要喝奶。我们也应当像一个饿荒了的婴孩要喝奶一样来明白上帝要我们做的事。圣经里告诉我们什么样的事是上帝喜悦我们做的；我们也是从圣经里得到我们属灵的粮食。

“怜恤人的人有福了，因为他们必蒙怜恤。”

怜恤人的人必定是仁慈和宽容的。这样的人绝不是对别人怀有仇恨，而是从好的一方面去看别人。

“清心的人有福了，因为他们必得见神。”

如果我们的脑子里充满了好的思想，我们的心也必然清洁。如果我们随从世界上的恶势力，那么我们的脑子所想的和心里所存的也都是污秽的。我们要留意什么是我们该看的、该读的和该听的。

“使人和睦的人有福了，因为他们必称为神的儿子。”

你是否鼓励大家和睦相处？如果是的话，你就是一个调解人。在任何一个有争论的地方，你可以是争论中的一方，你也可以是调解人。出来劝大家和睦相处吧。

“为义受逼迫的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。”

我们必须捍卫真理，即使有的时候我们不得不得罪有些人、不得不让有些人感到不自在。这做起来并不是那么容易，但是这样做是讨上帝喜悦的。

讨论问题：

1. 祝福是什么意思？

2. “虚心”是什么意思？

3. 对于虚心和谦虚的人，有什么样的祝福？

4. 什么是谦卑？谦卑的人有什么样的祝福？

5. 哀恸的人将会收到怎么样的祝福？

6. 对饥渴慕义的人将会怎样？

7. 怜恤人的会有什么样的祝福？

8. 清心的会有什么样的祝福？

9. 使人和睦的人有什么样的祝福？

10. 为义而受难的人有什么样的奖赏？

Introduction -- Matthew 4: 23 – 5:2 (NIV)

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes -- Matthew 5: 3 – 10 (NIV)

He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

What do the Beatitudes mean?

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

These are people who are humble and who do not think of themselves more highly than they ought. Jesus once said that whoever humbles himself as a little child would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. In the book of Proverbs we read that a man's pride will bring him down, but a lowly spirit will bring him honor.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Many things happen to us in life that may cause us grief, but God will comfort us when we turn to Him. A person must also mourn, or be sad when he/she does things that make God sad because of disobedience.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Meekness is also about humility. Moses was described as a meek person. He knew that whatever he accomplished was not by his own power, but by the power which God gave him.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

A hungry baby will cry for milk. We also should be hungry to learn what God wants us to do. The Bible tells us of the things that please God, and that is where we get our spiritual "food".

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

The person who is merciful is kind and forgiving. This person is not hateful toward others, but looks for the good qualities in people.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God"

We can be pure in heart if we fill our minds with good thoughts. If we listen to the evil things of the world, our hearts and minds will become defiled and dirty. We need to be careful of the things we watch, read, and hear.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God"

Do you encourage people to get along and to be friends? If so, you are a peacemaker. Where peace is concerned, you can be part of the problem, or part of the solution. Be a peacemaker.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

We must stand up for what is right even if it means making someone angry or upset with us. Sometimes this is a hard thing to do, but it is pleasing to God.

Source: http://gardenofpraise.com/bibl42s.htm

Discussion questions:

    1. What does Beatitude mean?

    2. What does it mean to be humble?

    3. What is the blessing for the humble person who is poor in spirit?

    4. What is humility? How is a person with humility blessed?

    5. How is a sad person blessed?

    6. What happens to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness?

    7. How will those who are merciful be blessed?

    8. What is the blessing for those who are pure in heart?

    9. What is the blessing for the peacemakers?

    10. What is the reward for those who suffer even when they are doing right?