One of the things that strikes me first about the Sermon on the Mount is the way it begins. “Blessed are the…” He must have really thought it was important because he says it nine times! Anything Jesus says nine times in a row ought to get our attention. The beattitudes, as we call them, starts off one of the most powerful sermons ever delivered with the foundation that there is a connection between God and mankind that results in blessing. This blessing is not some feel good thing or psychological well being (although those could be biproducts). Jesus starts off this sermon reminding us that those who are seeking God actually do receive something directly from God (comfort, mercy, filling, etc). We have God’s attention and God reaches down and does something favorable in our lives.
Isn’t it great to know God cares and that he is willing to make a difference in our lives in times we need him the most. I hope today you are able to recognize God’s blessings in your lives. It is not unusual for God to bless us, we often just aren’t looking for them in the right places.
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My sense is that Jesus totally catches His disciples off guard. Not so much that He enumerates blessed conditions. Doing so was a common rabbinic tradition. Instead, I believe He surprises them by identifying as “blessed” qualities that are radically different from those articulated by the Pharisees, who placed emphasis on external, measureable, performable acts of “righteousness.”
Concerning the word “blessed,” Wiersbe has this:
This was a powerful word to those who heard Jesus that day. To them it meant “divine joy and perfect happiness.” The word was not used for humans; it described the kind of joy experienced only by the gods or the dead. “Blessed” implied an inner satisfaction and sufficiency that did not depend on outward circumstances for happiness. This is what the Lord offers those who trust Him!
Blessings to you, my friend!
Bill
I agree Bill – He did catch them off guard. I’m wondering if they left scratching their heads.
Speaking of catching us off guard — the Lord mentions blessed are the peace makers in the Beatitudes. I point this out for a reason because God’s idea of peace and ours is actually one the most misunderstood words in the Scripture. The word peace is often misconstruted by Chistians and non-Christians alike. We tend to apply worldly terms in the sense of peace between leaders and nations but actually the word PEACE is about having a personal relationships with God. This was a revelation to me and why I love to study his word. And knowing this I wonder if this is why the Lord warns us to stay away from worldly things. Because He is the Alpha and the Omega – He knew that His Word would become corrupted by worldly terms and popular definations. And that’s a mistake on our part not his.
Charlotte
Bill,
I am sure that was an eye opener for them. And that was just the beginning of the sermon. He goes on to say that hate is as evil as murder and that lust is just as sinful as adultery! Wow.
Charlotte,
It is so important that we keep learning, keep seeking, and keep growing! Isn’t it wonderful how the Word of God continues to expand our thinking all the while drawing us closer to Him?