he Beatitudes Of Yeshua 10 More Brit Chadashah -New Covenant BlessingsIn Matthew 5:1-12 , there are nine “blessed’s.”We call these the
Beatitudes. Although Adonai gave us Ten Commandments,
Yeshua gave us only nine Beatitudes. However, in Revelation,
Chapter 22, verse 14, another “Blessed” has been given to us.
— “Blessed are those who do His commandments,
That they may have the right to the tree of life, and May
Enter through the gates into the city.”
WHAT YESHUA TAUGHT
Matthew 5:1-12 1.And seeing the multitudes, He
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.
4.Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.14
5.Blessed are the meek, for
They shall inherit the earth.
6.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7.Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
8.Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they shall see Adonai.
9.Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called
sons of Adonai. 10.Blessed are
those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, for theirs
is 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.”
Blessed Are the Merciful
One day a man was traveling over dangerous land when
he met a dog with a wounded foot. This man took time to
look at the dog’s foot and found a thorn in it. He carefully
took the thorn out, washed the dog’s foot, and bandaged
it with his own handkerchief. The dog then went its own
way.
Sometime later, it happened that this man was captured
by some Indians. He was held a prisoner and was to be
killed. All at once the Indian chief’s dog ran to this man and
began to lick his hands and show all kinds of affection and
love for him! The Indian chief found out his dog had been
saved by this very man. He was so thankful for this kind act
that he set this man free.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
—Matthew 5:7
The opposite of Yeshua’s “blessed” in Matthew 5 would be the “woes” pronounced in Matthew 23against the scribes and Pharisees and all those that are against Adonai. Those woes pass judgment on the apostate people who refuse to recognize and do the full will of Adonai. The woes describe their character as well, but it is an evil and hypocritical character; and the woes are a divine pledge of judgment if those lives continue in their wickedness.
So when Yeshua says “blessed are they,” He is not only describing them as being filled with an inner sense of joy and peace because they are right with Adonai, but He is praising them for their character and pledging divine rewards for it.
A true closer explanation of the Beatitudes
Probably the best way to study these beatitudes would be to work through the basic process for each one–the definitions, the backgrounds, the connections and the applications. If you were teaching the beatitudes to a class you would do better by applying each one as you discuss it, rather than to wait till the end to try to apply them one by one.
1. “BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
The Old Testament Background. Part of the understanding of the beatitudes is to see the Old Testament background concerning these descriptions of the Messianic kingdom and the people who enter it. I mentioned Isaiah 61:1-3 before, and so this for one passage could be read. In it the Messiah would be anointed “to preach good tidings to the poor” (recall that in Luke 4 Yeshua read that passage in the synagogue and said it was fulfilled in their hearing). That passage helps us a little with our understanding of “the poor.” We tend to think of the “poor” primarily in terms of finances or possessions. That is part of it, but there is a spiritual side to it too. The word Isaiah uses describes the people who had been taken into exile. They were of course poor, having their land and possessions ripped away; but they were also afflicted and oppressed, they were powerless and without hope, and they were desperate. The physical poverty was intensified by the poverty in their spirit.
The Meaning of the Text. The words that describe the poor in the Bible include these aspects, for the poor in Yeshua’s day had few possessions, were usually oppressed, had little power and less hope. They had no resources to fall back on; they had to depend on others for survival. Isaiah brought the people of his day good news–they would be delivered from bondage. But Yeshua fulfilled that promise of bringing good news by proclaiming the gospel, the “good news” of Adonai. He did not make them rich in earthly possessions and power; but he fulfilled their greatest need.
People who are “poor in spirit” are those who are humble before Adonai. They realize that they have nothing in this life that they can contribute to receiving the kingdom of heaven. They have afflicted their souls, meaning that they have humbled themselves and repented with deep contrition; and they have come to the king as helpless and hopeless sinners. There is no arrogance in them, no self-righteousness, no self-sufficiency. They are free from their own pretensions, and therefore they are free for Adonai. Everyone who wishes to enter the kingdom must be “spiritually poor,” for salvation is a gift from Adonai.
And that is the good news for the genuinely poor and oppressed in this world. The poor person is not excluded because of his poverty; and the rich person is not accepted because of his wealth. Both must humble themselves before the Lord in order to be part of the kingdom. It is often easier for the down and out of this world to do that, than for the rich to do it.
The blessing Yeshua announces that “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Now this of course does not mean that all poor people are in the kingdom. One thinks of the self-made poverty of the prodigal son. No, the poverty is not the chief thing, but the qualification of the spirit it. It is the poor in spirit, those who have humbled themselves and become dependent on Adonai–they have the kingdom of heaven. In fact, everyone who is in the kingdom had to become poor in spirit. They all come with a broken heart and a contrite spirit seeking the Savior.
Application. The clear lesson is that if any are going to enter the kingdom of heaven they must become poor in spirit. This is the message of the kingdom; it is the call of repentance. They must humble themselves before Adonai and acknowledge that they bring nothing of their own power, possessions or merit to gain entrance. Those who truly humble themselves and express their need of the Lord, they have the kingdom of heaven. And in this they find heavenly bliss.
So how does one become poor in spirit? The implication from the context preceding this is that one would hear the message of the kingdom and learn what kind of a kingdom it is and how to enter it–through repentance for sin and submission to the will of Adonai. The first step is to confess that by themselves they can do nothing, and then seek the gracious provision that Adonai has made.
A secondary application would be to develop how this attitude is to characterize the attitude of the believers who are in the kingdom. They do not simply humble themselves to get in and then become self-sufficient (although some try to do it); they are to live their lives in total dependence on Adonai to supply their needs. This will open the study to themes such as humility, faith, prayer, and obedience.
2. “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED.”
Now we have a slightly different beatitude. In the last one the promise was that those who are poor in spirit have the kingdom. Here now the promise is for the future, for those who mourn will be comforted.
Old Testament Background. Isaiah also said that the Messiah would bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim the hour when the mourners would be comforted, when their ashes would be replaced by a crown of joy, and their mourning would be replaced with the oil of gladness (61:1-3). Mourning indicates the pain and the grief and the anxieties of the soul over some loss, often the death of a loved one. But it could be over the loss of a valued life, such as those Israelites who went into exile had to mourn. Or it could be over the loss of possessions, or status, or health. People mourn over any disaster or tribulation. And in times of mourning they look for hope. And most often in this world there is little hope.
The Meaning. The focus here is on the people of Adonai who mourn, because they will be comforted. Everyone experiences sad and tragic losses at some time or another in this life. But the mourning that leads to comfort in the kingdom is a mourning over the humiliation of Israel and its cause. The nation was in the grips of tyrannical powers and ruthless rulers–because of their sin. Yeshua came and announced the kingdom was at hand; He expected the response of people would be tears of contrition (see also Isaiah 40:1). Messiah would comfort those who mourn, but the comfort would come because the Messiah would save them from their sin, the cause of the mourning.
So for mourning to be “in the faith,” it will be likewise be a mourning not just for the suffering and sadness of life, but for the sinfulness that causes it. They understand that their grieving is ultimately for a world that is lost and ruined, in which Adonai and his will do not prevail. But in their mourning the disciples of Yeshua have opened their heavy hearts to the Lord, and they know that their grieving is not without hope. They know that their weeping and grieving is but for a time only. They know that death does not have the final victory, for the dead in Yeshua, the Ben(Son) of Yahweh will be raised incorruptible. They know that the Messiah will turn all that away someday. And that hope brings them comfort.
So the promise is that they will be comforted. They will be consoled above all when Adonai wipes away all tears, and death will be no more, nor grief nor tribulation (Isa. 25:8; Rev. 21:4). This is what citizens of his kingdom can expect.
Application. The instruction here would concern the focus of the mourning, not the mourning itself. The mourning that will be comforted is the mourning of the disciples, those who have the proper understanding of the reasons for the mourning. And they will have the proper faith to see them through. As people face the sadness of life, they can do so with hope if they have mourned over sin–a clear sign of faith in the Savior.
3. “BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH.”
The Old Testament Background. This beatitude is very much like the promise in Psalm 37:11, “The meek shall possess the land.” And if you study that passage you will see that it also is a Messianic psalm. The promise of the land certainly was the Promised Land.
The Meaning. In the Bible the meek are those who have a spirit of gentleness and self-control; they are free from malice and a condescending spirit. The meek may like the poor have no resources of their own; but then they may, for Moses was described as being meek and humble (Num. 12:3). But the meek do not exploit and oppress others; they are not given to vengeance and vendettas, they are not violent, and they do not try to seize power for their own ends. In short, they have emulated the nature of Yeshua in their lives and learned from him. This does not mean that they are weak or ineffective in life. They may be gentle and humble, but they can and do champion the needs of the weak and the oppressed.
The promise here is that they will possess the land. What land is meant? Probably the promised land. All through the Bible this was the promise to the people of Israel, a land. But possessing the land signified much more than a possession; it signified a sense of place, security, an inheritance from Adonai. But the land was constantly invaded and the people exiled and scattered. And yet the promise of the regathering to the land remained in the promises of the New Covenant. Those promises seem now to be realized with the second coming of the Messiah when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. The promise is for all who are in the New Covenant. And the promise will be fulfilled in a far more glorious way than anyone could imagine. The new creation will not be possessed by the powerful despots, the ruthless tyrants, or the manipulative schemers. It will be possessed by the meek.
The Application. How does one become meek? What if one’s nature is not meek? The answer to this comes from other passages of the Bible that describe how the spiritual life works. Meekness and gentleness and goodness are part of the fruit of the Spirit–they are produced in the Follower by the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit.) So the direction people should follow to cultivate a spirit of meekness would be to walk by the Spirit, or be controlled by the Spirit of Adonai so that the qualities of Christ can be produced in and through them. That instruction alone will call for some study, but that is the way the Bible describes meekness developing.
4. “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED”.
The Old Testament Background. The image of hunger and thirst compares this drive for righteousness with the deepest and most constant needs we have (see Ps. 42:3 and 63:1). Hunger and thirst constantly cry out for satisfaction; it is a basic human drive. The image then is portraying the desire to do the will of Adonai as that constant and strong.
The Meaning. This beatitude is saying much more than most people think. It is not simply describing those who are righteous, or who try to do good things. It is describing their passion in life–they hunger and thirst for it. Like the poor and the meek these people put their lives into the hand of Adonai and hope for his help.
We have already thought about righteousness with its meaning of conforming to the standard, i.e., doing the will of Adonai. Here the word probably has two meanings. One would certainly be in the personal life–the strong desire to be pleasing to Adonai, to do what Adonai wants, to live up to the will of Adonai. But out of this would grow the desire for righteousness in the land, for social justice in a world that is unrighteous and unjust. The desire for personal righteousness cannot be separated from the world around.
And because that is a proper desire it will be fulfilled. It may not be filled immediately, but certainly shall be in the future when the king establishes his reign of righteousness. But the promise of the King is that the desire for righteousness will be filled. Theologically this happens in several stages. The basic desire to be right with Adonai is met by the gracious gift of righteousness. This we call justification, being declared righteous in the courts of heaven. Then, as a disciple of the Savior, the desire to do righteous works will find fulfillment by the power of the Spirit. This we call practical sanctification, becoming more and more like Yeshua. And in the future, when the Lord returns and establishes universal righteousness, we shall be changed. This we call glorification, being transformed into the glorious state.
The Application. Here too we must ask how this desire is developed. Most Followers are for righteousness–but how does the desire become so intense? It also has to come from the development of the spiritual life. Paul teaches that the spiritual person is one who yields his or her members as instruments of righteousness. So it begins with commitment to Adonai’s will. Then, as the spiritual walk is guided by the Holy Spirit, He leads the believer into righteousness. And the closer one lives to the Lord, the more sensitive he or she becomes to the unrighteousness and injustice in the world. The truly spiritual person then will begin to long for righteousness.
5. “BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY.”
The Meaning. One thing that is common to the poor in spirit, the meek, and those who hunger for righteousness is that their life is not self sufficient but looks outward for help. They understand mercy for they know their own inadequacies, dependence, weaknesses and incompleteness. And, when they receive gracious and merciful bounty from the King, they in turn know to show mercy to others. Showing mercy to others includes both the forgiveness of the sinner and compassion for the suffering and the needy.
They are called blessed because they place showing mercy above their own rights; they take no hostile stand against people in need, but try to show kindness to others and heal wounds. It is not that they are merciful by nature, but because they have been shown mercy and live in constant dependence on the Lord.
And because they understand mercy and show mercy to others, the word from Adonai is that they shall obtain mercy. Ultimately this looks forward to the coming of the king and the day of judgment when by his mercy they will be welcomed through the judgment and into the kingdom. They will receive mercy, not because they did enough good deeds, but because they understood how important mercy is in their own spiritual pilgrimage and having entered into that state of grace were eager to share it with others. They learned to forgive others because they were constantly being forgiven; they learned to show mercy to others because they were being shown mercy every day.
The Application. Here to the act of showing mercy comes from the genuine spiritual experience. People who know more of Adonai’s mercy will be merciful. It is important, then, that people have a good understanding of the grace of Adonai in their own lives. This will come from the experience of confession of sin and thanksgiving for forgiveness–two aspects of the believers walk that often get neglected. Christians sometimes get to the point of thinking that they deserved the grace they have received, and they become then intolerant of others, even judgmental. The reality of our own spiritual condition and Adonai’s provision must never be forgotten.
6. “BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE Adonai.”
The Meaning. This beatitude picks up an Old Testament image and applies it to its fulfillment in the kingdom. It describes both an inner purity and a singleness of mind. The “heart” is used in the Bible for the will, the choices. And so to be pure in heart means that the decisions one makes, the desires one has, the thoughts and intentions of the will, are untarnished by sin, and that the will is determined to be pleasing to Adonai. From the pure of heart come only good things, acts of love and mercy, desires for righteousness and justice, decisions that please Adonai.
The description of the human “heart” outside the household of faith is very different–at its worst it is constantly acting selfishly and causing pain (Gen. 6:5). Yeshua said it was what came from the heart that defiled people, evil thoughts, impure desires, blasphemies and the like (Matt. 15:18,19). Nothing short of a change of heart will bring about a pure heart. Yeshua does not explain that here; but his language of being born again will necessarily begin the process. The transformation from a heart of flesh to a pure heart will come by following Yeshua, but it will not be an easy or a swift change. But those who enter this kingdom of righteousness must have this new heart.
And the promise for them is that they will see Adonai. What an incredible statement! The Bible says that no one has ever seen Adonai (Exod. 33:18-23; 1 Tim. 6:16). People have seen appearances of the Lord in various forms, like Moses on Mount Sinai seeing the hem of the garment(Exod. 33), or the Israelite leaders eating with the Lord and seeing the Adonai of Israel in the form of the revealed presence (Exod. 24), or an Isaiah (Isa. 6) or John (Rev. 1).
One aspect of this promise is here and now by faith–they will see Adonai in all the events and circumstances of life. But the Bible promises much more. Here on earth the vision of Adonai is denied to us; but one day when heaven will be opened he will be visible to our transfigured eyes. As Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see Adonai; I myself will see him with my own eyes–I and not another. Howe my heart yearns within me” (Job 19:25-27).
The Application. How does one gain a pure heart? It begins with conversion when Adonai gives us a “new heart,” and it continues through the spiritual growth as we follow Yeshua. Walking in the light, meaning learning to live by the word of Adonai, will change the way we think so that our hearts will grow more and more pure. But as the light of the word reveals impurities, we must deal with them and change.
7. “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED THE SONS OF YHWH.”
The Meaning. Adonai is the Adonai of peace; His whole plan of redemption is to provide peace with Adonai for those who were formerly alienated from Adonai, and ultimately bring peace to the whole world (Isa. 9:6,7). This is the goal of the work of the Messiah.
But in the human race, however, there is strife and conflict with little hope for peace and unity. The peace that Adonai brings is not a cessation of hostilities, tolerance, or the readiness to give way. True peace that the world needs calls for a complete change of nature. And only Adonai can give this kind of peace. It is a peace that the world does not understand (John 14:27). It begins with reconciliation with Adonai and extends to reconciliation with other people.
Those who are peacemakers are then first and foremost people who understand what true peace is. Their effort is to strive to establish a peace that embraces Adonai’s provision of peace, so that people will be in harmony with one another because they are at peace with Adonai. In other words, the true peacemakers are they who promote the kingdom of Adonai. Their lives are given to working for promoting the kingdom of Adonai, reconciling adversaries, quenching hatred, uniting those who are divided, promoting true understanding and spiritual love. And they do this because they know what true peace is. So the quality described here is one that is spiritual and not simply a political seeking of peace.
And the promise is that they shall be called the sons of Adonai. That means they will be true children of Adonai. This adds to what life will be like in the kingdom–possession of land, stilling of hunger, vision of Adonai, and now sonship. And all these begin when people enter the kingdom by faith, but will be fulfilled completely when the kingdom finally comes.
In the Old Testament “sons of Adonai” is a description of angels, and rarely is such language used for salvation. But in the New Testament sonship is a powerful expression for salvation. It means that believers have been born into the family of Adonai by the Holy Spirit, and that those so designated have a personal relationship with the Father through Yeshua the Son, that they are joint heirs with Him, that they have a place in their heavenly home by birthright. Not yet in the full sense, but truly in the certainty of the promise can believers say, “We are called the children of Adonai” (see John 1:12,13 and 1 John 3:1).
The Application. So the disciples of Yeshua should be promoting peace. They do this by spreading the Gospel of peace to the world, and by promoting reconciliation within the household of faith as well. In short, they should be doing the work of the Messiah.
8. “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF JUSTICE, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
The Meaning. In this fallen world when people try to promote peace, or champion righteousness, or live a life of gentleness and meekness, they find opposition. One would think that such a life would attract people to the kingdom of Adonai. But the fact that it does not naturally do that tells us clearly that the race is not only alienated from Adonai, but in rebellion to Adonai. They might want a form of justice, but in their own terms. They much prefer power, and privilege, and possessions. And so John the Baptist called for righteousness and went to an early death. And Yeshua proclaimed all the right virtues but found opposition to his message because it called for them to enter his kingdom. And if they persecuted these, will they not also oppose the disciples?
The beatitude is not simply for all who have suffered persecution. Adonai, as the righteous judge of the earth, will deal with that as well. But this beatitude is for followers of Yeshua, those who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness. And as the next verse clarifies to the disciples, that means suffering for Yeshua’s sake. They have been identified by faith with the King, they carry his name, and they proclaim the good news that there is a kingdom of righteousness and peace that is spiritual and eternal. But they will find opposition. Nevertheless, they should rejoice, for their reward in heaven will be great. Adonai will make it up to them, and more.
But the blessing stated here for those who suffer such persecution in this world is that their destiny will be a complete contrast to their present humiliation–theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And that, the disciples know, is something worth dying for. But it is not a future reality only–they have it now (and so this blessing parallels the first).
The Application. The lesson would simply be that people should be living for Yeshua in this world, living the way members of the kingdom should live, championing righteousness and justice, showing mercy, remaining meek and poor in spirit–all the things that the beatitudes praise. But they should know that genuine righteousness is offensive to many, and so they will be prepared for opposition.
The last couple of verses have an implicit claim to deity by Yeshua. In the Old Testament the prophets were persecuted because of their faithfulness to Adonai. Now Yeshua says that His disciples will be persecuted because of their faithfulness to Him. He is Adonai.
Beatitudes. Although Adonai gave us Ten Commandments,
Yeshua gave us only nine Beatitudes. However, in Revelation,
Chapter 22, verse 14, another “Blessed” has been given to us.
— “Blessed are those who do His commandments,
That they may have the right to the tree of life, and May
Enter through the gates into the city.”
WHAT YESHUA TAUGHT
Matthew 5:1-12 1.And seeing the multitudes, He
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.
4.Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.14
5.Blessed are the meek, for
They shall inherit the earth.
6.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7.Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
8.Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they shall see Adonai.
9.Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called
sons of Adonai. 10.Blessed are
those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, for theirs
is 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.”
Blessed Are the Merciful
One day a man was traveling over dangerous land when
he met a dog with a wounded foot. This man took time to
look at the dog’s foot and found a thorn in it. He carefully
took the thorn out, washed the dog’s foot, and bandaged
it with his own handkerchief. The dog then went its own
way.
Sometime later, it happened that this man was captured
by some Indians. He was held a prisoner and was to be
killed. All at once the Indian chief’s dog ran to this man and
began to lick his hands and show all kinds of affection and
love for him! The Indian chief found out his dog had been
saved by this very man. He was so thankful for this kind act
that he set this man free.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
—Matthew 5:7
The opposite of Yeshua’s “blessed” in Matthew 5 would be the “woes” pronounced in Matthew 23against the scribes and Pharisees and all those that are against Adonai. Those woes pass judgment on the apostate people who refuse to recognize and do the full will of Adonai. The woes describe their character as well, but it is an evil and hypocritical character; and the woes are a divine pledge of judgment if those lives continue in their wickedness.
So when Yeshua says “blessed are they,” He is not only describing them as being filled with an inner sense of joy and peace because they are right with Adonai, but He is praising them for their character and pledging divine rewards for it.
A true closer explanation of the Beatitudes
Probably the best way to study these beatitudes would be to work through the basic process for each one–the definitions, the backgrounds, the connections and the applications. If you were teaching the beatitudes to a class you would do better by applying each one as you discuss it, rather than to wait till the end to try to apply them one by one.
1. “BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
The Old Testament Background. Part of the understanding of the beatitudes is to see the Old Testament background concerning these descriptions of the Messianic kingdom and the people who enter it. I mentioned Isaiah 61:1-3 before, and so this for one passage could be read. In it the Messiah would be anointed “to preach good tidings to the poor” (recall that in Luke 4 Yeshua read that passage in the synagogue and said it was fulfilled in their hearing). That passage helps us a little with our understanding of “the poor.” We tend to think of the “poor” primarily in terms of finances or possessions. That is part of it, but there is a spiritual side to it too. The word Isaiah uses describes the people who had been taken into exile. They were of course poor, having their land and possessions ripped away; but they were also afflicted and oppressed, they were powerless and without hope, and they were desperate. The physical poverty was intensified by the poverty in their spirit.
The Meaning of the Text. The words that describe the poor in the Bible include these aspects, for the poor in Yeshua’s day had few possessions, were usually oppressed, had little power and less hope. They had no resources to fall back on; they had to depend on others for survival. Isaiah brought the people of his day good news–they would be delivered from bondage. But Yeshua fulfilled that promise of bringing good news by proclaiming the gospel, the “good news” of Adonai. He did not make them rich in earthly possessions and power; but he fulfilled their greatest need.
People who are “poor in spirit” are those who are humble before Adonai. They realize that they have nothing in this life that they can contribute to receiving the kingdom of heaven. They have afflicted their souls, meaning that they have humbled themselves and repented with deep contrition; and they have come to the king as helpless and hopeless sinners. There is no arrogance in them, no self-righteousness, no self-sufficiency. They are free from their own pretensions, and therefore they are free for Adonai. Everyone who wishes to enter the kingdom must be “spiritually poor,” for salvation is a gift from Adonai.
And that is the good news for the genuinely poor and oppressed in this world. The poor person is not excluded because of his poverty; and the rich person is not accepted because of his wealth. Both must humble themselves before the Lord in order to be part of the kingdom. It is often easier for the down and out of this world to do that, than for the rich to do it.
The blessing Yeshua announces that “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Now this of course does not mean that all poor people are in the kingdom. One thinks of the self-made poverty of the prodigal son. No, the poverty is not the chief thing, but the qualification of the spirit it. It is the poor in spirit, those who have humbled themselves and become dependent on Adonai–they have the kingdom of heaven. In fact, everyone who is in the kingdom had to become poor in spirit. They all come with a broken heart and a contrite spirit seeking the Savior.
Application. The clear lesson is that if any are going to enter the kingdom of heaven they must become poor in spirit. This is the message of the kingdom; it is the call of repentance. They must humble themselves before Adonai and acknowledge that they bring nothing of their own power, possessions or merit to gain entrance. Those who truly humble themselves and express their need of the Lord, they have the kingdom of heaven. And in this they find heavenly bliss.
So how does one become poor in spirit? The implication from the context preceding this is that one would hear the message of the kingdom and learn what kind of a kingdom it is and how to enter it–through repentance for sin and submission to the will of Adonai. The first step is to confess that by themselves they can do nothing, and then seek the gracious provision that Adonai has made.
A secondary application would be to develop how this attitude is to characterize the attitude of the believers who are in the kingdom. They do not simply humble themselves to get in and then become self-sufficient (although some try to do it); they are to live their lives in total dependence on Adonai to supply their needs. This will open the study to themes such as humility, faith, prayer, and obedience.
2. “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED.”
Now we have a slightly different beatitude. In the last one the promise was that those who are poor in spirit have the kingdom. Here now the promise is for the future, for those who mourn will be comforted.
Old Testament Background. Isaiah also said that the Messiah would bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim the hour when the mourners would be comforted, when their ashes would be replaced by a crown of joy, and their mourning would be replaced with the oil of gladness (61:1-3). Mourning indicates the pain and the grief and the anxieties of the soul over some loss, often the death of a loved one. But it could be over the loss of a valued life, such as those Israelites who went into exile had to mourn. Or it could be over the loss of possessions, or status, or health. People mourn over any disaster or tribulation. And in times of mourning they look for hope. And most often in this world there is little hope.
The Meaning. The focus here is on the people of Adonai who mourn, because they will be comforted. Everyone experiences sad and tragic losses at some time or another in this life. But the mourning that leads to comfort in the kingdom is a mourning over the humiliation of Israel and its cause. The nation was in the grips of tyrannical powers and ruthless rulers–because of their sin. Yeshua came and announced the kingdom was at hand; He expected the response of people would be tears of contrition (see also Isaiah 40:1). Messiah would comfort those who mourn, but the comfort would come because the Messiah would save them from their sin, the cause of the mourning.
So for mourning to be “in the faith,” it will be likewise be a mourning not just for the suffering and sadness of life, but for the sinfulness that causes it. They understand that their grieving is ultimately for a world that is lost and ruined, in which Adonai and his will do not prevail. But in their mourning the disciples of Yeshua have opened their heavy hearts to the Lord, and they know that their grieving is not without hope. They know that their weeping and grieving is but for a time only. They know that death does not have the final victory, for the dead in Yeshua, the Ben(Son) of Yahweh will be raised incorruptible. They know that the Messiah will turn all that away someday. And that hope brings them comfort.
So the promise is that they will be comforted. They will be consoled above all when Adonai wipes away all tears, and death will be no more, nor grief nor tribulation (Isa. 25:8; Rev. 21:4). This is what citizens of his kingdom can expect.
Application. The instruction here would concern the focus of the mourning, not the mourning itself. The mourning that will be comforted is the mourning of the disciples, those who have the proper understanding of the reasons for the mourning. And they will have the proper faith to see them through. As people face the sadness of life, they can do so with hope if they have mourned over sin–a clear sign of faith in the Savior.
3. “BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH.”
The Old Testament Background. This beatitude is very much like the promise in Psalm 37:11, “The meek shall possess the land.” And if you study that passage you will see that it also is a Messianic psalm. The promise of the land certainly was the Promised Land.
The Meaning. In the Bible the meek are those who have a spirit of gentleness and self-control; they are free from malice and a condescending spirit. The meek may like the poor have no resources of their own; but then they may, for Moses was described as being meek and humble (Num. 12:3). But the meek do not exploit and oppress others; they are not given to vengeance and vendettas, they are not violent, and they do not try to seize power for their own ends. In short, they have emulated the nature of Yeshua in their lives and learned from him. This does not mean that they are weak or ineffective in life. They may be gentle and humble, but they can and do champion the needs of the weak and the oppressed.
The promise here is that they will possess the land. What land is meant? Probably the promised land. All through the Bible this was the promise to the people of Israel, a land. But possessing the land signified much more than a possession; it signified a sense of place, security, an inheritance from Adonai. But the land was constantly invaded and the people exiled and scattered. And yet the promise of the regathering to the land remained in the promises of the New Covenant. Those promises seem now to be realized with the second coming of the Messiah when there will be a new heaven and a new earth. The promise is for all who are in the New Covenant. And the promise will be fulfilled in a far more glorious way than anyone could imagine. The new creation will not be possessed by the powerful despots, the ruthless tyrants, or the manipulative schemers. It will be possessed by the meek.
The Application. How does one become meek? What if one’s nature is not meek? The answer to this comes from other passages of the Bible that describe how the spiritual life works. Meekness and gentleness and goodness are part of the fruit of the Spirit–they are produced in the Follower by the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit.) So the direction people should follow to cultivate a spirit of meekness would be to walk by the Spirit, or be controlled by the Spirit of Adonai so that the qualities of Christ can be produced in and through them. That instruction alone will call for some study, but that is the way the Bible describes meekness developing.
4. “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED”.
The Old Testament Background. The image of hunger and thirst compares this drive for righteousness with the deepest and most constant needs we have (see Ps. 42:3 and 63:1). Hunger and thirst constantly cry out for satisfaction; it is a basic human drive. The image then is portraying the desire to do the will of Adonai as that constant and strong.
The Meaning. This beatitude is saying much more than most people think. It is not simply describing those who are righteous, or who try to do good things. It is describing their passion in life–they hunger and thirst for it. Like the poor and the meek these people put their lives into the hand of Adonai and hope for his help.
We have already thought about righteousness with its meaning of conforming to the standard, i.e., doing the will of Adonai. Here the word probably has two meanings. One would certainly be in the personal life–the strong desire to be pleasing to Adonai, to do what Adonai wants, to live up to the will of Adonai. But out of this would grow the desire for righteousness in the land, for social justice in a world that is unrighteous and unjust. The desire for personal righteousness cannot be separated from the world around.
And because that is a proper desire it will be fulfilled. It may not be filled immediately, but certainly shall be in the future when the king establishes his reign of righteousness. But the promise of the King is that the desire for righteousness will be filled. Theologically this happens in several stages. The basic desire to be right with Adonai is met by the gracious gift of righteousness. This we call justification, being declared righteous in the courts of heaven. Then, as a disciple of the Savior, the desire to do righteous works will find fulfillment by the power of the Spirit. This we call practical sanctification, becoming more and more like Yeshua. And in the future, when the Lord returns and establishes universal righteousness, we shall be changed. This we call glorification, being transformed into the glorious state.
The Application. Here too we must ask how this desire is developed. Most Followers are for righteousness–but how does the desire become so intense? It also has to come from the development of the spiritual life. Paul teaches that the spiritual person is one who yields his or her members as instruments of righteousness. So it begins with commitment to Adonai’s will. Then, as the spiritual walk is guided by the Holy Spirit, He leads the believer into righteousness. And the closer one lives to the Lord, the more sensitive he or she becomes to the unrighteousness and injustice in the world. The truly spiritual person then will begin to long for righteousness.
5. “BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY.”
The Meaning. One thing that is common to the poor in spirit, the meek, and those who hunger for righteousness is that their life is not self sufficient but looks outward for help. They understand mercy for they know their own inadequacies, dependence, weaknesses and incompleteness. And, when they receive gracious and merciful bounty from the King, they in turn know to show mercy to others. Showing mercy to others includes both the forgiveness of the sinner and compassion for the suffering and the needy.
They are called blessed because they place showing mercy above their own rights; they take no hostile stand against people in need, but try to show kindness to others and heal wounds. It is not that they are merciful by nature, but because they have been shown mercy and live in constant dependence on the Lord.
And because they understand mercy and show mercy to others, the word from Adonai is that they shall obtain mercy. Ultimately this looks forward to the coming of the king and the day of judgment when by his mercy they will be welcomed through the judgment and into the kingdom. They will receive mercy, not because they did enough good deeds, but because they understood how important mercy is in their own spiritual pilgrimage and having entered into that state of grace were eager to share it with others. They learned to forgive others because they were constantly being forgiven; they learned to show mercy to others because they were being shown mercy every day.
The Application. Here to the act of showing mercy comes from the genuine spiritual experience. People who know more of Adonai’s mercy will be merciful. It is important, then, that people have a good understanding of the grace of Adonai in their own lives. This will come from the experience of confession of sin and thanksgiving for forgiveness–two aspects of the believers walk that often get neglected. Christians sometimes get to the point of thinking that they deserved the grace they have received, and they become then intolerant of others, even judgmental. The reality of our own spiritual condition and Adonai’s provision must never be forgotten.
6. “BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE Adonai.”
The Meaning. This beatitude picks up an Old Testament image and applies it to its fulfillment in the kingdom. It describes both an inner purity and a singleness of mind. The “heart” is used in the Bible for the will, the choices. And so to be pure in heart means that the decisions one makes, the desires one has, the thoughts and intentions of the will, are untarnished by sin, and that the will is determined to be pleasing to Adonai. From the pure of heart come only good things, acts of love and mercy, desires for righteousness and justice, decisions that please Adonai.
The description of the human “heart” outside the household of faith is very different–at its worst it is constantly acting selfishly and causing pain (Gen. 6:5). Yeshua said it was what came from the heart that defiled people, evil thoughts, impure desires, blasphemies and the like (Matt. 15:18,19). Nothing short of a change of heart will bring about a pure heart. Yeshua does not explain that here; but his language of being born again will necessarily begin the process. The transformation from a heart of flesh to a pure heart will come by following Yeshua, but it will not be an easy or a swift change. But those who enter this kingdom of righteousness must have this new heart.
And the promise for them is that they will see Adonai. What an incredible statement! The Bible says that no one has ever seen Adonai (Exod. 33:18-23; 1 Tim. 6:16). People have seen appearances of the Lord in various forms, like Moses on Mount Sinai seeing the hem of the garment(Exod. 33), or the Israelite leaders eating with the Lord and seeing the Adonai of Israel in the form of the revealed presence (Exod. 24), or an Isaiah (Isa. 6) or John (Rev. 1).
One aspect of this promise is here and now by faith–they will see Adonai in all the events and circumstances of life. But the Bible promises much more. Here on earth the vision of Adonai is denied to us; but one day when heaven will be opened he will be visible to our transfigured eyes. As Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see Adonai; I myself will see him with my own eyes–I and not another. Howe my heart yearns within me” (Job 19:25-27).
The Application. How does one gain a pure heart? It begins with conversion when Adonai gives us a “new heart,” and it continues through the spiritual growth as we follow Yeshua. Walking in the light, meaning learning to live by the word of Adonai, will change the way we think so that our hearts will grow more and more pure. But as the light of the word reveals impurities, we must deal with them and change.
7. “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED THE SONS OF YHWH.”
The Meaning. Adonai is the Adonai of peace; His whole plan of redemption is to provide peace with Adonai for those who were formerly alienated from Adonai, and ultimately bring peace to the whole world (Isa. 9:6,7). This is the goal of the work of the Messiah.
But in the human race, however, there is strife and conflict with little hope for peace and unity. The peace that Adonai brings is not a cessation of hostilities, tolerance, or the readiness to give way. True peace that the world needs calls for a complete change of nature. And only Adonai can give this kind of peace. It is a peace that the world does not understand (John 14:27). It begins with reconciliation with Adonai and extends to reconciliation with other people.
Those who are peacemakers are then first and foremost people who understand what true peace is. Their effort is to strive to establish a peace that embraces Adonai’s provision of peace, so that people will be in harmony with one another because they are at peace with Adonai. In other words, the true peacemakers are they who promote the kingdom of Adonai. Their lives are given to working for promoting the kingdom of Adonai, reconciling adversaries, quenching hatred, uniting those who are divided, promoting true understanding and spiritual love. And they do this because they know what true peace is. So the quality described here is one that is spiritual and not simply a political seeking of peace.
And the promise is that they shall be called the sons of Adonai. That means they will be true children of Adonai. This adds to what life will be like in the kingdom–possession of land, stilling of hunger, vision of Adonai, and now sonship. And all these begin when people enter the kingdom by faith, but will be fulfilled completely when the kingdom finally comes.
In the Old Testament “sons of Adonai” is a description of angels, and rarely is such language used for salvation. But in the New Testament sonship is a powerful expression for salvation. It means that believers have been born into the family of Adonai by the Holy Spirit, and that those so designated have a personal relationship with the Father through Yeshua the Son, that they are joint heirs with Him, that they have a place in their heavenly home by birthright. Not yet in the full sense, but truly in the certainty of the promise can believers say, “We are called the children of Adonai” (see John 1:12,13 and 1 John 3:1).
The Application. So the disciples of Yeshua should be promoting peace. They do this by spreading the Gospel of peace to the world, and by promoting reconciliation within the household of faith as well. In short, they should be doing the work of the Messiah.
8. “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF JUSTICE, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
The Meaning. In this fallen world when people try to promote peace, or champion righteousness, or live a life of gentleness and meekness, they find opposition. One would think that such a life would attract people to the kingdom of Adonai. But the fact that it does not naturally do that tells us clearly that the race is not only alienated from Adonai, but in rebellion to Adonai. They might want a form of justice, but in their own terms. They much prefer power, and privilege, and possessions. And so John the Baptist called for righteousness and went to an early death. And Yeshua proclaimed all the right virtues but found opposition to his message because it called for them to enter his kingdom. And if they persecuted these, will they not also oppose the disciples?
The beatitude is not simply for all who have suffered persecution. Adonai, as the righteous judge of the earth, will deal with that as well. But this beatitude is for followers of Yeshua, those who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness. And as the next verse clarifies to the disciples, that means suffering for Yeshua’s sake. They have been identified by faith with the King, they carry his name, and they proclaim the good news that there is a kingdom of righteousness and peace that is spiritual and eternal. But they will find opposition. Nevertheless, they should rejoice, for their reward in heaven will be great. Adonai will make it up to them, and more.
But the blessing stated here for those who suffer such persecution in this world is that their destiny will be a complete contrast to their present humiliation–theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And that, the disciples know, is something worth dying for. But it is not a future reality only–they have it now (and so this blessing parallels the first).
The Application. The lesson would simply be that people should be living for Yeshua in this world, living the way members of the kingdom should live, championing righteousness and justice, showing mercy, remaining meek and poor in spirit–all the things that the beatitudes praise. But they should know that genuine righteousness is offensive to many, and so they will be prepared for opposition.
The last couple of verses have an implicit claim to deity by Yeshua. In the Old Testament the prophets were persecuted because of their faithfulness to Adonai. Now Yeshua says that His disciples will be persecuted because of their faithfulness to Him. He is Adonai.