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We begin with what has been traditionally termed the “beatitudes.” Many of our English translations of these passages begin with, “Blessed are the _______.” However, I’ve chosen to use the Scholars Version
Many have declared that the “congratulations” are only a statement of the status quo, simply defining what people are – and maybe always will be. I believe that the underlying idea is that Jesus (and the gospel writers) are implying that we should strive to be like these who have been named, which I will try to make clear as we go through them one-by-one.
| Congratulations to the poor in spirit! The empire of Heaven belongs to them. Matthew 5:3 (SV |
Congratulations, you poor! God’s empire belongs to you. Luke 6:20 (SV |
Most scholars feel that Luke’s version is the one that goes back to Jesus and deals specifically with the actual issues Jesus would have faced with the peasant class that was his primary audience. This may be the case, but both have something to say.
First, notice that the “reward” in both is NOT riches. The idea is not that God makes the spiritually or monetarily poor rich in their respective category; rather, each has the kingdom of heaven / God.
It is also important to realize that the statements are not that they will get the kingdom someday. No. They already have it. This begins to give us a hint that Jesus isn’t concerned with us going to heaven when we die but making God’s kingdom manifest now in this life, which we will see more as we get deeper into the Sermon on the Mount.
So, what’s the point, then? For Luke, it has to do with attitude. Time and again, I hear people who have gone on a mission trip to help the poor. First, they are amazed at the dismal situation that these people live with. Then, they are amazed that these people they have come to help are often much happier than they are. Sure, these would like to have a better financial outlook, but ultimately many of them have their priorities in a better place than many who are better well off. They help others who are in similar predicaments and love giving out of their meager possessions to those who have come to help them.
Our church youth group provided a scholarship for a young lady to attend the Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas, and she’d come each summer to work at our church. In summer 2010, a group of adults and I were going to Lydia Patterson to work there, and in the process, we were taking her home. When we got there, they had provided an extensive home-cooked Mexican food meal for us – much more than we could ever eat in one sitting. They really couldn’t afford it, but they wanted to give back. That is the kingdom of God in action – the poor already having God’s empire. As in Matthew 6:25-33 (see also Luke 12:22-31), they don’t worry about what they’ll eat, drink, or wear but strive first for God’s kingdom and justice / righteousness that is a present reality. They already have the kingdom, because they live it.
For Matthew, it is NOT about appearances. Jesus’ opponents are Pharisees, scribes, Sadducees, and other Jewish leadership. On the surface, these look “rich in spirit,” appearing to have everything all together. Many of these lord their perceived superiority over others, often declaring that if the perceived “poor in spirit” would act right all their problems would be fixed. Jesus, however, knows that the predicament of the poor in spirit (sometimes literally poor) is not necessarily their fault, and it is not a punishment from God. They already have the kingdom of God when they treat people fairly, taking care of others – actually living out the kingdom. Thus, they only appear poor in spirit to those in power, but ultimately the powers that be are not the ones to seek approval from.
Thus, we are to be like the poor and poor in spirit even if we aren’t. The rich can live out the kingdom and live with integrity, even if it doesn’t look good to those in power.
| Congratulations to those who grieve! They will be consoled. Matthew 5:4 (SV |
Congratulations, you who weep now! You will laugh. Luke 6:21b (SV |
First century peasants in Galilee had much to grieve and weep about. Many had lost their lands and were unable to provide enough food for themselves or their families. Due to likely malnutrition many were probably dying. We know from archaeology and the study of skeletons that the average life expectancy for such peasants was 30 years of age (whereas the more wealthy had a life expectancy of around 50).
Looking to Matthew 6:25-33 again (a very important passage for the entire sermon), we see the command to strive first for God’s kingdom instead of worrying. When we live this way, we will console those who mourn, weep, and worry, and when we mourn and weep (are filled with worry) others who are striving for God’s kingdom will come to console us and help us to laugh.
| Congratulations to the gentle! They will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 (SV |
The Roman Empire claimed to have inherited the earth. However, those in Galilee Jesus was speaking to would have known stories about the Roman legions. Some may have remembered first-hand the devastation that Roman armies wrought in their region in 4BC following the uprising after Herod the Great’s death of the same year. The city of Sepphoris (only about 4 miles from Nazareth) was destroyed, so younger people would have certainly heard of this. For sure, the Romans were not gentle or meek. Jesus is, thus, giving a new way to live in the world. Instead of relying on power and might, one should rely on gentleness.
| Congratulations to those who hunger and thirst for justice! They will have a feast. Matthew 5:6 (SV |
Congratulations you hungry! You will have a feast. Luke 6:21a (SV |
At the heart of these is Matthew 6:25-33, again. Notice in particular vs. 33: “Strive first for the kingdom and God’s justice / righteousness, and all these (food, drink, and clothes) will be given to you as well.” That is clearly the same thing that is being said in Matthew 5:6.
Luke’s version is a bit more practical but still related. Striving for the kingdom as opposed to worrying will ultimately result in being fed.
How does this work, though? Maybe I don’t have food, but I do have water. I share that water with someone who does not have water, but maybe they have clothes or food to share. By sharing what we do have, we are striving for God’s justice and righteousness. Others who are striving help provide our needs.
| Congratulations to the merciful! They will receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 (SV |
To understand this “congratulations,” we have to be clear about the meaning of the words. Too often, “merciful” and “mercy” have been interpreted as “feeling sorry” for someone. If I feel sorry for someone, others will feel sorry for me. However, in the Greek, these words mean “concrete acts of mercy.” Congratulations to those who provide concrete acts of mercy, making God’s distributive justice and righteousness a reality, for they will get the same in return. Again, the example from Matthew 6:25-33 is appropriate.
| Congratulations to those whose motives are pure! They will see God. Matthew 5:8 (SV |
The New Revised Standard
The phrase, “They will see God” is foreshadowing for an important aspect of Matthew’s understanding of the Gospel:
- Matthew 18:20 – “Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I am with them.“
- Matthew 25:31-46 – “Just as you took care of the least of these, you took care of me.”
Thus, what we see is that Jesus believes that to be in relationship with God, we must be in relationship with others – both members of our community and the least of these (who may not be). When we have devotion to God through devotion to others, we see God.
| Congratulations to those who work for peace! They will be called God’s children. Matthew 5:9 (SV |
Here we find Roman overtones. The Romans claimed to have brought peace, but they did it by power and sword – obviously not by peaceful means. The caesars considered themselves sons of god(s) to have been able to bring peace – and many thought they were gods. What we’ll see later in this sermon is that Jesus was a proponent of non-violence; thus, he does not intend that God’s children bring about peace by force. Rather, in the broader context of the sermon and Matthew’s gospel, it can be argued that God’s children bring peace by providing enough of the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of all.
It is important to realize that in the Greek, the last phrase is “sons of God.” For sure, I believe the inclusion of females is intended in the intent, but we MUST realize that the same Greek word calling Jesus “son of God” is used here of those who work for peace – even us. Jesus, then, is NOT the only son of God.
| Congratulations to those who have suffered persecution for the sake of justice! The empire of Heaven belongs to them. Matthew 5:10 (SV |
Some do not think this goes back to Jesus. Whether it came off his lips or not, it is certainly his story. He certainly hungered, thirsted, and strove for God’s justice / righteousness and was persecuted to the point of death for it. The implication is clear: we need to be willing to do the same! Jesus didn’t die so we won’t have to. The story of Jesus’ death sets an example for the rest of us of how to live a life of integrity. When we are committed to something that is important, we stay single-mindedly devoted to it, even if it means death.
It is worthwhile to note that the same “reward,” the empire of Heaven, is given in the first congratulations we considered. By Jesus’ opponents, he was seen as “poor in spirit,” because he did not follow the rituals of his opponents. Yet, he put up with the persecution to stay true to his understanding of God’s kingdom and justice / righteousness. He had the kingdom, because he lived it.
| Congratulations to you when they denounce you and persecute you and spread malicious gossip about you because of me. Rejoice and be glad! In heaven you’ll be more than rewarded. Remember, that is how they persecuted the prophets who preceded you.
Matthew 5:11-12 (SV |
Congratulations to you when people hate you, and when they ostracize you and spread malicious gossip about you and scorn your name as evil, because of the Human One! Rejoice on that day and jump for joy! Because look: your reward is great in heaven. Bear in mind that their ancestors treated the prophets the same way.
Luke 6:22-23 (SV |
As in the previous one, some don’t believe these go back to Jesus, either, as they so closely mirror the experience of the early church. Either way, we see this is also the story of Jesus, many of the prophets who preceded him (sharing a similar message as Jesus), and those (maybe even us) who stay true to living out God’s kingdom here and now.
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