Matthew 5:3-12
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 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 God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Today’s article is a brief summary of the beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-12. I will give a simple explanation of each verse. It would be helpful to follow along in the Bible.
The word blessed means happy.
5:3 - No person with an arrogant and prideful spirit can ever expect to receive anything from the Lord. There will be no joy and no longing for heaven.
5:4 - Godly sorrow worketh repentance, and the only way anyone can have any comfort or peace is through repentance. Most people who are unhappy, are unhappy because of some unconfessed and unforsaken sin in their lives. The Lord will not despise a broken and a contrite heart but will bring happiness and joy.
5:5 - The meek are those who quietly submit to God. They can bear insult, are silent, or return a soft answer; who in patience, control their tongue and flesh. They are happy in this world. Meekness promotes wealth, comfort and safety.
5:6 - Oh, the blessings of those who are always conscious of their attitude and ways. They are always in control of their tongues and tempers. They strive to make Galatians 5:22-26 a visible part of their lives. They study the Bible to find out what God wants and requires and are ready to do it, in spite of what they want to do. If you desire to live a righteous life, you can. (shall be filled).
5:7 - Not only should we bear our own burdens with grace and confidence, but we must be willing to help others in their times of need. Bear ye one another's burdens.
5:8 - Holiness and happiness run hand and hand, 'for they shall see God.' None but the pure can ever have the right view of God. If the heart is not right, our vision of God will be wrong.
5:9 - Those who desire love and delight in peace study to be quiet. They never cause or seek trouble. If there is a blessing for the peacemakers, woe to the peace breakers.
5:10 - There is no greater feeling in the world than knowing you are right with God. It then doesn't matter what comes your way. Persecution makes you happy because God gives you peace and grace. False accusations are that: FALSE! Study his word so you can be right. If you believe the Word of God is true, then trust it completely.
5:11- If you're right with God and lined up with his word, it doesn't matter what anybody says, or does. You can do what verse 12 says 'rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.' You’re not alone. Others have gone before you. Jesus even said, “Before they hated you, they hated me.” You are in good company.
May the Beatitudes be your attitude!