The Beatitudes of Jesus

The beatitudes of Jesus are the keys to the kingdom of God. They represent promises of God to those who have genuine faith in Him. This faith includes trust in God and submission to His will. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthews chapters 5-7) often with eight beatitudes which mean “blessed”. The Beatitudes apply to all Christians. They summarize the Christian ethics. They are similar to Paul’s nine fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. It may have been preached on a hillside near, the Sea of Galilee. The most important beatitude is the first which is - “Blessed are the poor in Spirit” for there is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). The word beatitude means blessed. For example —Blessed are the poor in Spirit” reminds us of our helplessness, knowing that we cannot save ourselves. Therefore, it reminds us to put our trust and hope in God. The earthly church had two important functions, they were (1) preaching and (2) teaching. The Sermon on the Mount consists of eight Beatitudes and six anti theses. Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount opens with the eight (8) beatitudes (blessed). The book of Luke 6:20-26 contrasts four (4) blessings with four (4) woes. The four (4) blessings are those who are hungry, poor, weep and hatred. The four (4) woes are those who are rich, those who have an advance of food, those who are well spoken of and those who have a good time. Christians are spiritual millionaires. God has opened an account for us in the Bank of Grace.