The Beatitudes: An In-Christ Perspective
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount began with the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12), which were part of the discipleship training for his chosen apostles. In the Beatitudes Jesus described the desired attributes of his disciples and the rewards of those that exemplify those attributes. Jesus prepared his disciples for the persecution that they would suffer for following him. Jesus knew that for his disciples to endure the trials that were coming their way, they would need to have hope, which comes from seeing their suffering from an eternal perspective. From a worldly view, the character traits that Jesus described in the Beatitudes have negative implications. However, Jesus called those blessed who are poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted for righteousness sake. Jesus promised that those possessing these quality characteristics will receive great present and future rewards. Jesus described these rewards as: the king...