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 kingdom of heaven, divine comfort, inherit the earth, filled with righteousness, divine mercy, see God face to face, and called sons of God.

It is human nature to become discouraged and frustrated when things don’t happen the way we expect them to. That is because the carnal mind cannot discern the things of the Spirit. However, when we view suffering from a spiritual perspective, it equips us to endure suffering knowing that it is working in us great rewards. To see suffering from a spiritual perspective, as in the Beatitudes, we must renew our minds. The Apostle Paul admonishes in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

In this article, we look at each of the Beatitudes and see the contrast between the in-Christ perspective and the world view. We will see that there are present and eternal benefits of looking at them from an in-Christ perspective rather than from a worldly perspective. We will see why Jesus calls those that possess the desirable attributes described in the Beatitudes blessed.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3).

Strong’s translation of the word “blessed” is G3107, makarios, which means happy or joyful (Blue Letter Bible). This happiness or joyfulness is spiritual satisfaction that is the result of a right relationship with God. Jesus used the word “blessed” as a prefix to describe all eight of the Beatitudes.

Poor in spirit does not mean that God wants his followers to be financially poor. Being poor in spirit means knowing that without God, we are spiritually empty. Poor in spirit is not a quality that is sought after by a prideful, self-centered world that is blind to their need for salvation. We must recognize that we are in need of salvation that only comes through Jesus Christ. Only then do we inherit the reward of the kingdom of heaven, which represents present abundant life in God (John 10:10), and eternal life in heaven (Rom. 6:23). Jesus ends each of the Beatitudes with a promise of a reward to those that possess the desired attributes.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4).

The mourning that is expressed here is mourning for one’s own sins, or for the sins of others. The result of which is Godly sorrow that produces repentance. This kind of sorrow is different from worldly sorrow which produces death (2 Cor. 7:10). God desires true repentance. In a prayer of repentance for committing adultery with Bathsheba, King David says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psa. 51:17). These are those that God regards, and receives with pleasure (Psa. 102:17); binds up and heals broken hearts and spirits (Psa. 147:3); God is near to them, looks upon them, respects them, and dwells among them (Psa. 34:18).

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).

Meekness is submission to God and humility toward others. Meekness is having the power or right to do something, but avoid doing it in consideration of others. The opposite of this is impulsive, power-seeking, self-gratifying, and no regard for the welfare of others. Paul encourages believers to be humble, gentle, patient, and forgiving (Eph. 4:1-2). Jesus promises that “the meek shall be received into his kingdom and partake of its blessings here, and of the glories of the heavenly Canaan hereafter” (Bible Hub/Barnes’ Notes on the Bible).

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).

Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness pursues in continually. Seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness is the top priority in their lives. Jesus says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33). These are happy because God satisfies their desire for right relationship with him in the present world and in eternity. Those who hunger and thirst after worldly things are miserable because they can never be satisfied with carnal things.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7).

God desires that his people have compassion and charity towards others, which demonstrates their knowledge of him, rather than performing external rituals. God tells his people, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). The reward of the merciful is that they will receive mercy and kindness of God and of men in return. The Apostle Paul writes, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). In this passage of scripture, Paul also warns those who would try to deceive God and others into believing that they are devoted to him when they are actually governed by their carnal desires.

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).

The pure in heart are sincere, upright, and have a singleness of heart toward God. The truly pure in heart shall see the goodness of God in this life, and shall see him face-to-face in the life to come. In Jewish culture, the terms; to see one’s face, or to be in one’s presence are expressions of great favor. In this sense, to see God, means to be his friends and favorites, and to dwell with him in his kingdom (Bible Hub/Barnes’ Notes on the Bible) and to sit at his table. The pure in heart are literally blessed and highly favored. Pure in heart refers to an inward purity, and does not refer to the outward purity demonstrated by the Pharisees, to which Jesus said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees! hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27). 

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9).

Peacemakers are those that live peaceably among others, promotes peace between others, and makes peace between God and man through the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19). God is the author of peace. Paul writes, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Cor. 14:33). Peacemakers reflect the character of God and shall be called the children of God. 

The opposite of peacemakers are peacebreakers; those who live for confusion, sow seeds of discord, and delight in strife. Peacebreakers feed on contentions and inject themselves into the midst of it at every opportunity. Peacebreakers reflect the character of their father; the devil. Like the devil, their desire is to steal, to kill, and to destroy (Jn. 10:10). Peacebreakers will not see God. The Bible says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (Matt. 5:10-11).

The last Beatitude, which includes verses 10 through 11 ties all eight of the Beatitudes together. Those who exemplify the characteristics of the first seven Beatitudes will be hated of the world because these qualities are in opposition to the worldly view. Like those who are poor in spirit, those who are persecuted for righteousness sake will be rewarded with the kingdom of heaven.

These will suffer persecution for their profession and obedience to Christ, not because of any wrong doing on their part. Paul writes, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Jesus warns his disciples that they will be persecuted for following him, but that they will receive the kingdom of heaven which represents abundant life in God (John 10:10), and eternal life in heaven (Rom. 6:23).

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:12).

In verse 12 the words, “the prophets which were before you” implies that the disciples who were in the presence of Jesus at the time that he delivered the Beatitudes were called to a prophetic work. The prophets of the Old Testament, Jesus’ disciples, and the followers of Jesus today are called to the prophetic work of revealing the mind of God to others.

Therefore, we should indeed “rejoice and be exceeding glad” to be counted among those that suffered great persecution, and who inherit such great rewards. The Apostle Peter writes, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4:13). We can be confident that whatever we may go through on our Christian journey, we are truly blessed and highly favored.

If you would like to have a personal relationship with Jesus, you must be born-again according to Acts 2:38 which reads, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Please share your comments and questions in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.


Diane Margo Penny is an author, content creator, social media specialist, and Web Designer.

Works Cited:

The Holy Bible, King James Version. Giant Print Reference ed. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. Publishers, 1990.

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[BlueLetterBible.org]

Image Citation:
outlook-73646_1920. Sinousxl. Pixabay.com. Web. 11 Mar. 2024.