These are familiar words. As familiar words, they have much in common with other well-traveled passages. One common feature is the fact that the promise is not well-understood. The word to us is very clear — “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.“ A blessing is pronounced upon a certain kind of …
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
As we consider the context of this next blessing, we must understand that Jesus is not pronouncing an indiscriminate blessing on all forms of sorrow and mourning. Just as the previous blessing was reserved for those who are poor in spirit, so this blessing is for those who spiritually mourn. Christ teaches us: “Blessed are …
Spiritual Bankrupts
The Beatitudes taken together begin the Sermon on the Mount, and this Beatitude is the introduction to the rest of the Beatitudes. Poverty of spirit is the introduction to the introduction. As we shall see, this is the place where understanding of Christ’s message must begin. Christ teaches us that “Blessed are the poor in …
Christ the Doctor
Those who are citizens of Christ’s kingdom have certain, well-defined responsibilities — Christ teaches us how we are required to live before Him. These requirements are not idealistic — “something to shoot for,” and they are not “for somebody else” — the Jews of the Old Covenant, say. The teaching is a pattern of living …