An Introduction to Matthew 5:1–12
How do you think of the blessings and rewards (“beatitudes”) in Matthew 5:1–12? Characteristics of those worthy of God’s kingdom? An impossible standard that drives us to the gospel and God’s mercy seat? Something we admire in others but can’t see ourselves achieving? Motivation to draw near to God and serve others? A personal checklist of spiritual progress?
In our individualistic culture we often feel we must achieve everything on our own, albeit with God’s help, and stand or fall one by one. From this perspective it is easy to miss two beautiful things about the beatitudes: how relational they are and how much they say about God’s character and His formation of it in us.
Matthew describes the occasion and setting of Jesus’ blessings, “And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 And opening His mouth He began teaching them, saying…” (Matthew 5:1–2). Jesus’ answered the first temptation in 4:3–4 by saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” Profoundly, in 5:2 Jesus was, “opening His mouth He began teaching them saying…” From Jesus’ mouth, the mouth of the eternal Son of God, come the living words of these powerful blessings of God.
Jesus begins, “‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 5:3). We often see our material or spiritual poverty in relation to others. We are more or less spiritual, poorer or richer than them. Ultimately, regardless of our station in life, our spiritual poverty should be seen in relationship to God, our weakness in light of His great strength and spiritual riches.
Seeing a miraculous catch of fish Peter “fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!’” (Luke 5:8). Peter recognized two things: Jesus is a great Saviour and Peter was a great sinner. So are we. Recognizing our spiritual poverty is a good thing. It opens us to a relationship with God and His awesome spiritual riches and promise, “‘theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’” Pride blinds but humility opens our eyes to God and our minds to learn.
“‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted’” (5:4). Mourning is highly relational. While we may grieve over our own personal loses and spiritual poverty, we mourn most deeply for others: the suffering, lost and departed. At the death of His friend Lazarus, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Jesus was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). God understands our pain.
Many people in our culture want no mourning, only celebration. Counter culturally, God promises blessing in mourning: comfort from “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). He knows mourning is a healthy process and release that reflects our love for others. Mourning can come in waves at unexpected times. It brings us in touch with the deeper things in life, ultimately with God who cares.
“‘Blessed are the gentle (meek, humble), for they shall inherit the earth’” (5:5). Jesus says, “‘I am gentle and humble in heart’” (Matthew 11:29). Gentleness and humility are fundamental characteristics of Jesus into whose likeness God molds us (Romans 8:28–30). Jesus “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). God commands us to humble ourselves (Numbers 29:7; Proverbs 6:3; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:5, 6). If God tells us to do something, we can. Jesus did. He made us and equips us to obey. The reward, inheriting the earth, takes on its proper, deeper eternal meaning when we see God will create a “new earth” (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Revelation 21:1).
“‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied’” (5:6). Righteousness is another fundamental characteristic of God, His commands and His kingdom. It’s what He is and what He longs for in us. It is the very atmosphere of heaven. God is right. Everything there will be right as He means it to be.
As Christians progress in sanctification the world’s unrighteousness and our own become increasingly apparent. The blessing of satisfaction ultimately comes in awakening to and embracing the fact we have no righteousness of our own. We have the righteousness of Christ: “which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:9; see also Romans 3:22; 5:17; 5:21; 8:10; 10:4, 6; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 2:21; Philippians 1:11 and 2 Peter 1:1). Righteousness is a characteristic of God’s holiness and a satisfying gift He gives us in relationship with Jesus, in Christ. Discipline “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrew 12:11b).
“‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy’” (5:7). Mercy is both a characteristic of God and highly relational (Exodus 34:6; Luke 6:35–36). He is merciful to us. Mercy feels empathy and acts to relieve and improve the lives of others.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’” (5:8). God is pure, holy love through and through. Purity’s reward is seeing God, being in relationship with Him forever. Inner purity is a mutual work of God with us in which His purity becomes ours: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you(plural) will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6), “purify your hearts” (James 4:8).
“‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God’” (5:9). Peacemaking involves relationships with parties in conflict. God is the supreme peacemaker. He is peace, Yahweh Shalom (Judges 6:24). Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
The ultimate way of peace is the cross: “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:19–20).
“‘Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you’” (5:10–12).
These are perhaps the most paradoxical of all beatitudes: promised persecutions as blessings (see also 2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus makes it personal by switching from the previous beatitudes’ third person to the first person plural “You.” Righteousness is resented. Persecutions are relational and often deeply personal. They come from others outwardly and inwardly afflicting body and mind. The reason is relational with God: “because of Me”(cf. 10:39). No one has suffered more persecution unjustly than Jesus. Being in the company of Jesus and God’s prophets is a blessing. Jesus describes the reward as great and uses an emphatic expression for “Rejoice!”
Where Do We Get the Power to Live the Beatitudes?
The resurrection power of God in the gospel that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us. In immersion (baptism) we die and Christ begins living in us: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).
The blood of Jesus purifies us: “if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
God’s Holy Spirit sanctifies, empowers and guides us: “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16); “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). Gentleness and self-control are fruits of the Spirit in us (Galatians 5:23).
As we study and live in the Word of God it works in us: “we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:3).
In every beatitude, Jesus speaks of people, a plurality, who are blessed together as a group. The encouragement and edification of others in relationship in Christ provides strength for living: “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11); “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
Christians, God is forming His character in you and working through you (plural!) and your relationships. “‘Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great!’”
Waterloo, Ontario