Once, there was a beautiful apple tree that lived in front of a grand church right in the center of town. The apple tree spent its time people-watching and enjoying the warm sun on its branches. But every Sunday left the apple tree quite annoyed. All of the members of the church would walk out of its large doors at exactly noon and would spend the next several minutes screaming at all the people passing by. “I am a Christian,” they would call out. “Do you see how large the Bible is that I carry?” They wore ties with scenes from the crucifixion on them and large pieces of jewelry with crosses. After they felt that others had heard their yells, they would get into their cars with their Honk If You Love Jesus bumper stickers and head home. They continued this every single week until the apple tree could not stand for it to continue. So, one Sunday, the apple tree pulled up its roots and made his way into the church. He dragged his heavy roots behind him and made his way up to the pulpit. He stood in front of the congregation and leaned in toward the microphone attached to the podium. “Do you know what I am?” he asked. Everyone looked around and began to whisper amongst themselves. A little boy who had been coloring in the back row stood on the pew. “You’re an apple tree,” he said. 
“You are right,” the tree said. “And did I have to tell you that I was an apple tree?”
“No,” replied the little boy. 
“Did I have to carry a sign or yell out as people passed?”
Again, the little boy said “No.”
“Then how do you know that I am an apple tree?”
The boy thought for a moment and then called out, “I know you are an apple tree because of the fruit that you bear.”

1. Love: Not emotion-based but rather a decision to be committed to the well-being of others without any conditions or circumstances.  I John 4:7-12
2. Joy: Not determined by outward success or good health. Experienced by realizing that true success is knowing God and living for Him, ministering to others and sharing His word.  John 16:22-24
   
3. Peace: Freedom from worry. A state of assurance and contentment.  Philippians 4:6-7
   
4. Patience: Being slow to anger and practicing restraint when faced with disagreement and persecution.  Proverbs 15:18
   
5. Kindness: A temperament that shows friendly regard.  Proverbs 11:16-17
   
6. Goodness: Being selfless and generous to others even when it is undeserved.  Galatians 6:9-10
   
7. Faithfulness: Firm devotion to God, first and then to others through loyalty and trust.  Proverbs 3:3
   
8. Gentleness: Not weak but rather humble. Calm and non-threatening. I Peter 3:15
   
9. Self-control: Restraining emotions and desires to assure a life kept in line with God’s will.  Titus 2:11-12
   

It is important that we understand God’s word and spend time in study to further know how God would have us apply it to our lives. The following beatitudes are perfect for study. Ask God to show you what treasures He has for you in these verses and consider keeping a journal about what you learn.

Beatitude: Poor in spirit (5:3)

• Old Testament anticipation: Isaiah 57:15
  
• Clashing worldly values: Pride and personal independence
  
• God’s reward: Kingdom of Heaven
  
• How to develop this attitude: James 4:7-10
  

Beatitude: Mourning (5:4)

• Old Testament anticipation: Isaiah 61:1,2
  
• Clashing worldly values: Happiness at any cost
  
• God’s reward: Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:4)
  
• How to develop this attitude: Psalm 51, James 4:7-10
  

Beatitude: Meekness (5:5)

• Old Testament anticipation: Psalm 37:5-11
  
• Clashing worldly values: Power
  
• God’s reward: Inherit the earth
  
• How to develop this attitude: Matthew 11:27-30
  

Beatitude: Righteousness (5:6)

• Old Testament anticipation: Isaiah 11:4,5; 42:1-4
  
• Clashing worldly values: Pursuing personal needs
  
• God’s reward: Filled (Satisfied) 
  
• How to develop this attitude: John 16:5-11, Philippians 3:7-11 
  

Beatitude: Mercy (5:7)

• Old Testament anticipation: Psalm 41:1
  
• Clashing worldly values: Strength without feeling 
  
• God’s reward: Be shown mercy
  
• How to develop this attitude: Ephesians 5:1,2
  

Beatitude: Pure in heart (5:8)

• Old Testament anticipation: Psalm 24:3,4; 51:10
  
• Clashing worldly values: Deception is acceptable
  
• God’s reward: See God
  
• How to develop this attitude: 1 John 3:1-3
  

Beatitude: Peacemaker (5:9)

• Old Testament anticipation: Isaiah 57:18, 19; 60:17
  
• Clashing worldly values: Personal peace is pursued without concern for the world’s chaos 
  
• God’s reward: Be called sons of God
  
• How to develop this attitude: Romans 12:9-21, Hebrews 12:10,11 
  

Beatitude: Persecuted (5:10)

• Old Testament anticipation: Isaiah 52:13; 53:12
  
• Clashing worldly values: Weak commitments
  
• God’s reward: Inherit the kingdom of Heaven 
  
• How to develop this attitude: 2 Timothy 3:12

In his longest recorded sermon, Jesus began by describing the traits He was looking for in His followers. He called those who lived out those traits blessed because God had something special in store for them. Each beatitude is an almost direct contradiction of society's typical way of life. In the last beatitude, Jesus even points out that a serious effort to develop these traits is bound to create opposition. The best example of each trait is found in Jesus Himself. If our goal is to become like Him, the beatitudes will challenge the way we live every day.

Monday: Matthew 5:3-5
Jesus began His sermon with words that seem to contradict each other. But God's Way of living usually contradicts the world. If you want to live for God, you must be ready to say and do what seems strange to the world. You must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse. By giving up your own rights in order to serve others, you will one day receive everything God has in store for you.

Tuesday: Matthew 5:3-12
There are at least four ways to understand the Beatitudes. 

1. They are a code of ethics for the disciples and a standard of conduct for all believers. 
   
2. They contrast Kingdom values (what is eternal) with worldly values (what is temporary) 
   
3. They contrast the superficial “faith” of the Pharisees with the real faith Christ wants. 
   
4. They show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new kingdom. 
   

These Beatitudes are not multiple choice- pick what you like and leave the rest. They must be taken as a whole. They describe what we should be like as Christ’s followers.

Wednesday: Matthew 5:3-12 
Each Beatitude tells how to be blessed. Blessed means more than happiness. It implies the fortunate or enviable state of those who are in God's kingdom. The Beatitudes don't promise laughter, pleasure, or earthly prosperity. To Jesus, blessed means the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. To find hope and joy, the deepest form of happiness, follow Jesus no matter what the cost.

Thursday: Matthew 5:3-12
With Jesus’ announcement that the kingdom was near (4:17), people were naturally asking “How do I qualify to be in God's kingdom?” Jesus said that God’s kingdom is organized differently from worldly kingdoms. In the kingdom of Heaven, wealth and power and authority are unimportant. Kingdom people seek different blessings and benefits, and they have different attitudes. Are your attitudes a carbon copy of the world’s selfishness, pride, and lust for power, or do they reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus, your King? 

Friday: Matthew 5:11,12
Jesus said to rejoice when we are persecuted. Persecution can be good. 

1. It takes our eyes off earthly rewards. 
   
2. It strips away superficial belief. 
   
3. It strengthens the faith of those who endure. 
   
4. Our attitude through it serves as an example to others who follow. 

We can be comforted to know that God's greatest prophets were persecuted; Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel. The fact that we are being persecuted proves that we have been faithful: faithless people would be unnoticed. In the future, God will reward the faithful by receiving them into his eternal kingdom where there is no more persecution.