The Beatitudes

Memory Verse: 
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."  Matthew 5:8

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.