The Beatitudes
Jesus' beatitudes are written without a verb, describing present reality, not a future time. Blessed or Happy is "Makarios," a word describing complete happiness, the realm of the gods. The Beatitudes are sayings attributed to Jesus. Each is a proverb-like proclamation without narrative. In particular, eight blessings related (divulged) by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-10), four blessings from the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke, followed by four woes which mirror the blessings. Some people count the four blessings from the Sermon on the Plain with the eight blessings of the Sermon on the Mount and the blessings included in the woes. In the Latin *Vulgate, each of these blessings begins with the word beati, which translates to "happy," "rich," or "blessed" (plural adjective).
*Vulgate refers to (denotes) the principal Latin version of the Bible, prepared mainly by St. Jerome in the late 4th century and (as revised in 1592) adopted as the official text for the Roman Catholic Church.
The corresponding word in the original Greek is µa?????? (Makarios), with the same meanings. Thus "Blessed are the poor in spirit" appears in Latin as beati pauperes spiritu. The Latin noun beatitudo was coined (devised) by Cicero to describe a state of blessedness and was later incorporated within the chapter headings written for Matthew 5 in various printed versions of the Vulgate.
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:1-3). Chapter 6:1-3 sounds similar to 5:1-3 and has the same meaning: "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. You will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matt. 6:1-3).
Subsequently, the word was *anglicized to beatitudes in the Great Bible of 1540 and has, over time, taken on a preferred spelling of beatitudes.
*Definition of "anglicize"
transitive verb
1: to make English in quality or characteristics
2: to adapt (a foreign word, name, or phrase) to English usage: such as
a: to alter to a characteristic English form, sound, or spelling
b: to convert (a name) to its English equivalent - anglicize Juan as John
In this case, the Latin noun beatitudo was "anglicized" to "Beatitude," the English word which corresponds to the original Greek
Even when his mouth was closed, he was teaching by his life; yet he did not withhold the testimony of his lips. Earnest men neither mumble nor stumble but speak distinctly, opening their mouths, when they address their fellows. When Jesus opens his mouth, let us open our ears and hearts.
3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The King's first statutes are approvals. He begins his teaching with bountiful, generous blessings. The Old Testament ended with "a curse": the New Testament opens with "Blessed. " This word is rendered "happy" by some, but we like blessed best.
Spiritual poverty is both commanded and commended. It is the basis of the Christian experience. No one, who has not felt the poverty of spirit, begins correctly. However, even to this first sign of grace is the kingdom given in present possession: "theirs is the kingdom of heaven ." The question in heaven's kingdom is not, "Are you a noble?" but, "Are you poor in spirit?" Those who are of no account in their own eyes are of the royal blood of the universe. Only these have the principles and the qualifications for the heavenly kingdom. May I be such!
4. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
These seem worse off than the merely poor in spirit, for "they mourn. " They are a stage higher, though they seem to be lower. The way to rise in the kingdom is to sink in ourselves. These men are grieved by sin and vexed by the evils of the times, but a future of rest and rejoicing is provided for them. Those who laugh shall cry, but those who sorrow shall sing. How great a blessing is a feeling of sorrow since it gives room for the Lord to administer comfort! Our griefs are blessed, for they are our points of contact with the divine Comforter. The beatitude reads like an irony, but it is true, as some know it fully through personal experience. Our mourning hours have brought us more comfort than our days of laughter.
5. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
The meek are lowly-minded and are ready to give up their portion in the earth; therefore, it shall come back to them. They neither boast, resist, nor revel over others, yet they are heirs of all the good God has created on the face of the earth. They are like their King In their meekness, and they shall reign with him. The promised land is for the tribes of the meek: before them, the Canaanites shall be driven out.
6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
They are not full of their righteousness but long for more and more of that which comes from above. They pine to be right themselves both with God and man, and they long to see righteousness have the upper hand all over the world. Such is their longing for the goodness that it would seem as if both the appetites of "hunger and thirst " were concentrated in their one passion for righteousness. Where God works such a voracious desire, we may be pretty sure that he will satisfy it; yea, fill it to the brim. In contemplating the righteousness of God, the righteousness of Christ, and the victory of righteousness in the latter days, we are more than filled. The satisfaction of the "man of desires" will be complete. Nothing here below can fill an immortal soul, and since it is written, "They shall be filled, " we look forward with joyful confidence to heaven of holiness with which we shall be satisfied eternally.
7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
They forgive, and they are forgiven. They judge charitably, and they shall not be condemned. They help the needy, and they shall be helped in their need. What we are to others, God will be to us. To be kind, some have to labor hard with their niggardliness, but the blessing lies in doing a merciful act and being merciful in disposition. Followers of Jesus must be men of mercy, for they have found mercy, and mercy has found them. As we look for "mercy, of the Lord in that day, we must show mercy in this day."
8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Lord, create a clean heart, that I may behold thee, both now and forever! Foul (obscene) hearts make dim eyes look Godward. To clear the eye, we must cleanse the heart. Only purity has any idea of God or any genuine vision of him. It is a great reward to be able to see God, and, on the other hand, it is a great help towards being pure in heart to have a true sight of the thrice-holy One. There are no pure hearts on earth unless the Lord has made them so, and none shall see God in heaven who has not been purified by grace while here below.
9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Men of peace are the children of the God of peace, and their Father's blessing rests on them. They are passively peaceful, like the meek, who keep the peace, but actively peaceful by endeavoring to end wars and contentions, making peace. These not only are the children of the peace-loving God, but they come to be called so, for men are struck by their likeness to their Father. At this moment is our sonship known to ourselves and others.
This seventh beatitude is a very high and glorious one; let us all endeavor to obtain it. Never let us be peacebreakers; evermore let us be peacemakers Yet must we not cry "peace, peace, where there is no peace."
The verse before this speaks of purity and this peace. First pure, then peaceable: this is God's order, and it should be ours.
10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This is the peculiar blessing of the elect of God, and it stands high up in the list of honor. The only homage which wickedness can pay to righteousness is to persecute it. Those who in the first blessing were poor in spirit are here despised and poverty-stricken: and in this, they get a new royal charter, which for the second time ensures to them "the kingdom of heaven. " Yea, they have the kingdom now: it is theirs in present possession. Not because of any personal fault, but simply because of their godly character, the Lord's Daniels are hated: but they are blessed by that which looks like a curse. Ishmael mocks Isaac, but Isaac has the inheritance, and Ishmael is cast out. It is a gift from God to be allowed to suffer for his name. So may we be helped to rejoice in Christ's cross when we are honored by being reviled for his name's sake.
11, 12. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Persecution of the tongue is more common but not less cruel than that of the hand. Slander is unscrupulous and indulges in accusations of every kind: "all manner of evil " is a comprehensive phrase. No crime is too base (dishonorable) to be laid at the door of the innocent; nor will the persecutor have any hesitation as to the vileness of the charge. The rule seems to be, "Throw plenty of mud, and some of it will stick." Under this very grievous trial, good men are to be more than ordinarily happy, for thus are then elevated to the rank of the prophets, upon whom the storm of falsehood beat with tremendous fury. "So persecuted they the prophets. " This is the heritage of the Lord's messengers: they killed one and stoned another. For the Lord's sake, the honor of suffering from the prophets is so great that it may well reconcile us to all that it involves. There is an inquisitorial succession of persecutors, "for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you, "; and there is a prophetical succession of saints ordained to glorify the Lord in the fires. It is our high privilege to belong, and we are happy that it is so. Our joy and gladness are to exceed all ordinary bounds when we are honored with the decoration of the iron cross and the collar of S.S., or savage slander.
