The Beatitudes Series

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.