5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
What do you consider having a blessed life? Strength, happiness, health.?
Jesus brought this message to all the people. To the crowds that came to him from all over.
Jesus Sat down to teach his his disciples. This was not like in later parts of the new testament when Jesus taught the disciples privately.
This was not a new law. Jesus was giving law in that he was showing the results of living as God wants us to live. It is NOT earning our way into heaven.
The primary audience was the disciples. The primary audience is those who love God already.
Blessed are:
The poor in spirit
Those who mourn
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
The merciful
The pure in heart
Those who are persecuted for righteousness 'sake
The peacemakers
Are you when others persecute and revile you on my account
We are blessed.
Jesus never did anything wrong.
All these reflect Jesus in some way but the first is different.
But the first beatitude calls us to humility and call to dependence on God. Jesus did not need this. He was rich in who he was. Jesus became poor for my sake but his spirit was not poor. His goal was that I might become rich in God through him.
Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty
How blest is he Whose Trespass
Breathe on me Breath of God
Take Time to be Holy
Take My life and Let it be
Thanks we give and adoration (79:2)