When Jesus spoke the Beatitudes, He chose them deliberately. The divine Son of God did not haphazardly select eight qualities. Rather, each beatitude describes an essential characteristic of a disciple of Jesus. The Beatitudes are indispensable for living out the Christian life.
Jesus also put the Beatitudes in a certain order. They are like steps, each one building upon the one before it. Each beatitude progresses toward greater maturity in Christian discipleship.
Further, each beatitude is linked to our relationship with Christ.
- Being poor in spirit speaks of depending upon Christ.
- Mourning speaks of repenting toward Christ.
- Being meek speaks of submitting to Christ.
- Hungering and thirsting speak of pursuing Christ.
- Showing mercy speaks of being forgiven through Christ.
- Being pure in heart speaks of cleansing by Christ.
- Being peacemakers speaks of reconciling others in Christ.
- Being persecuted speaks of witnessing for Christ.
The Beatitudes are (1) deliberately selected, (2) intentionally ordered, and (3) Christ-focused. They are worthy of thoughtful study.
The new Bible Helps article, “The Meek,” is a study of the third beatitude in Matthew 5:5.
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