1. Those who are blessed
Who are the blessed one of the earth? Prodigy child, great sportman, or superstar? I ever wished i was a prodigy child. I wished I was blessed with a graceful countenance. I envied them. But are they really those who are to be envied?
v1-2. "Now he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:"
v.3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
This verse talks about the blessed people, and why they are said to be blessed. The reason is they inherit kingdom of heaven. What is the greatest inheritance we can think of? A house and a few million dollars are enough for some ppl. But here we see there are ppl who inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Who are those poor in spirit? What is poor in spirit? This word may seem foreign to us. We live in the world that admires self-sufficient and self-assertive. Poor in spirit means realizing that we are insufficient and need help. Who want to acknowledge that they have nothing and nothing they can do? But Jesus said that those who realize that they are nothing in front of God are those have the kingdom of heaven.
2. The characteristics
v4-10
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
We see the characteristics of those who are blessed. These things are to be seen as a whole. They describe the same thing with different words. For example, those who are poor in spirit must be meek, and merciful. These are the characteristics of ppl who realize that they are nothing in front of God.
3. A living example
Jesus, the person that spoke these words, has provided us a complete example to follow. Though he was rich, he became poor for our sake (2 Cor 8:9). He is the man of sorrow (Isa 53:3). His whole life is an example of meekness and lowliness. He always lived according to God's rule and never sinned. He showed mercy to us by dying on the cross. He made peace through his blood on the cross. He was persecuted to fulfil his mission.
4. What to expect?
v11-12. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
If we have seen the Lord Jesus was persecuted because this world hates him, then we should expect the same thing happen to us (cf. John 15:18-20). But we have reason to rejoice and be glad. We are the blessed one. We will be comforted, we will see God and will be called sons of God (cf. Roman 8:18, Roman 8:35-39)
