THE BEATITUDES

THE BEATITUDES 

   The section of Matthew’s Gospel starting with Chapter five through the end of Chapter seven, is known as the evangelical Law – the law of the Gospel given to us by Christ. The very beginning of Chapter five begins with the Beatitudes, which for unknown reasons, are used in other Orthodox churches but, to my knowledge practically unused in the Greek churches.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted,

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. 
                                                                  Matthew 5:3-12

  The doctrine of Jesus Christ is the cause of blissfulness, of happiness and lasting joy. Everything that man  seeks is found in Christ not in this material world. Animals find all that they need in this world, but because we are much more than animals, and are spirits, this world cannot fulfill our desires. Man desires to be free and stay alive. Man desires knowledge and builds schools, universities and libraries seeking all the knowledge that exists. Man forms societies to increase his singular  power and accomplishes great things, such a highways, bridges, ships, aircraft, huge buildings, etc.  Summing it up, man wants to live for ever. Man wants to be able to know everything. Man desires to do everything he can and accomplish great tasks.

Man wants to live for ever.             God is eternal forever alive

Man wants to know everything        God knows everything 

Man wants to have all power           God is all powerful, 

 Thus,  there is no question that man desires to be a god like God.  God also wills that we become like Him, but the Devil convinced the first woman to break God’s law and eat the forbidden fruit, saying: “You will become like God” She listened to his deception and death entered the world.  Christ came and destroyed the authority of death which held man captive.

    "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

A person aware of his poorness in body,  seeks assistance until he receives  help.

A person aware of his poorness of spirit,  seeks assistance  from God until he receives help. It is not the poverty that is blessed, but the awareness of poverty, which promotes action.

"Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted."

Realizing his poverty, he cries, mourning to God, who sees his tears and bestows the spirit

"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."

Those who have mourned over their sins, comforted by God, become meek avoiding anger.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice for they shall be filled.

Those becoming meek hunger to do God’s will and keep every commandment.

"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."

Acquiring justice from God, they seek to be merciful, having first  tasted His great mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

Pureness of heart is analogous to clearness of the eye; a clear healthy heart sees God

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God".

Those who reconcile men  to Christ establish peace between them and God          

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Those who reconcile men to God are persecuted but courageous and love moves them to action.

"Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven."

Ascending the ladder of the Beatitudes, the person who is filled with courage and spirit, endures everything for the sake of Christ and the truth, and gladly undergoes persecution and even death.