3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
2007-06-04 02:45:59 · 13 answers · asked by Searcher 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Oh, certainly yes. I realize that this is oversimplifying, but the sermon on the mount always spoke to me that being a truly good person is not about appearing good, or being financially successful and earning the admiration and praise of your fellows. Being truly good is about active compassion. Peacemakers aren't always popular. Oftentimes they are mistaken for weaklings or cowards. Standing up for what you believe is not always easy. Sometimes it brings the ridicule of your friends, parents, whole communities, and even nations against you, and that's quite a weight to feel on your shoulders. It's often the little things--the handshake, the pat on the back, time given to people who feel disconnected from all humanity--that can have the most far-reaching effect. Those are acts of compassion--not just compassion felt, but compassion put into action. Jesus was saying that these are the things that make us real human beings. These are the things that make life worth living. These are the things which make God smile and put you in community with all the good people who came before and all those who will come after you.
2007-06-04 02:54:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
absolutely- it is the opposite of what the world would say though, isn't it. The blessings may not be seen in this life, but we will surely be blessed when we see Jesus face to face. The key to this is verse 12- YOUR REWARD IS IN HEAVEN. The merciful will receive mercy- but as someone said- not always- that is true here in this life- however after death, or when Jesus returns the blessings will be enormous. As upside down as the sermon on the mt. seems it is how we need to live as believers.
2007-06-04 03:15:27 · answer #2 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, there will always be wishful thinking.
If being poor was great, you wouldn't have so many people trying to not be poor.
Many times the mourning are not comforted.
The meek tend not to get much. Being humble can be a good thing, but being too meek is not good.
Not all who hunger for what right get it.
The merciful do tend to be shown mercy because people respect that, but not always.
"Pure in heart" isn't even a meaningful phrase.
Peacemakers are important and generally respected, but not always.
And one would like to think the persecuted at least spawn people to change, but not always.
Mostly, this passage is meant to make people more comfortable in promoting their superstition to others. It's another way of saying, "Don't listen to others telling you you're wrong, just keep pushing it.".
You can get a strong group bonding based on common persecution, perceived or otherwise. That why, in the United States where Christians are the vast majority, they still try to pull the "I'm being persecuted" card.
2007-06-04 02:48:50 · answer #3 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
This is perhaps the most important passage in The Bible. It outlines the entire contract between God and Man. The thing is, Man is so focused on what will be gained that what must be done is very often lost. So seek to aid those in need, comfort those who hurt, bring peace when you can, and seek truth along your own path, rather than standing still upon it to mock another's.
2007-06-04 03:08:16 · answer #4 · answered by bardryn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course, but He is not speaking of rewards in this life. People that do right in this life are rewarded in the next even if they remain poor and weak until the day they die. Being good doesn't bring you a payday here on earth.
2007-06-04 02:57:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1716 The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen people since Abraham. The Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven:
2007-06-04 02:49:22 · answer #6 · answered by C R 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Beatitudes were always my favorite as a kid! Unfortunately, having hungered and thirsted for righteousness and not been fulfilled, I'm not so sure of the truth anymore.
2007-06-04 02:51:16 · answer #7 · answered by nomadic 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As the world around us slides toward the inevitable retribution that is coming from God, these words should be more significant and important in a believer's life than ever.
This passage is about promise, hope, and perseverance.
2007-06-04 02:54:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it has meaning for today. God's Word never changes, it has the same meaning yesterday, today and tomorrow.
2007-06-04 02:51:33 · answer #9 · answered by sparkles9 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.Today,yesterday and tomorrow. God's word never expires.
2007-06-04 03:00:23 · answer #10 · answered by Dixie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋