What does it mean to be blessed, and who is truly blessed?

This week, we have dissected a poetic portion of the Sermon on the Mount, and perhaps one of the most familiar passages to us, The Beatitudes. Because of the familiarity of the language, we may have merely glossed over these verses in times past and have missed out on the deeper, life-impacting meaning behind these words of Christ.

I can hardly wait to get into our small groups this week and see what you have learned from this passage!

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According to Dictionary.com, beatitude is defined as “Supreme blessedness; exalted happiness.” The original Greek word for blessed, makarios, is often translated as happy as well.

Blessed is more than the subjective emotion of happiness, however, but it is tied more to the spiritual fruit of joy. It is an inner satisfaction tethered to our salvation in Christ. It is not affected by our emotions, feelings, or circumstances, but it is an eternal, unshakeable reality.

As I read these blessings, I can understand more fully the reasoning behind each of Jesus’ sayings because I see how they relate to the character of God. These are areas He is perfecting in us and making us more like Him. Therefore, we are truly BLESSED!

This week, I am paraphrasing the beatitudes according to my research this week to help us better understand what Jesus was teaching us. You may have much better wording than I do in your rewrites this week, but my attempt is to help us  move beyond the familiar and beautiful poetry to get to the nitty gritty of Jesus’ amazing teaching. May this bring powerful transformation and immense blessings to your life!

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Supremely blessed and happy are those who realize their abject spiritual poverty apart from God, their desperate need for and dependence on God, who shun the mindset of self-sufficiency or a puffed-up self-worth, and who understand that they are completely empty and without hope without God. Blessed are you when you quit looking for fulfillment and worth in yourself, in worldly pursuits, or in the acquisition of material gain. You are blessed when you realize that you are not “all that,” and the world does not revolve around you. It is not until you completely understand this reality that you are fully able to grasp the principles of and are truly prepared to receive the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Supremely blessed and happy are those who grieve and are sorrowful for their sin and rebellion. To be aware of our sin is to recognize its vile and corrupt nature that separates us from God, and grieves the heart of God. To mourn is to lament deeply over anything that grieves the heart of God, to be truly sorry and remorseful. We do not foolishly deny our sinful state, but we willingly confess our broken state before a holy God. It is then that we are forgiven, cleansed, and set free, and that will bring us great comfort.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Supremely blessed and happy are you who remain gentle, patient, and submissive, even in crisis; who firmly take their stand against evil in this world, or against bullies, without stooping to their level; who refuse to take revenge even if you can; and who remain calm against the urge to give in to anger or rage. Being meek does not mean you are weak, timid, wishy-washy, or that you are a doormat for anyone to manipulate or abuse. Meekness does not mean that you are inferior, worthless, or have no voice. It does not mean that you cannot establish healthy boundaries in your life or allow others to push you around. Contrarily, meekness is about “power, or strength under control.” You are a “gentle giant,” and it is you who will inherit the earth.
   1. You are a gentle breeze that cannot be stopped, but gently caresses and affects change.
   2. You are like gentle medicine that heals and soothes without the bad taste or harmful side effects.
   3. You are like a tamed wild animal who continues to possess strength and power, but is trained to be gentle and yielding.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Supremely blessed and happy are those who crave what only Christ can give. You know that Christ alone is your righteousness. You have learned that nothing else on this earth can satisfy, and that every physical appetite only leaves us wanting more. When you realize that Christ is your only source of true spiritual satisfaction and fulfillment, that He is the living water that will cause us to never thirst again, and that He alone is the Bread of Life that will satisfy our spiritual hunger, then we are in the perfect position to be filled to the brim and to overflowing by Him.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Supremely blessed and happy are you when you show kindness and compassion to someone who deserves your wrath. You are being merciful when you focus on your own plank instead of picking at the speck in your bother/sister’s eye. You refuse to judge or condemn. When you withhold punishment or retribution and opt for mercy instead, you have demonstrated the heart of God. He will also withhold His wrath and be merciful toward you.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Supremely blessed and happy are you when your heart is wholly devoted to God, without distractions of the world or of sin pulling you away or crowding God off the throne of your heart. You refuse to allow the world to corrupt your thinking or your character. You have put to rest your selfish desires and fleshly appetites in order to walk wholeheartedly by the Spirit of God. You recognize that you are not without sin, but you have accepted the atonement for your sin through Christ’s death on the cross. Therefore, because of Christ, you can stand before God completely pure and blameless.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Supremely blessed and happy are those who work for peace and pursue it. You use a gentle answer instead of stirring up conflict. You know when to stand up for what is right and when to back off and just let it go. You are considerate of others and unselfish because you know that selfishness leads to quarrels. You have a humble spirit and do not allow pride to cloud your judgment. You show respect to others and refrain from using inflammatory or derogatory words. You strive only to build up and encourage. You make the effort to create a peaceful atmosphere wherever you go, and you bathe it all in prayer. It is you who are acting in your true nature as children of God.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. You are supremely blessed and happy when you are persecuted for the sake of Christ, knowing that you are sharing in His suffering, as He was also persecuted. You have an eternal perspective and trust that God will make all things right in His time. For now, you will not relinquish your faith or your hope. You will continue to praise God in all circumstances. Just remember, the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to you!

As Jesus concludes this portion of His sermon, He moves right into His teaching of what it means to be salt and light, or rather, people of influence in this world. He also explains how He has come to fulfill the Law, rather than to abolish the Law. WEEK 3, “A People of Influence,” is going to be such a powerful week of learning! I can hardly wait!

I pray you have such a blessed week of study!

Week 2 Assignments

1. Read Matthew 5-7
2. Study Week 3: “A People of Influence” pp. 30-45
3. Attend a small group.
4. Watch my video for this week.
5. Memorize this week’s Bible verse, Matthew 5:16 ESV:

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

 Week 2 Discussion Questions

Here is a sneak peek of the questions we will be discussing this week in our small groups.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Matthew 5:3-4 ESV

QUESTION 1: Based on your Day 2 study this week, why should we desire to be poor in spirit? What does this mean?

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:5-6 ESV

QUESTION 2: In Isaiah 53, how does Christ perfectly demonstrate meekness? How would you describe meekness?

QUESTION 3: How can a sense of entitlement stifle your relationship with God or skew your perception of God? (Day 3, p. 21)

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:7-8 ESV

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 1 John 1:8 ESV

QUESTION 4: On Day 4, we learned about being merciful and pure in heart. According to 1 John 1:8, none of us can claim to be sinless. So, if pure in heart is not being perfect or free from sin, what is it? (Day 4, p. 24)

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:9-10 ESV

QUESTION 5: What is a peacemaker? What are some practical ways to be a peacemaker in our homes, church, community, workplace, country, etc.? (Day 5, p. 26)

QUESTION 6: How has Jesus changed your concept of what it means to be “blessed”? Or, what impacted you most in this week’s passage from the Sermon on the Mount?

Reading Schedule

• Skip Week 1 in the book; Optional video
• August 28 – September 3, Study Week 2: “Who Is Blessed?” pp. 14-29; Matthew 5:1-12
  • Small groups: Introduction. No need to ready anything ahead of time.
• September 4-10, Study Week 3: “A People of Influence,” pp. 30-45; Matthew 5:13-20
  • Small groups: Discuss Week 2
• September 11-17, Study Week 4: “You Have Heard That It Was Said…” Part 1, pp. 46-59; Matthew 5:21-30
  • Small groups: Discuss Week 3
• September 18-24, Study Week 5: “You Have Heart That It Was Said…” Part 2, pp. 60-73; Matthew 5:31-48
  • Small groups: Discuss Week 4
• September 25 – October 1, Study Week 6: “Secret Righteousness,” pp. 74-89; Matthew 6:1-18
  • Small groups: Discuss Week 5
• October 2-8, Study Week 7: “Where Your Treasure Is,” pp. 90-105; Matthew 6:19-34
  • Small groups: Discuss Week 6
• October 9-15, Study Week 8: “Do Unto Others,” pp. 106-121; Matthew 7:1-12
  • Small groups: Discuss Week 7
• October 16-22, Study Week 9: “A Foundation That Endures,” pp. 122-137; Matthew 7:13-29
  • Small groups: Discuss Week 8
• October 23-29: Catch Up Week and Finish Study
  • Small groups: Discuss Week 9

How This Works

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• Small Groups: There will be a schedule for small groups pinned to the top of the Facebook group, Heart to Heart Women’s Bible Study, as we get closer to the time. All you need to do is show up at the scheduled day and time, and the discussion will take place underneath the group photo. 
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Let us continue being faithful and diligent in the Word. May we seek to know God and His ways. I hope to see you in a small group this week!

God bless!