What Is The Purpose Of The Beatitudes

Last updated on: July 28, 2017 at 9:00 am by Jack Wellman

What Is The Purpose Of The Beatitudes 2017-07-21T15:54:19-05:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Beatitudes have many lessons for us, so here is what Jesus was teaching in Matthew chapter 5.

Jesus’ Audience

When Matthew chapter 5 opens, Jesus saw the crows and went up to a mountain, and “his disciples came to him” (Matt 5:1c), so this greatest sermon, at the beginning, might have appeared to only be for the 12 disciples, but His sermon continues into chapter 6 and up to the end of chapter 7, where Jesus concludes it, and we’re finally made aware of who the audience includes: “And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matt 7:28-29). He went up to a mountain so that the crowds could hear Him, and remember, Jesus was a carpenter for many years, working with timbers and stones as well as perhaps, furniture, so He was a man’s man to be sure, so He likely had a booming voice, otherwise the crowds could not have heard Him as well as when He was speaking to the Jews in the Temple. Since Jesus had to climb a mountain in order to be heard, we can assume that there was a very large crowd present, and at about this point, Jesus was reaching the peak of His popularity during His earthly ministry. Today the crowd is considerably larger (via the Bible), but that crowd included His disciples, a majority of the Jews, but in the gospels, we know there were certain Gentiles present too. In the end, the audience was them and the audience is us, and all who would read. The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee says that the Beatitudes point to a believer’s life in the kingdom, although there are some immediate implications for us (Matt 5:10-12), but the audience today is clearly anyone who opens and reads these teachings.

Be-Attitude

I remember hearing a pastor say that the Beatitudes are a “be-attitude,” which means we must be intentional in doing them, but in Matthew 5, which is where the Beatitudes reside, there are some very difficult things to do. How can we rejoice “when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matt 5:11)? For one thing, you’re in great company, so there’s reason to rejoice and be glad, since “they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt 5:12b). Also, Jesus clearly teaches that what we do for others, good or bad (Acts 9:4-5), we are doing it to Him (Matt 25:40), so anything we do can either hurt the Body of Christ or we can help its witness before the world, but it must never be for our own glory or to be seen of others. Our intent is only to glorify God and Jesus Christ, and anything we do manage to do that is good is only because of Him Who strengthens us and enables us to do good (Phil 4:13), and Who has laid out these works for us to walk in (Eph 2:10). God is seeking such to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), but it is not just an attitude, because attitude is not enough. To do good to those who are poor in spirit, those who are mourning, the meek, and the hungry, those in the prisons, nursing homes, and shut-ins (Matt 25:35-39; James 1:27), is also to do to Christ Himself (Matt 25:40).

Blessed Beyond Measure

The blessings that come upon those who are listed in Matthew chapter 5 are blessings that can come to all of us. They might be poor in spirit (or broken); they might be mourning over a lost loved one, the sin and suffering in the world, or their own sin; they might be meek because the closer you get to God and knowing Him, the smaller we get; they might be those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, which is only found in Christ and recorded in His Word; and they will be blessed for extending mercy by receiving mercy; and those who have clean hands and a pure heart before God, will someday see God (Rev 21:3, 22:4); and blessed are those who seek to be a peacemaker, instead of one who stirs up contention and strife, they will be called the sons and daughters of God (Matt 5:9). Even better*, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”* (Matt 5:10). Some Christians are more blessed than others in this area, but even if you are persecuted for your faith, and all believer’s will be (2nd Tim 3:12), and it shouldn’t surprise us when it does happen as something strange (1st Pet 4:12), but this is just what Jesus said was coming, so “when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt 5:11-12).

Conclusion

It’s not about who we are, but Whose we are, and for those who’ve trusted in Christ, it is a beautiful thing to know you can stand before God wearing Jesus’ very own righteousness (2nd Cor 5:21), but it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God (Heb 10:31), either after death (Heb 9:27) or at Christ’s return (Rev 1:7). Did you realize that when you “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:44), it is “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt 5:45)? Besides, “if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same” (Matt 5:46)? It’s not hard to live out these beatitudes; it’s impossible. We can’t do this outside of Christ (John 15:5). These things we do for Christ don’t save us, but we do these things for Christ because He commands us and has purchased us by His own blood. These will all be fulfilled when the kingdom of God arrives with its King, Jesus Christ.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is host of Spiritual Fitness and also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon

Previous Post

July 26, 2017

How Can You Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind?

Next Post

July 31, 2017 How Some Christians and Unbelievers Take Texts Out of Context

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What vision did Daniel have of four beasts representing empires?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Four dragons Horse, eagle, serpent, leopard Ox, ram, goat, lion Lion, bear, leopard, terrifying beast