Matthew 5: Upside Down Thinking

Last updated on: January 7, 2011 at 3:51 pm by Dillon Burroughs

Matthew 5: Upside Down Thinking 2011-01-07T15:51:24-05:00 Dillon Burroughs

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I felt I could not write down the opening words of Matthew 5 quickly enough! Known as the Beatitudes, these verses share the perspective of Jesus regarding those who are blessed.

The list, however, does not include what we would expect among those considered blessed. The nine kinds of people called “blessed” here by Jesus are:

1. The poor in spirit
2. Those who mourn
3. The meek
4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
5. The merciful
6. The pure in heart
7. The peacemakers
8. Those who are persecuted because of righteousness
9. Those who are insulted, persecuted, and slandered because of Jesus

Some of these are easier than others. We would expect blessings upon us for being poor in spirit (humble), for hungering for righteousness, being merciful, pure in heart, meek, or a peacemaker. But being blessed for persecution and insults does not strike us as helpful in any way.

Yet Jesus taught otherwise. He was an example of one who lived a holy life yet was mistreated by others. He calls those of us blessed who experience the same. This could include being made fun of at work or school, belittled for our “childish” beliefs, exclusion for taking a moral stand on an issue related to Jesus, or a more physical persecution like those in 50 nations of our world experience religious persecution as a daily reality.

Regardless of how we are insulted, persecuted, or slandered for our faith in Jesus, He calls it “blessed.” This upside down thinking challenges us to observe the most difficult parts of our day differently. When we experience harsh encounters because of following Jesus as God, we are blessed. Why? Because it means our faith is strong enough for others to notice and to draw attention to the Lord we serve.

Matthew 5:3-11, NIV:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed 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. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Dillon Burroughs has written, co-written, or edited over 60 books, including the upcoming devotional work Thirst No More (October 2011). He served as an associate editor for The Apologetics Study Bible for Students and is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. Find out more at DillonBurroughs.org.

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