The Eight Beatitudes – Sermon On The Mount
The Beatitudes are the account of ‘Sermon on Mount’ preached by Jesus, recorded in Mat 5: 3-12 in New Testament. It is one of the most quoted teaching of Bible, not only among the Christians, but among others as well. . Somewhat similar list of beatitudes is also mentioned in Luke 6:20-23.
Q. What is the meaning of word ‘Beatitude’? And how does it relate to word ‘Blessed’ used in Matthew 5:3-12?
English bible does not contain word ‘Beatitudes’.But it is derived from Latin word ‘Beatus’ meaning ‘Happy’ or ‘Blessed’, the meaning of which is very close to original Greek word Jesus that employed . The Greek word for ‘Blessed’ is ‘Makarioi’ which means ‘happy, supremely blessed, and fortunate’. Before we look into the beatitudes, let us look at the similarity and differences in the gospel accounts of Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-23.
In Matthew, all the 8 beatitudes are written in third persons (‘those’), except the last one. On the other hand, in Luke, Beatitudes mentioned in second person (“you”), followed by the list of ‘Woes’ too. (Luke 6:24-26) The sites where Jesus preached the message are different. (Mat 5:1 – ‘On the Mount’ and Luke 6:17 – ‘On the plain’) Bible scholars disagrees on their positions regarding these two accounts, whether they are
a) Separate records of the same sermon, or
b) Two different sermons with similar contents
Peoples often point out to such differences to disrepute the legitimacy and accuracy of gospel records. But these minor variations actually serve as an evidence of the genuineness of these records. [Consider an example of Professor giving homework to his students. If two students have identical, word by word solutions, Professor would first suspect ‘copying or cheating’!] Apart from these small differences, there is a exceptional unity and order of thought and substance in the gospels.
Beatitudes are the great paradox to the worldly belief of ‘blessedness’ and ‘happiness’. It is no wonder that it does not make sense and almost seems contradiction to the carnal mind. 1st Cor 1:18 – “For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.”
The beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount also defy the great expectations of an earthly kingdom, which Jews believed Messiah would establish! For how can you establish a worldly kingdom by the Weak and the Meek? How can you be merciful to your oppositions? How can you be peacemakers, if you are to set a kingdom? How can you let people persecute and insult you? It is evident that Jesus not talking about earthly kingdom. But he is offering ‘Kingdom of Heaven’.
The more we study the beatitudes, the more we realize that these characteristics are not something you can have instantaneously. It is a subtle, gradual change. There are not set patterns to attain them. Only thing you can do is to allow God to totally transform you from within. And it is very difficult to give up control of our life and let God be in driving seat.
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