O Almighty God, by
whom we are graciously knit together as one communion and fellowship in the
mystical body of Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant us so to follow Your blessed
saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable
joys which You had prepared for those who love You; through our Lord Jesus
Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God,
now and forever.
Life for the Christian is a life that is lived by faith – On
this All Saints Day Jesus the greatest teacher who has ever lived gives a
description of the child of God who has been incorporated into the family of
faith. These Beatitudes are the gifts the Savior has given to you.
1. Comfort
for those who mourn now – Vs. 4 - Blessed
are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Mourn" describes a person
who becomes aware of his personal offense to God and the pain that he has
brought to others by his sinful behavior. The believer sees beyond consequences
of his wrongdoing into the real offenses done to others.
Mourning specifically over the sins we have committed
against God - Sorrow for the fact that our sins brought God’s Son to the cross.
He himself bore our sins in his body on
the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his
wounds you have been healed (1
Peter 2:24).
Mourning or .godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation and thus eternal comfort. Godly
sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2
Corinthians 7:10)
2. Fulfillment
of the desire for goodness – Vs. 6 - Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled. “Hunger and thirst for righteousness"
describes a man's relentless
pursuit of God's righteous standards which he can only gain from God. He looks beyond himself for new standards of conduct
and embraces God’s strength to obtain what he so desperately desires. Genuine
humility, godly sorrow for one’s sin, and meekness leads to the desire to be
right with God. Righteousness is
attained through Christ.
God made him who had
no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of
God. It is because of him that you
are in Christ Jesus, who has
become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and
redemption. (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30)
To gain the righteousness found in Christ, one must obey His
gospel and continue to obey the truth or
.practice righteousness. (1 John
3:7). True spiritual fulfillment is given to those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness. (Matthew
5:6).
3. Mercy for
those who are merciful now – Vs. 7 - Blessed
are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. “Merciful"
is a tender compassion for those in the wrong around them. Because He too has been forgiven, he cares for the
special needs of those around him. Seized
by his own unworthiness, he reaches out
to others with compassion.
The mercy of God is the source of motivation to show mercy
toward others. Be merciful, just as your
Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). Mercy
is demonstrated, in part, by our willingness to forgive others. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,
along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians
4:31-32).
Only the merciful will receive mercy on Judgment Day. …judgment
without mercy will be shown to anyone who
has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (James
2:13)
4. A vision
of God for the pure in heart – Vs.8 - Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they will see God. "Pure in heart" speaks not of a
person's old heart but his new heart and motivation. God has given the ability to seek the welfare of
others above the desires for oneself. Refusing to focus on himself, he sincerely opens his heart
to what God and others desire.
Pure in Heart means
clean, pure of sin, sincere,
earnest devotion to God. It is a pure longing for God, serving Him only.
A pure heart is achieved by the help of
God. He made no distinction between us
and them, for he purified their hearts by faith (Acts 15:9).
Christians are to be committed to cleansing their hearts (and lives) of sin. If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness (1
John 1:9).
To see God or maintain fellowship with Him requires purity of heart. Come near to God and he will come near to
you (James 4:8).
These Beatitudes are not some new kind of new Law given to
us. They are not rules for the righteous. They are rather a description of
those who are in Christ. The Beatitudes describe both who Jesus is and what He
gives to all who, by faith, have been incorporated into Him. You, dear friend
are blessed. The Kingdom
of Heaven
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