Wednesday's Word: Beatitude
Jesus preached the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount spans three (3) chapters in the book of Matthew, chapters five (5) through seven (7). The Beatitudes are found from Matt. 5:3-11. In most dictionaries "Beatitude" is translated as something like "extreme blessedness." When the word is capitalized it stands as a reference to the verses listed above.
The Beatitudes begin with the same word, "Blessed." The word "blessed" is a good translation from the original Greek (makarioi). One of the best translations I've heard was by Dr. Clay Anthony who translated it as "Oh how happy . . ." instead of "blessed." The basic idea is the same; the quality or person Jesus referenced in the verse is to be considered in the most envious of state by the hearer or reader.
The Beatitudes, or states of blessedness, are people "poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3), "who mourn" (5:4), "the gentle" (5:5), "who hunger and thirst for righteousness" (5:6), "merciful" (5:7), "pure in heart" (5:8), "peacemakers" (5:9), "persecuted for the sake of righteousness" (5:10), or "insult[ed]" because of Christ (5:11). Even with a quick glance, the qualities listed aren't envious states.
Preachers like to say that the "Beatitudes" are "Be Attitudes" which suggest these are qualities we should strive for in our lives. For instance, the last Beatitude portrays a quality of being steadfast and firm in one's faith if that person is willing to be insulted and persecuted for Jesus' sake. Likewise, many of the Beatitudes like "gentle," "merciful", and "peacemakers" are paralleled, to some degree, with the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Beatitudes are qualities that a Christian should possess. The reason I say that is because the Sermon on the Mount is a sermon about discipleship. Anyone who considers himself or herself to be a disciple of Christ should heed the words of Jesus and apply these verses and the others from the Sermon on the Mount to his or her life.
