The Beatitudes
THE BEATITUDES
MATTHEW 5:1-12
Real happiness isn’t to be masters of our own destiny but to be mastered by God.
Matthew’s first collection of discourse-material, presenting the rule of life in the kingdom of heaven (5:1–7:27), is called the Sermon on the Mount (from 5:1 and 8:1), perhaps in comparison and contrast with Mount Sinai, from which the Mosaic law was promulgated (Exodus 19:1ff.). It is addressed to the disciples (5:1f.) in the hearing of larger crowds (7:28).
The opening section (5:3-10) pronounces blessings on eight categories of people. The “poor in spirit” (5:3) are those who, conscious of their own inadequacy, rely on God’s grace; lacking material wealth, they are inwardly rich. The expression occurs also in the Qumran texts (and cf. Isaiah 66:2). The mourners (5:4) refuse to close their eyes to human sorrow; they sympathize with the tragedy of life. The “meek” (5:5) are the opposite of the self-assertive; their reward has been announced already in Psalm 37:11. Those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (5:6) are consumed with the desire to see God’s will done—in themselves and among mankind at large. The “merciful” (5:7), the “pure in heart” (5:8) and the “peacemakers” (5:9) reflect the character of the God of mercy, purity and peace. In a world where the accepted standards of value are the reverse of these, such people are not likely to have an easy time. In fact, they are almost bound to be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (5:10). But, says Jesus, here is no ground for complaint, but rather for exultation: people such as he describes are the truly happy and fortunate people; on them their friends should press warm and sincere congratulations. The future is with them, not with the hardboiled “pushers” who put their own interests first and get on in the world. The rewards are not arbitrary; they are the natural fruit of the qualities that are commended. While eight qualities are mentioned, they tend to be found together; they were manifested in harmonious perfection in our Lord’s character. And lest his disciples should miss the practical point of the beatitudes, he repeats the last one in the second person. They will be persecuted and vilified because they are his disciples (5:11); let them rejoice in this, for it is a sign that they are in the true succession of the prophets (5:12).
It is only the familiarity of the beatitudes that blinds us to their revolutionary character; they turn the accepted priorities upside down. In their way they were an even more radical challenge to the establishment of the day than were the fiery denunciations of John (3:7).
Note The “mountain” (5:1; cf. 8:1) is probably the gentle slope rising above Capernaum: beneath the ridge parallel to the lake-shore between Tell Hum and et-Tabgha there is a natural amphitheatre. The ridge also satisfies the description of the “level place” in Luke 6:17, for one looks down on it (as Luke may have done) when approaching from the west. But above all, “the mountain” is for Matthew the place of revelation (cf. 17:1- 9; 28:16).