Matthew 5:1-12

God is a God of order.  He sets things in place in an orderly manner.  We would do well to heed His order in our spiritual growth.

The Beatitudes is the first recorded teaching of Jesus as he began his ministry.  Prior to this he did teach in the synagogues but this audience was his disciples among the crowds.  These were not necessarily people schooled in the scriptures.    Formerly, the kingdom of God was thought to be reserved for those of the Jewish lineage who followed the law. The Beatitudes set the new pattern of a life with God.

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
A poor spirit is a spirit that has no resources and is in great need.  No matter how sin stained, lost, or condemned you are, you still have the kingdom of heaven waiting for you.  It has not disappeared or been taken away from you.  It is still within reach.  Not all is lost. 

2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Mourning occurs when there is a loss or death.  When we repent giving up familiar ways, we will suffer a loss.  We don’t talk like we did.  We may lose friendships that were based on sin.  We will no longer control others through self-centered ways.  We are told that although we mourn these losses, we will be comforted or strengthened to carry on in new ways.

3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
The meek are teachable and are willing to submit to new ways of living.  The meek willingly learn the ways of God in the natural as well as the spiritual.  These will inherit the earth because they will know how to steward the land.  They will know how to maneuver in the world and make right decisions.

4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Those who are willing to give up physical comforts for the sake of righteousness will be filled.  Those physical needs will be met in supernatural ways.

5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Mercy is God’s continual efforts to reconcile mankind to himself by doing everything necessary to bring about reconciliation.  When we likewise keep working to reconcile with others, we will be reconciled with God.

6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Pure hearts are single minded with no ulterior motives in obedience to God.  We see God when we are in obedience.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Peace makers have victory over evil in their blood.  They do not compromise with evil.  They do not give evil a foothold in their lives.

8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Those who live in the righteousness of Jesus through repentance and forgiveness will live in the kingdom of heaven or the place where God dwells.  Persecution is the devil’s way of trying to derail them from their destiny.  The Kingdom of heaven is not a place but a state of being.in which God is King and reigns.

9. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
People who live in freedom in Christ are no longer beset with sin.  The devil wants to derail them by using others to bring them down through false accusations.  The prophets and Jesus were falsely accused because they spoke truth.

Each “blessed” is a progression in the Kingdom of God walk.  The “poor in spirit” have the kingdom of heaven waiting for them.  The “persecuted because of me” have gained the kingdom on earth now—fellowship with God. 

This is training for reigning.  The “blessed” stages are:

1. Stuck in a dead end life style
2. Repent of sinful ways.
3. Learn the ways of God.
4. Pursue a right relationship with God
5. Be constantly seeking to reconcile with God and others (merciful, not judgmental)
6. Learn obedience to His Word
7. Be victorious over evil
8. Pursue righteousness regardless of the consequences
9. You will be able to stand against falsehood because the Truth lives in you.

Ask yourself, “At what stage am I in my walk with Christ?
In order to stand in stage number 8, you must grow through stages 1 through 7.  If you do not learn the ways of God, perhaps the opposition you face is not persecution but the consequences of some bad choices in life or old wounds that need healing. The Beatitude path defines real persecution from perceived persecution.  Are you being persecuted or reaping the fruit of error?