Blessed in the Eyes of Jesus

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12)

Jesus begins his “Sermon on the Mount” with the sayings listed above. These words continue to guide us in seeing the world through the eyes of Jesus. What Jesus calls blessed is different from what much of the world calls blessed.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” 

It can be helpful to understand “poor in spirit” as having a humble receptivity and openness to God. Someone who is self-assured, arrogant, or self-satisfied does not need God. But poverty of spirit is an openness and desire to be filled with what God desires. John Wesley once wrote that being poor in spirit is “a continual sense of our total dependence on [God] for every good thought or word or work; of our utter inability to all good unless he ‘water us every moment’ (John Wesley, Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, I).

“Blessed are those who mourn.” 

They will be comforted. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. Mourning can feel so awful, we may not easily recognize God’s presence. Still, Jesus promises comfort for the mourning. 

“Blessed are the meek.” 

Meekness can be understood as a calm trust in God that removes anger, impatience, and discontent in us. The meek are not the pushovers, those who cannot stand up for themselves, or the faint-hearted. Rather they are those who are truly receptive to being led, being taught, being formed. 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

This describes people who truly wish to be what God made them to be, and wish for the world that God’s kingdom would come. 

“Blessed are the merciful.”

This is easy to understand, harder to practice. This means actively and intentionally extending mercy to others regardless of their response. Mercy is what the Lord requires. 

“Blessed are the pure in heart.” 

This won’t be the last time Jesus directs our attention to the heart. Jesus will often turn our focus to the inner workings of the heart. This doesn’t mean that outward behaviors are unimportant, but that behaviors alone may not change us at a deeper, fundamental level. 

“Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Those who live in light of Jesus will bring peace. This does not mean being used, abused, or allowing evil to take place under our watch. It also does not mean threats of violence or the use of might to do what is right. Rather, it is living in step with the gift of peace that Jesus brings. 

“Blessed are the persecuted…”

When we share in the life and the character of Christ, it may be the case that others will not respond well, and may reject who we are and what our lives offer. This is not a cause for alarm or fear according to Jesus. 

We see from this list that Jesus redefines what we often think is “blessed.” Jesus gives us an entry way into a new life, a life that looks different from the rest of the world, a life in which God may turn things upside down. May we be attentive to how we see these forms of blessedness right in front of us.