Christians have a tendency to read the Scriptures as they would any other publication. They tend to skim the contents looking for verses or sections that would pique their interests. Correctional Scriptures are avoided. Any words that would expose their faults are avoided. Verses that reveal blessings are underlined for emphasis. Once we become familiar with a Scripture, we tend to gloss over its content during our multiple reading sessions. How many have missed keywords in a verse at the expense of surface reading?
The Sermon on the Mount is one of the best foundational studies in the Scriptures. Matthew’s Gospel records Jesus’ teachings in chapters five through seven. Within these chapters, Jesus brings the Gospel into a horizontal perspective. Man is a social creature that needs to interrelate with one another. What Jesus was teaching generated a response not only to the world’s challenges but to man’s inner struggles as well. Every verse is a launching pad into the depths of Kingdom living. One could easily spend weeks, if not months, discovering the depth of these teachings. Jesus’ sermon should be read intentionally and slowly.
Jesus started His homily with eight points that could change people’s lives. The word blessed is translated from the Greek word meaning “Supremely blest, fortunate, and happy.” These “Happytudes” are the guidelines to a God-centered life. The journey starts with acknowledging one’s emptiness. The poor in spirit is the individual who is spiritually distraught. He sees no purpose in life. He lives one day at a time seeing only the negatives that life offers. It is to these people that the Kingdom of Heaven offers hope for the hopeless. When the poor in spirit see there is hope through Jesus Christ, they will rejoice.
Jesus promised that those who were mourning or grieving in life would be comforted. He was saying that help was on the way. He knows about people’s tears and struggles. When people realize someone cares about them, they are on their way to recovery. Happy are those who realize Jesus cares.
Pride has always been a destructive force in people. Jesus pointed out that the humble or meek will have greater success in influencing the world. Happy are the mild-mannered for their dependence is on the Lord. When the humble represent Jesus, they realize it is Him and not them.
Craving for the things of God brings fulfillment. Searching the Scriptures fulfills the hunger for righteousness. Every time they open the Word, there is excitement and happiness exhibited for they know they will be filled.
It is important to understand to whom the Sermon on the Mount was given. The Scriptures point out that shortly after Jesus picked the twelve Apostles a multitude of people surrounded Him. (Luke 6:17-19) Seeing the largeness of the crowd, Jesus took the Disciples and went up to a mountain to get away from the large crowd and to teach them.(Matthew 5:1) After His teaching He would return to the Plain where He would again be confronted with a multitude of people. This time He would teach the multitude with what is known as the Sermon on the Plain.
Part two of this study will bring us to the last four of the Beatitudes/ Happytudes.
