Matthew 5:1-12 ( KJV ) read as follows:
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
The above-given passage from the Holy Bible is commonly referred to as The Beatitudes. Moreover, the Greek word ( Greek [ 3107 ] ) for the word "Blessed" in Matthew 5:3-11, is defined as follows:
"supremely blest; by extens. fortunate, well off." [ See ABINGDON'S STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE, STRONG, JAMES, S.T.D., LL.D., ABINGDON PRESS, NASHVILLE, Copyright, 1890, by JAMES STRONG, MADISON, N.J. ( A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek/New Testament with their Renderings in the King James Version, p. 60. ). ]
It would not be our natural tendency to consider those, who are poor in spirit, for example, as being supremely blest ( or fortunate, or well off, as the applied significance of the above-given definition of Greek word ( Greek [ 3107 ] ) indicates ). However, Jesus ( see Matthew 4:23 ) gives the reason why such people would be supremely blest, namely: "for their's is the kingdom of heaven" ( recall Matthew 5:3 ). Similarly, we would not naturally consider those who mourn to be well off, yet Jesus said, "they shall be comforted" ( recall Matthew 5:4 ). We can learn some important lessons from a study of The Beatitudes.
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
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<Russell E. Willis>
