Added:
November 2017
Author:
Mark Watson
Category:
New Testament Studies, Themes

Beatitudes or “blessed sayings” are so designated because they begin with the expression “blessed is” or “happy is” (Hb. ashre; Gk. makarios; Lat. beatus). “Happy,” however, may not be the best rendering since it has been spiritually devalued in modern usage.

The idea is that of a fortunate, blissful state based not on worldly circumstances but on divine conditions. (Schemm, P. (2003). Beatitudes. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 178). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.)

The most widely known and extensive collection of such blessings introduces Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–12; cp. Luke 6:20–26). The Beatitudes set the tone for the Sermon by emphasizing man’s humility (5:3–5, 7, 9) and God’s righteousness (5:6, 8, 10). Each of the eight Beatitudes (5:11–12 is an expansion on 5:10) portrays the ideal heart condition of a kingdom citizen — a condition that brings abundant spiritual blessing. (Schemm, P. (2003). Beatitudes. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 179). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.)

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