Happiness
Is
The
Beatitudes Pt 1
This lesson
comes from a well known section of scripture, the
beatitudes, found in the sermon on the mount. We
will do this study in too parts as they can well
take the time for two of your home or family Bible
studies as you consider the application of these
characteristics.
Matt. 5:3:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. 4: Blessed are they that mourn:
for they shall be comforted. 5: Blessed are the
meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6: Blessed
are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7: Blessed
are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8:
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see
God. 9: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall
be called the children of God. 10: Blessed are they
which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11: Blessed are ye,
when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for my sake. 12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted
they the prophets which were before you.”
The reason
this is such a good study (besides the fact that it
is from our Lord) is that it puts a different than
usual understanding on what it means to be happy.
The word “blessed” is translated from a word that
means “to pronounce happy” according to Vine’s
Expository Dictionary. The Lord is pronouncing men
and women to be happy who have certain
characteristics. This is worth thought and practice
in our life.
- Happy
are the poor in spirit – those who know they
need the Lord’s help in everything. They have
put away pride and know they are not worthy, yet
are yearning to be more worthy than they are.
Such are humble inside, not just an outward act.
Love “is not puffed up” (1 Cor. 13:4).
- Happy
are those who mourn – those who grieve over sin
(their own and all other sin). This is also a
characteristic involved in loving. Those who
properly love God and others “rejoices not in
iniquity, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor.
13:6).
- Happy
are the meek – the original meaning of this word
is gentle or mild. Jesus lifts it from the idea
of being gentle or mild in an act to being of
gentle character. It is not about weakness. It
is about patience, compassion, inner strength.
This too, is part of the description of love
when Paul says, “love vaunteth not itself” and
“seeketh not her own” (1 Cor. 13:4-5). Such
people are not pushy, yet will be bold when
acting rightly.
- Happy
are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness – to want to be right with God as
much, even more, than the desire for food or
water. It is the intensity of real hunger and
real thirst that will constrain a person to so
live their life that contented happiness in the
result. For such people, the word is
continuously in their hand and mind, prayer is
constantly on their lips and souls are
continuously their concern in their actions.
My prayer is
that you are happy.
Mike Glenn
See More on Happiness
from this series
