Beatitudes

In the New Testament, the sayings of Jesus reported in Matthew 5:3–11 and Luke 6:20–22, describing the spiritual qualities of character that should characterize those influenced by the kingdom of God, and are the way to true happiness. They form part of the Sermon on the Mount.

The Beatitudes describe a picture of the ideal Christian character, and lay down some of the guiding principles of Christian morality (see Christian ethics). Christians believe that Jesus himself was the living example of what he preached, and that in the Beatitudes he is stressing that it is possible to be happy under difficult conditions.

Christian scholars interpret the ‘spiritually poor’ (Matthew 5:3) as those who do not push themselves forward; such people recognize that they need God's help in their lives and are not self-righteous nor proudly self-centred. In Matthew 5:4, ‘those who mourn’ are seen to be those who are sorrowful both for their own sins and for the evil in the world. In Matthew 5:5, ‘the humble’ are those who acknowledge their dependence upon God.

Those whose ‘greatest desire is to do what God requires’ (Matthew 5:6) are those who long to see God triumph over evil and do right themselves. Those ‘merciful to others’ (Matthew 5:7) are those who show compassion to those in their power. Those who are ‘pure in heart’ (Matthew 5:8) are those who are single-minded and try to do God's will rather than trying to serve God and the world at the same time. Those who ‘work for peace’ (Matthew 5:9) are those who actively seek peace because they have found peace with God.

Matthew 5:10–12 concerns the persecution that Christians may face. Those who are ‘persecuted because they do what God requires’ (Matthew 5:10) are those who stand the ultimate test of their faith and stay loyal to God. Matthew 5:11 is a warning of the insult and persecution that those who follow the teaching of Jesus (Christians) will face, while Matthew 5:12 contains an assurance that they will be rewarded in heaven.