3:"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The word "blessed" is of the Greek word makarios. This Greek word comes from the root word mak which means "large" or "lengthy," and means "fortunate" or "happy." It was used to describe the kind of joy that comes from being a recipient of divine favor or blessings from God, not the physical feeling of happiness that we would feel if the circumstances served in our favor.
Jesus went away from the crowd so that He could instruct His disciples. To be a true disciple of Christ requires faithfulness, obedience and humility. One must be willing to endure these things for the awesome rewards which await the true disciple.
As we can see here, position, money and authority are not important to God. Pride and legalism do not produce the kind of fruits in which Christians should possess. They bind and oppress us; they do not bring the true freedom of which these things do.
3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
We are called to live differently than the rest of the world. When the world would show hatred and anger, we must show love and forgiveness. Where the world would push self-reliance and self-pride, Christians are called to be humble and recognize that we cannot do everything on our own. As people with no worldly influence and often oppressed by men because of our beliefs; we humbly realize our need for the Savior.
God resists the proud and blesses the humble (poor in spirit).
Proverbs 3:34, "Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble."
James 4:6, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
Isaiah 57:15, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Contrite and humble used together may be rephrased to say "genuinely humble" and with a truly repentive heart.
4: "Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted."
Isaiah 61:2-3, "To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
The "acceptable year of the LORD" refers to the day of salvation. Christ did not promise us that to be His followers would not mean hurting or that life would be free if trials and pain. However, because He is our Comforter, we can find joy in our trials and use praise to shake off the spirit of heaviness. We can find healing through Him for the pain.
We also must express a sincere remorse over all sin, and mourn because of it. It should be a mourning that drives us to repentance for ourselves and intercession (not judgment) for others.
Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
What a promise this is to those who have chosen to live as we were called; no longer a part of the sinful world in which we were born into. We are more than conquerors through Him. And as we are promised, the day will come when there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. That is a reality in which to look forward to!!
