The BeatitudesSample

Verse 9: The Peace-Makers

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” In our world today, peace is often thought of as being peaceable, or not causing conflict. However, the peace Jesus speaks of in this verse is more than that. The type of peacemaker being discussed is not someone who just avoids conflict; it is someone who runs toward conflict with the goal of reconciliation. One of our responsibilities as Christians is to make disciples; to achieve this, the trait of a peacemaker will be tested. The reality is that we are all human and not perfect, and there will be disagreements. Our job as Christians is to restore the peace even when it seems unachievable.

Verse 10: The Persecuted

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This statement can seem hypocritical, given that it suggests someone is blessed for enduring something as harsh as persecution. However, in this verse, Jesus is issuing a warning: if you are to live with the radical spiritual character and integrity he calls us to, you will face persecution. But he comforts us by saying that if you face persecution for righteousness sake, then you will be blessed because you are doing it for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Verse 11: The Slandered

"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” This verse is interesting as Jesus switches the word from “those” to “you.” Jesus is doing this to be personable with his disciples. He acknowledges that he knows the sting of the words, the insults, the gossip, and the lies they have. Jesus knows how badly it hurts to be slandered, especially by those you love, because that is what he endured often during his time on Earth. But the comforting fact of this verse is that when we suffer because we are associated with Jesus, we are sharing in His experience. We aren't being punished; we are being identified with the Savior.

Verse 12: The Great Reward

"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Jesus’ ending command for all of the beatitudes is simple: rejoice. He’s not telling us that we have to enjoy the pain, but rather to rejoice because the reward we have will be given to us in the next life when we step into glory with him for eternity. He reminds us that the pain of this world will one day fade away, and that our "great reward" isn't a prize here on Earth, but the eternal presence of the One who called us blessed in the first place.

Questions:

Verse 9: Is there a broken relationship in your life where you are currently settling for "avoiding conflict" instead of doing the hard work of "making peace?"

Verse 10: When you face pressure to fit in, does the promise of the Kingdom of Heaven give you the courage to choose integrity over popularity?

Verse 11: If someone criticized you today for your faith, would you see it as a painful insult or as a sign that you are successfully reflecting Christ?

Verse 12: How would your attitude change today if you viewed your current struggles as a "connection" to the prophets of old rather than just a personal burden?