Beatitudes: Game Plan for Success or Failure?

There has been a lot of talk lately about acceptable or recommended lifestyles. Depending on your worldview, you may have a strong opinion about lifestyle choices that should be honored and rewarded.

Many people—Christian or not—consider the Sermon on the Mount to fall into the category of lifestyle recommendations. Even those who do not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God still consider this sermon an ideal standard. In their way of thinking, Jesus is not God, but he was a great teacher who held humanity to high standards. They believe that if everyone followed what is known as the Beatitudes, the world would be a much better place, ushering in the peaceful era we can only dream about.

But using the Beatitudes only as a theoretical ideal sets us up for failure by the world’s standards. Consider Jesus’s words in Matthew 5:3-9 (NASB) in which He declared the circumstances for God’s favor or blessing:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The word “poor” refers to spiritual destitution—a humility that’s the opposite of self-sufficiency. Only when we admit our total lack of power and our need for absolute dependence on the Lord are we positioned for the grandest inheritance!

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

The word “mourn” in this verse means what we think it does. But the question is, what is it that we are mourning? In light of who Jesus is as the Son of God, we mourn over our sin and can only receive comfort from the one who came to defeat sin, death, and the devil.

“Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.”

The word “gentle” can be translated as meek. It describes those who yield their rights and expectations to the Lord. The world encourages us to assert our right to status and power, but Jesus said that doing the opposite will actually deliver what the world can only promise.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”

The world tells us to chase whatever will help us “get ahead.” But even when we do, we’re left empty, with true satisfaction always just out of reach. But when we desire God’s righteousness we will be satisfied because Jesus gives us His righteousness.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”

Our world encourages us to seek mercy for ourselves, but withhold it from others. Once again, Jesus showed us a different way. As we take the initiative to extend mercy to others, God delights in extending mercy to us.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Those who are pure in heart are free from sin and guilt through the salvation Jesus freely offers. The world claims there is no god. But those who have been cleansed will spend eternity in God’s presence.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Peacemakers are willing to make peace by humbly admitting their own fault and being willing to gently and lovingly confront others with truth for the purpose of reconciliation. Romans 5:10 tells us that while we were God’s enemies, Jesus, the Son of God, reconciled us to our heavenly Father. And 2 Corinthians 5:18 tells us that just as Jesus reconciled us to God, He has given us a ministry of reconciliation to tell others they can also be reconciled.

When we try to live out the Beatitudes in our own strength, they’re a game plan for failure. But when we understand that the Beatitudes describe our life in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, they are a game plan for success as defined by our heavenly Father!