And He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed...” Matthew 5:2 The first word of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount was the word “Blessed.” Jesus came to bless the world, not to burden it; to comfort sorrow and grief, not to increase it. The last view the world had of Him as He ascended into heaven was of Him blessing His friends. The Beatitudes give us a glimpse of heaven’s values. It’s important for us to study the “Blesseds” because they show us the qualities in life that please God and lead to true happiness. The world is not likely to say “Blessed are those who mourn” or “Blessed are the meek,” because Christ’s Beatitudes give us some very startling ideas about how to live. And, they give us a glimpse into the truly mind-boggling values of heaven. The Beatitudes are not natural for mankind, and yet they describe what God’s heavenly kingdom will be like— which is where every Christian belongs! Salt preserves from corruption, and Christians are called to keep the world from moral decay. When Jesus said, “You are the light of the world,” He meant that we should be like lamps shining in the darkness: living sweetly, patiently, kindly, and helpfully.
Next week we will begin
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