SOM Matthew 5:4-5

Welcome back to Jesus’ Sermon On the MountHe begins with the Beatitudes – not to be confused with "benedictions"- they are more like a series of riddles• he describes conditions in which people are already blessed◦ already acceptable to God and discovering the abundant life◦ but what he says sounds like the opposite of abundant life• we would never tell a friend who is grieving, “You’re so blessed”◦ and even in Jesus’ time and culture meekness was a deficit- for this reason, we must pat attention to both lines of each Beatitude• the first line is an incomplete picture◦ something else comes after the situation Jesus identifies◦ his “Blessed are” lines are explained in the “for they shall be” lines• Jesus surprises us in order to enlighten us◦ he reveals the contrast between worldly values and heavenly◦ I admit, the most difficult place to practice the Beatitudes is in real life