Jesus’ declaratory Sermon on the Mount begins with what we often call the “Beatitudes”, a short litany where Jesus calls out the happily blessed in the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 5:2-11)
This opening dissertation of the New Testament (as arranged by the early followers of Jesus) brings us immediately to the heart of our Lord and Savior, which illuminates for us in turn the core values of any true Christ follower.
Jesus proclaims that those who are poor, mourning, meek, hungry, merciful, virtuous, peacemakers, and persecuted are those who are the blessed. And not only are they blessed, they are the most honored citizens in the Kingdom of God.
Now, it’s important for us to understand that the attributes of the blessed mentioned here are in the both literal and spiritual (or figurative) senses of these words. A standalone reading of this portion of Matthew alone might allow us to think Jesus is talking only spiritually. For example, Jesus says “the poor in spirit” here. However, we should also add to this reading the opposite woes mentioned later in Matthew, chapter 23. We could also hold this text up next to the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6:17-49 where the figurative is stripped away. Furthermore, the rest of this dissertation itself encourages action—practical and spiritual equally. (Matthew 5-7)
The beatitudes act as a citizenship test for the Eternal Kingdom. While some will experience these hallmarks of citizenship in the Kingdom of God literally and some spiritually, all true citizens of the Eternal Kingdom must cling fast to these core values. We must be a champion for supporting the poor, mourning, meek, hungry, merciful, virtuous, peacemakers, and persecuted. We must support social causes and political candidates that truly care for these groups of people as well. If we see the movements we’ve clung to abandon these principles, we must abandon those movements as well, and seek to do the work of Jesus Christ elsewhere.
We must see ourselves as part of humanity and we must also see ourselves as not of this world. Indeed, the text here in Matthew speaks to a tangible Eternal Kingdom and a renewed earth (not an abandoned one). This balance is admittedly tricky. It is the challenge towards which the Christ follower is called. To that end, we must temper our attachments and allegiances to the people and places of this world—including family, friends, country, and possessions.
This is a greatly difficult calling, however a surprising peace and joy is found around the corner of this calling for the faithful followers of Jesus Christ. The Sermon on the Mount provides us guidelines for this type of discipleship.
As we follow Jesus, may we be the blessed and always happily align ourselves with the blessed—for theirs is the Eternal Kingdom.
Relevant Reformation 