The Beatitudes are an intriguing, counterintuitive, and no doubt shocking descriptive narrative on the “kinds” of people that are blessed in the Kingdom of God. “Blessed” (gr. makarios) means “possessing the spiritual favor and fullness of God, spiritually prosperous and fully satisfied. Makarios emphasizes, as its principle element, a sense of God’s approval founded in His righteousness bestowed on us, and resting, ultimately, on our love for God. Since makarios’ meaning is a composite of “blessing”, “receiving”, and “spiritual”, the absolutely best translation of makarios is “spiritually prosperous.” Makarios is a religiously qualified concept differing from “happy” which depends upon favorable “happenings”, by expressing the lifestyle and satisfaction of heaven’s spiritual blessings altogether apart from life’s circumstances– an experience of rendered grace. Jesus calls His disciples blessed: living in want and privation, the poorest of the poor, the sorest afflicted, the hungriest of the hungry, but blessed! The Beatitudes are a listing of the personal attributes of people possessing the spiritual favor and fullness of God. THE SPIRITUALLY PROSPEROUS ARE:
Those who are spiritually destitute and seek God, theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Those who mourn sharing God’s passions, they shall be encouraged and strengthened
Those who humbly submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ, they shall inherit the earth
Those who crave right standing with God, they shall be filled and completely satisfied
Those who bestow mercy on the misery of others, they shall receive God’s mercy
Those with pure, unsoiled hearts, they shall experience the presence of God
Those who find, promote and maintain peace, they shall be called sons of God
Those who suffer persecution for a righteous heart, theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Rejoice for those who are defamed, insulted and persecuted
For great, abundant and intense, is their heavenly reward
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