Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
The blessings pronounced by Jesus in today’s gospel reading are commonly called the “Beatitudes”, from the Latin word for blessed, fortunate, or happy. The English words “happy” and “fortunate” are probably not the best way to translate either the Greek word makairioV or to properly capture the full nature of the divine blessing in these verses. “Blessed” seems best as it being blessed by God in the ways described in our verses goes far beyond either good fortune or happiness.
If we look closely, we find that these promised blessings are not fully realized in this life. They also describe the eternal glory we will share with all the redeemed in the coming resurrection of the faithful dead. Sadly, many modern theologians and preachers attempt to fully apply the beatitudes to our mortal life. They tell us, without good evidence, that godly living will bring the fulfillment of these truths to our lives here and now. Others spiritualize Jesus’ words and apply them to greater human culture and society. I read a serious article which asserted that Jesus intended these very individualized blessings to be a blueprint for international peace and global government.
But honestly, Jesus clearly spoke these words to individual souls about their individual faith and future blessings. He didn’t apply them to the Jewish faith or nation and especially not to the governing Roman Empire. Even more vital, the scope of Jesus’ promises is revealed in the verbs of his blessings.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Avoiding a long interpretation, let’s just remember that faith in Jesus fulfills the qualification to be “poor in spirit.” We abandon all merit or ability to save ourselves and trust only in Him. We might also note something both obvious and often overlooked which is a key to correctly understanding Jesus’ words. In this beatitude, its first verb is “are” and the second verb “is.” Both are in the present tense. In brief, all who are poor in spirit are already members of the kingdom of heaven and have full access and right to everything that God gives. If we belong to Jesus, we already belong to his eternal family and kingdom with full rights to all God gives his people.
Yet, in part we are much like a newborn child or infant in our own nation. Children don’t pay income taxes, have driver’s licenses, vote in elections, serve in the military, or run for political office. Yet, they are fully citizens and have certain rights and protections even before the greater duties and privileges of adulthood. Concerning faith, we are fully God’s children, fully redeemed. But we are not yet resurrected and living in the full joys of our eternal home. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Another great truth is revealed in the verbs of the remaining beatitudes. Notice, in the rest of them except the last two, the verb in the first half is in the present tense and the second half is in the future tense. The first part is now, the second is true at a future time. Some churches try to harmonize these very different verbs by making the blessings of Jesus much like laws. They say that Jesus is telling us that “if you do what you should, then God reciprocate with a blessing.” Kind of a “do right, get rewarded” dynamic. It sounds reasonable but misses the truth Jesus speaks.
First, there are no if/then conditions in this text. We find only direct statements of reality. Extra words need to be placed in Jesus’ mouth to get this kind of interpretation. Besides, Jesus didn’t come to add burdens of law for us to observe to gain blessings from God. Second, Jesus’ clear words reveal a far greater and simpler truth. The full blessings of our faith will be experienced in heaven, not now on earth. As God’s people, we will endure trials and perhaps even persecution in this life. But while we struggle or suffer, we faithfully await the glories of our resurrected life to come.
The present and future verbs in most of the beatitudes point to the resurrection for their greatest fulfilment. Let’s look at the second beatitude so see how. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. When we lose loved ones: our parents, children, spouses, siblings, and close friends, do we consider ourselves blessed when, and because we are in great sorrow and emotional pain? Not likely. Generally, there is no great and palpable blessing in being devastated emotionally, mentally, and otherwise by death. Sometimes, death brings terrible effects to the financial or physical well-being of the survivor. In many ages and cultures, death of the breadwinner was, or still is an immediate ticked to abject poverty. Even today, the loss of a healthier spouse may cause great distress for a surviving spouse with advanced disease or disability. Mourning for death certainly is no guarantee of blessings, at least not in this life.
Nor does mourning for sin, another common interpretation, bring us blessing. While personal repentance may include such, sin is far more pervasive in our lives. We can be heartbroken over the sins and effects of sin in our children, our family, and even our nation and not find great blessing in sorrow. The young child whose parents are jailed for drug use and criminal activities will not feel particularly blessed even amid deep sorrow. Of course, the heart of a Christian’s comfort isn’t mourning over sin, but rather living in the forgiveness and new life of our Savior. When it comes to various kinds of sorrow, our blessed comfort is never fully realized now. Yes, when loved ones die, Jesus will comfort us and help us recover, sometimes over many years. Yes, when we are devastated by sin and its effects, Jesus will uphold us and keep us in his loving care. But our real comfort in all these things is the day when God will wipe away every tear from our eyes and welcome us into his eternal realms. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
As we look at all except the first and last beatitude, we find this same use of verbs to affirm that these blessings are most fully realized at some future point, and the resurrection is the only one that can make them entirely and perfectly true.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Our language lacks a word to accurately translate meek. But it doesn’t mean weak or wimpy at all. It is word of strong moral fiber, yet gentle and kind when possible. If we live an obedient, humble, loving faith, that is part of what meek means. But do you really want to inherit this earth? No thank you. I’ll wait for the New Heaven and New Earth of the resurrection. No curse. Eternally wondrous.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. How much satisfaction in the righteousness of this world have Christians gotten over the centuries? Sure, I am satisfied with the righteousness of Christ, but that would be true now and a present tense verb would fit the second half. And I’m not ever satisfied with my personal righteousness because I remain sinful. But the future tense indicates our full satisfaction in the perfect righteousness of life and heaven in the resurrection.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Of course, you can be gracious and merciful to others, but they may not return the favor to you. And regarding faith, does God need us to show mercy to others before he shows mercy to us? That would deny so many verses in the Bible, so I think not. Our eternal life will be the fullness of God’s mercy made perfect forever.
And also with the next two. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. The last two blessings both happen now and are fully true now. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Even in persecution we are blessed. In fact, we are persecuted because we already belong to the kingdom of heaven. In Acts 5, the apostles had been jailed, beaten, and then threatened by the Jewish leaders to never again speak in the name of Jesus, we read in verse 41-42: “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and proclaiming Jesus.” And eventually, every one of them except John died a martyr’s death knowing that they were blessed while they lived in faith and even more blessed when they died in Christ.
All Saint’s Day reminds us that death is not our end, but rather the beginning of our greatest blessings. While Jesus grants us many good things in this life, the fullness of all His blessings arrive with when He returns in glory at the end of this age.
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