Blessed - what does it really mean? Why did Jesus say it?
Markarios is the NT Greek for blessed, the word describes the joy which has its secret within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and the changes of life. The English word happiness gives its own case away. It contains the root hap which means chance. Human happiness is something which is dependent on the chances and changes of life, something which life may give and which life may also destroy. The Christian blessedness is completely untouchable and unassailable. “No one,” said Jesus, “will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). The beatitudes speak of that joy which seeks us through our pain, that joy which sorrows and loss, pain and grief, are powerless to touch, that joy which shines through tears, and which nothing in life or death can take away. (Barclay 89)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed is the man who has realized his own utter helplessness, and who put his whole trust in God.
If a man has realized his own utter helplessness, and has put his whole trust in God, there will enter into his life two things which are opposite sides of the same thing. He will become completely detached from things, for he will know that things have not got it in them to bring happiness or security; and he will become completely attached to God, for he will know that God alone can bring him help, and hope, and strength. The man who is poor in spirit is the man who has realized that things mean nothing, and that God means everything. (Barclay 91-92)
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
In context of the NT Greek, this best translates:
O the bliss of the man whose heart is broken for the world’s suffering and for his own sin, for out of his sorrow he will find the joy of God. (Barclay 95)
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Again, unpacking the etymology of these words from the NT Greek, the better translation is:
O the bliss of the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time, who has every instinct, and impulse, and passion under control because he himself is God-controlled, who has the humility to realize his own ignorance and his own weakness, for such a man is a king among men. (Barclay 98)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
O the bliss of the man who longs for total righteousness as a starving man longs for food, and a man perishing of thirst longs for water, for that man will be truly satisfied (he will have plenty to chew on, and plenty to quench the thirst). (Barclay 102)
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
O the bliss of the man who gets right inside other people until he can see with their eyes, think with their thoughts, fresh, with their feelings, for he who does that will find others do the same for him, and will know that that is what God in Jesus Christ has done. (Barclay 105)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
O the bliss of the man whose motives are absolutely pure, for that man will someday be able to see God. (Barclay 108)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
When Jesus is teaching people on the mountainside, in the distance they can hear on another mountain, where Zealots have their metal works, the pounding out of weapons echoing while Jesus is teaching, Zealots that 40 years after Christ’s death will challenge Rome, and bring about the destruction of Jerusalem, thus Jesus could prophesy to his own disciples that not one stone would be left upon another when it came to the temple they admired.
Against this setting what Jesus is saying is:
O the bliss of those who produce right relationships between man and man, for they are doing a Godlike work (as His children). (Barclay 110)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. – Matthew 5
Emperor Worship – The Roman government did not begin this worship; at first, in fact, it did all it could to discourage it. Claudius (41-54 AD), the Emperor, said that he deprecated divine honors being paid to any human being. But as the years went on the Roman government saw in this Emperor-worship the one thing which could unify the vast Empire of Rome; here was the one centre on which they all could come together. So, in the end, the worship of the Emperor became, not voluntary, but compulsory. Once a year a man had to go and burn a pinch of incense to the godhead of Caesar and say, “Caesar is Lord.” And that is precisely what the Christians refused to do. For them Jesus Christ was the Lord, and to no man would they give that title which belonged to Christ.
The Apostle Paul began his appeal under Claudius, but when Claudius was killed in 54 AD, Nero took his place, and had Paul beheaded.
To have to suffer persecution is, as Jesus himself said, the way to walk the same road as the prophets, and the saints, and the martyrs have walked. To suffer for the right is to gain a share in great succession. The man who has to suffer something for his faith can throw back his head and say,
“Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.”
To suffer persecution is to make things easier for those who are to follow. Today we enjoy the blessing of liberty because men in the past were willing to buy it for us at the cost of blood, and sweat, and tears. They made it easier for us, and by a steadfast and immovable witness for Christ we make it easier for others who are still to come.
The man who fights his battle for Christ will always make things easier for those who follow after. For them there will be one-less struggle to be encountered on the way.
Still further, no man ever suffers persecution alone; if a man is called upon to bear material loss, the failure of friends, slander, loneliness, even the death of love, for his principles, he will not be left alone. Christ will be nearer to him than at any other time. (Barclay 114-117)
Works Cited:
1984 HOLY BIBLE. New International Version. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Bible Publishers.
BARCLAY, WILLIAM.
1977 THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE SERIES: THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
VOLUME 1 REVISED EDITIONS. Philadelphia: The
Westminster Press.
Original NOTE/BLOG from 2013, along with comments can be found at: Facebook I have migrated over here to Google Blogger since Facebook has removed NOTES in a list from Profiles & who knows when they shall outright just delete them.
+++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++ It was midnight, midnight at noon
Everyone talked in rhyme
Everyone saw the big clock ticking
Nobody knew, nobody knew the time
Elegant debutantes smiled
Everyone fought for dimes
Newspapers screamed for blood
It was the best of times
Every place around the world it seemed the same
Can't hear the rhythm for the drums
Everybody wants to look the other way
When something wicked this way comes
Sometimes they tie a thief to the tree
Sometimes I stare
Sometimes it's me
Everyone told the truth
All that we heard were lies
A pope claimed that he'd been wrong in the past
This was a big surprise
Everyone fell in love
A cardinal's wife was jailed
The government saved a dying planet
When popular icons failed
Every place around the world it seemed the same
Can't hear the rhythm for the drums
Everybody wants to look the other way
When something wicked this way comes
Sometimes they tie a thief to the tree
Sometimes I stare
Sometimes it's me
Sometimes I stare
Sometimes it's me
Sting - Jeremiah Blues Live