Beatitudes in the Bible
Jesus taught the eight Beatitudes in the Bible to a crowd that had gathered to hear him speak. This event is called the Sermon on the Mount and is recorded in the Book of Matthew in the New Testament. A somewhat different version is recorded in Luke 6:20-23, but that is not covered here. We’re using the New International Version (NIV), but you can find any version you’d like at BibleGateway.com. (Just pick your preferred version from the dropdown list in the version field.)
The Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 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 5:1-12 NIV
Why are the Beatitudes Important?
The Beatitudes are important because life includes setbacks and challenges. Beyond that, as Christians, Jesus calls us to live a life that’s counter to mainstream ideology. How do we keep our faith through the challenges? How do we keep living as Jesus calls us even when it’s hard? The Beatitudes remind us that our rewards will be worth the struggles when we lead a life according to God’s will for us. Even when we don’t understand how it can possibly be worth the effort or the pain, we can rest in knowing that when we follow Jesus, the rewards will be greater than we can ever imagine.
Beatitudes Devotional
Our Beatitudes Devotional is a perfect guide for understanding the lessons from the Beatitudes. The devotional dissects these eight promises over the course of 10-days. This “Breaking it Down” Beatitudes study guide gives the reader a chance to really absorb their meaning and take them to heart. Get the Beatitudes explained delivered straight to your inbox!
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