The beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount 

Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

• Notice the present tense in the second clause.
• Who are the poor in spirit?  (Cf. Luke 6.20: “poor.”)
• “Happy” means “blessed.”
• Could this beatitude be the gateway to the others, the one whose acceptance brings one into the family of God?

Happy are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

• What is righteousness? 
• What is it like to hunger and thirst for righteousness?
• Is it possible to have a foretaste of a future achievement?
• If so, is it possible to be happy through such a taste?

Happy are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

• Is Jesus encouraging meekness in the sense of  cowardice?
• Could meekness here refer to an attitude toward God—openness, teachability? 
• Who cherishes the hope that aggressive and cruel people will one day have little influence upon this earth?

Happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

• What does it mean to be pure in heart?  Have you ever felt this way?  Can we make ourselves pure by doing and refraining from certain actions?  If purity of heart is a gift, how can we cooperate with the gift?
• If seeing God is an experience beyond this world, is there any way to seeing the divine in this world?

Happy are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

• Why does our culture teach people—especially boys and men—not to weep or show evidence of suffering?
• Why may mourning—sensitivity to suffering—be needed?
• If you ever passed through a time of mourning, what made it really over for you?

Happy are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

• Does mercy mean just letting people walk all over you and tolerating everything in the name of forgiveness—“judge not”?
• Why is it easy for a parent to forgive a child?
• Why is our experience of being forgiven often tied to our experience of forgiving others?

Happy are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

• When conflict stirs, what do peaceful persons often do?
• What is a peacemaker? 
• Have you discovered any principles for handling conflict?

Happy are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Happy are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

Are you ready?

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