Good living should be rewarded. Knowing grace should breed responsible living in us; Christ's conversation in Matt. 5 and 6 lightens our way as he provides his proven recipe for bubbly living. The disposition of those desirous of lasting happy: the diet of those envied for their life-joy and satisfaction regardless of life's press is developed here in Christ's conversation to his own.
Christ doesn't legislate this lifelong path to his friends; rather, he graces them with positive teaching to enrich their living.
He seems, as it were, to lay aside his supreme authority as our legislator, that he may the better act the part of our friend and Saviour. Instead of using the lofty style in positive commands, he, in a more gentle and engaging way, insinuates his will and our duty by pronouncing those happy who comply with it. Benson Commentary
First, happy people are humbled people schooled in their needs, ones taught to no longer bluff or blow hard but be real regarding their need for others and help from heaven.
Here the blessedness is that of those who, whatever their outward state may be, are in their inward life as those who feel that they have nothing of their own, must be receivers before they give, must be dependent on another’s bounty, and be, as it were, the “bedesmen” of the great King. To that temper of mind belongs the “kingdom of heaven,” the eternal realities, in this life and the life to come, of that society of which Christ is the Head. Things are sometimes best understood by their contraries, and we may point to the description of the church of Laodicea as showing us the opposite type of character, thinking itself “rich” in the spiritual life, when it is really as “the pauper,” destitute of the true riches, blind and naked. Ellicot's Commentary for English Readers
Jesus... transports the idea of the poor (les miserables) from the politico-theocratic realm (the members of the oppressed people of God, sunk in poverty and external wretchedness) into the purely moral sphere... Meyer's NT Commentary
Les Miserables are meant to know a morality, which elevates them to new planes of pure, unadulterated happiness.
True happiness is by no means trite or cotton candy; it has grounding-its foundation is in others-centered, other-worldly living. Happy living is artful living. It is living knowing our place and acknowledging the help we'll need to thrive in our space.
We're more than likely to be humbled into right living, if we're to know heart-lifting happiness in our experience. Where the world system tells us things, experiences, and promotion make us happy; his word tells us the way up many times is down.
As an old writer remarks, “All the beatitudes are affixed to unlikely conditions, to show that the judgment of the word and of the world are contrary.” Benson Commentary
The valleys of life do well to get us away from the vista experiences, which blind us to the true state of our lives many times. They help us change, acclimate to our true inner state, so that we can wrest from heaven the pasture or soul prosperity in God's plan for us. To thrive is to be the right moral tool in God's shed-a tool he can use to coach others well into knowing God's best in their experience. A tool you say; yes, a valued one meant to man its mission well-one at times used even abused, one reduced to love Joyce Meyer but rewarded with uncommon happiness each day.
There's a character we're called to begin with and continue in if we're to live in the blessedness or happiness of God's kingdom here on earth.
3. Blessed are the poor in spirit] The beatitudes—so called from the opening word “beati” (blessed), in the Vulgate. Mark the Christian growth step by step. First, spiritual poverty, the only character which is receptive of repentance, therefore alone admissible into the Kingdom. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The more we're willing to own our blindsiding wretched desires to have more, be more, and do more than others: the more we're open to seeing ourselves for whom we truly are: the more we'll seek help to live well and own the living state of happiness in God's plan for us.
Christ doesn't legislate this lifelong path to his friends; rather, he graces them with positive teaching to enrich their living.
He seems, as it were, to lay aside his supreme authority as our legislator, that he may the better act the part of our friend and Saviour. Instead of using the lofty style in positive commands, he, in a more gentle and engaging way, insinuates his will and our duty by pronouncing those happy who comply with it. Benson Commentary
First, happy people are humbled people schooled in their needs, ones taught to no longer bluff or blow hard but be real regarding their need for others and help from heaven.
Here the blessedness is that of those who, whatever their outward state may be, are in their inward life as those who feel that they have nothing of their own, must be receivers before they give, must be dependent on another’s bounty, and be, as it were, the “bedesmen” of the great King. To that temper of mind belongs the “kingdom of heaven,” the eternal realities, in this life and the life to come, of that society of which Christ is the Head. Things are sometimes best understood by their contraries, and we may point to the description of the church of Laodicea as showing us the opposite type of character, thinking itself “rich” in the spiritual life, when it is really as “the pauper,” destitute of the true riches, blind and naked. Ellicot's Commentary for English Readers
Jesus... transports the idea of the poor (les miserables) from the politico-theocratic realm (the members of the oppressed people of God, sunk in poverty and external wretchedness) into the purely moral sphere... Meyer's NT Commentary
Les Miserables are meant to know a morality, which elevates them to new planes of pure, unadulterated happiness.
True happiness is by no means trite or cotton candy; it has grounding-its foundation is in others-centered, other-worldly living. Happy living is artful living. It is living knowing our place and acknowledging the help we'll need to thrive in our space.
We're more than likely to be humbled into right living, if we're to know heart-lifting happiness in our experience. Where the world system tells us things, experiences, and promotion make us happy; his word tells us the way up many times is down.
As an old writer remarks, “All the beatitudes are affixed to unlikely conditions, to show that the judgment of the word and of the world are contrary.” Benson Commentary
The valleys of life do well to get us away from the vista experiences, which blind us to the true state of our lives many times. They help us change, acclimate to our true inner state, so that we can wrest from heaven the pasture or soul prosperity in God's plan for us. To thrive is to be the right moral tool in God's shed-a tool he can use to coach others well into knowing God's best in their experience. A tool you say; yes, a valued one meant to man its mission well-one at times used even abused, one reduced to love Joyce Meyer but rewarded with uncommon happiness each day.
There's a character we're called to begin with and continue in if we're to live in the blessedness or happiness of God's kingdom here on earth.
3. Blessed are the poor in spirit] The beatitudes—so called from the opening word “beati” (blessed), in the Vulgate. Mark the Christian growth step by step. First, spiritual poverty, the only character which is receptive of repentance, therefore alone admissible into the Kingdom. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The more we're willing to own our blindsiding wretched desires to have more, be more, and do more than others: the more we're open to seeing ourselves for whom we truly are: the more we'll seek help to live well and own the living state of happiness in God's plan for us.
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