The Beatitudes are not Platitudes!

Intro: I know we hear people say “bless you” sometimes when others sneeze.  Sometimes a homeless person will say “bless you” when you give them a few bucks.  Those are empty blessings; words that have no effect on us really.  The sneeze blessing comes from some old superstition, and the homeless person’s blessing is at best gratitude for the cash.

People can bless other people.  In simple terms, when you show someone favor you bless them.  When a family member leaves you an inheritance, they have shown you their favor (and maybe the IRS too!).

A true blessing is very special.  When you receive a blessing, you are blessed.

What is the biblical meaning of the word “bless?” We ask God to bless our meals, our Sabbath service, bible studies and children, and much, much more.

Bibletools.org posts the following definition from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

(barakh): This word is found more frequently in the Old Testament than in the New Testament, and is used in different relations.

(1) It is first met in Genesis 1:22 at the introduction of animal life upon the earth, where it is written, "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply," etc. The context furnishes the key to its meaning, which is the bestowal of good, and in this particular place the pleasure and power of increase in kind. Thus it is generally employed in both Testaments, the context always determining the character of the bestowal; for instance (where man is the recipient), whether the good is temporal or spiritual, or both.

Occasionally, however, a different turn is given to it as in Genesis 2:3 the King James Version, where it is written, "And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it." Here the good consists in the setting apart and consecrating of that day for His use

It’s important for us to reflect on the Beatitudes in Scripture.  We need to make sure they do not become “platitudes” in our minds rather than Beatitudes.

The Meriam-Webster online Dictionary defines “platitude” as follows:

1.     The quality or state of being dull or insipid.

2.     The banal, trite, or stale remark.

 

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/beatitudes/

Dictionaries - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Beatitudes

Beatitudes

(Lat. beatitudo). Condition or statement of blessedness. In the Latin of the Vulgate, beatus, the word for blessed, happy, or fortunate, begins certain verses such as Psalm 1:1: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked." Old Testament beatitudes begin with the Hebrew word asre and the New Testament beatitudes with the Greek word makarios [makavrio"]. They are used of people, not of God. Old Testament beatitudes, found most frequently in the psalms (e.g., 2:12 ; 32:2 ; 40:4 ; 41:1 ; 65:4 ; 84:4-5 ; 106:3 ; 112:1 ; 128:1 ), are also located in Proverbs 8:32; Isaiah 32:20; 56:2; and Daniel 12:12. The plural proper noun, the Beatitudes, is the common designation for Matthew 5:3-10. Luke's parallel ( 6:20b-26 ), with four statements of blessedness and four maledictions, is called the Beatitudes and Woes. Statements of blessing are also found in Matthew 13:16; John 20:29; and Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14.

 

SPS: Don’t let the Beatitudes Become Your Platitudes

Matthew 5:1-12 is a section of Scripture known as the Beatitudes at the beginning of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.

According to the New King James Version Study Bible, (p. 1936), the Beatitudes “…are not given as the way of salvation for the lost, but as the way of life for the true children of the kingdom.”

David Palmer, a Pastor of the UCG Vancouver, and Vancouver Island congregations, and a member of the UCG Canada National Council, states in an online article titled “Lessons From the Beatitudes” posted by UCG dated April 2, 2008, that the Beatitudes are “Sometimes referred to as the ‘beautiful attitudes,’ and they offer a study of the qualities and characteristics the ‘blessed of God’ must develop.”

According to the N.K.J.V. Study Bible, there are three elements to the Beatitudes:

The pronouncement of blessing (God’s favor),

A quality of [Christian] life,

And a reason why the recipient should be considered blessed.

The first element is in the word blessed, the second element shows the kind of person that will inherit the kingdom of God, and the third element gives some aspect of the coming kingdom of God.

God’s blessing, or favor is certainly something worth seeking, right?  So, let’s look at some of the Beatitudes and see what God expects from the “blessed of God.”

Matthew 5:3 – Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  “Blessed” – (The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, © 1990 Thomas Nelson Publishers) - “Makarios” G 3107, supremely blest; by extension fortunate, well off, happy, happier.

The word “poor” here is “ptochos” (G4434) – meaning to crouch (strictly denoting absolute or public mendicancy, or the condition of being a beggar).

The N.K.J.V. Study Bible believes Christ is teaching us “the idea of God blessing the humble and resisting the proud…”

[Discuss inward versus outward appearance – poor in spirit, not appearance]

Proverbs 16:19, Psalm 34:18, Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, Isaiah 66:2 (A humble and repentant heart – Luke 18:9-14).

Matthew 5:4 - “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted,” (G3996 – pantheo, to grieve (the feeling of the act): wail from G3997 – sorrow.

James 4:8-10, Isaiah 61:1-3 (Luke 4:1-20)

Luke 6:22 (Blessed are you who weep), James 4:9 (Be afflicted and mourn), John 16:20 (you will weep and lament, but your sorrow will be turned to joy), 2 Corinthians 1:7 (partakers of the sufferings and partakers of the consolation (Revelation 21:4!).

Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (G4239 – praus (prah-ooce), mild, humble, gentle.

Unfortunately, many today associate the word meek with being weak and timid.  Christ is not referring to weak and timid disciples when He teaches us that the meek will inherit the earth.

The definition of “meekness” as given by Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology posted on biblestudytools.com states:

Meekness does not identify the weak but more precisely the strong who have been placed in a position of weakness where they persevere without giving up. The use of the Greek word when applied to animals makes this clear, for it means "tame" when applied to wild animals. In other words, such animals have not lost their strength but have learned to control the destructive instincts that prevent them from living in harmony with others.

Therefore, it is quite appropriate for all people, from the poor to ancient Near Eastern kings, to describe their submission to God by the term "meek" (Moses in Num 12:3 ). Nevertheless, …Jesus is freely described as meek, a concomitant of his submission to suffering and to the will of the Father ( Matt 11:29 ; 21:5 ; 2 Cor 10:1 ). The single most frequently attested context in which the meek are mentioned in the Bible is one in which they are vindicated and rewarded for their patient endurance ( Psalm 22:26 ; 25:9 ; 37:11 ; 76:9 ; 147:6 ; 149:4 ; Isa 11:4 ; 29:19 ; 61:1 ; Zeph 2:3 ; Matt 5:5 ).

Matt 19:30 (the first shall be last).

Numbers 12:3 (Moses was meek above all on the earth), Psalm 25:9 (teachable), Psalm 37:11 (meek receive an abundance of peace), Isaiah 29:19 (the meek shall increase their joy), Zephaniah 2:3 (seek the Lord and may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger), Matthew 11:28-30 (no greater example – Phil 2:3-8, Christ humbles Himself).

Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” (Righteousness - G1343 – from G1342, equity of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification.

What does God say righteousness is? Ps 119:137-138, 142, 172).

Luke 1:53 (God fills the hungry with good things…), Acts 2:4 (…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit), Isa 55:1 (…come to the waters), Isa 65:13 (My servants shall eat…drink), John 4:14 (the fountain of water springing up into everlasting life), Jn 6:48 (I am the bread of life), Jn 7:37-39 (If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink).

Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”

Merciful – G1655, eleemon (elehaymon) meaning compassionate.

Ps 18:25 (With the merciful you will show yourself merciful…) Merciful – H2616, Chasad (khaw-sad), meaning “to be kind.”

Mark 11:25-26, (…if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…).

Luke 6:31, 36 (…as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise).

Matthew 18:21-35 (Parable of the unforgiving servant).

Ps 62:12, (God owns mercy), Micah 6:8 (Lover mercy and walk humbly before God), James 2:13 (Mercy triumphs over judgment), Ps 136:26 (God’s mercy endures forever).

Ps 103:8, 11 (…as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy).

Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”

“Pure” G2513, katharos, meaning clean, clear, H1305 (bar – also meaning clean, clear).

Titus 1:15 (Undefiled),

Ps 51:10 (Create in me a clean heart…), Ps 15:2 (He…speaks the truth in his heart), Pro 30:5 (Every word of God is pure), Ps 24:4 (Who may ascend to his holy place? Clean hands [action], pure heart [attitude]).

1Tim 1:5 (Purpose…love from a pure heart), 3:9 (holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience), 2Tim 2:22 (…call on the Lord out of a pure heart).

Acts 15:8-9 (…purifying their hearts by faith).

Conclusion:

The Beatitudes are not platitudes.  They are promises from God of incredible blessings for godly attitudes and actions!

1.     (Mat 5:3)  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The blessed of God have a broken heart and a contrite spirit – a proper repentant attitude.

2.     (Mat 5:4)  Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

The blessed of God humble themselves in the presence of God and sorrow at the plight of the world.

3.     (Mat 5:5)  Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

The blessed of God are meek and not weak in godly character.  They are those that rule over their spirit with self-control from the holy spirit, and put others before themselves.

4.     (Mat 5:6)  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

The blessed of God hunger for the bread of life, and drink of the Holy Spirit

5.     (Mat 5:7)  Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

The blessed of God forgive remembering God’s mercy endures forever, and we want to be forgiven.

6.     (Mat 5:8)  Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

The blessed of God have an undefiled heart, pure and clean without hypocracy.

 

The blessed of God (Revelation 19:9, 20:6, 22:14).  Live God’s way in your heart, and your actions will be godly.  Have these godly attitudes of the beatitudes, and the beatitudes will bring you joy and eternal life and will not be platitudes!