Click on the image to see it full-screen.
Australia Day celebration – Canberra
Gospel of Matthew 5: 1-12 (NIV)
1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
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.”
Jesus addressed the Beatitudes to those in the kingdom of heaven. We are not to think of God’s blessings as rewards for good behaviour. They show how kingdom people are to live. Jesus “went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him and he began to teach them”. These disciples were willing followers who, as a consequence, had entered into his kingdom, the kingdom of heaven. The last Beatitude reinforces that these are for people already in the kingdom: “Blessed are you when people insult you …” (verses 11-12, emphases added).
To help us to understand how Jesus intended his message to be received, we could emphasise that each blessing is for people who have come to Jesus. We could infer that Jesus said:
- Blessed are those who come to me and are poor in spirit, for I have welcomed them into the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who come to me and who are mourning, for they will be comforted.
- Blessed are those who come to me and are meek, for they will inherit the new heaven and the new earth.
- Blessed are those who come to me hungering and thirsting for righteousness, for in the kingdom they will be filled.
- Blessed are those who come to me and are merciful, for in the kingdom they will be shown mercy.
- Blessed are those who come to me and are pure in heart. They seek God’s face; he will not hide his face from them.
- Blessed are those who come to me as peacemakers, seeking to achieve reconciliation which is the mission I have from the Father. They will be called children of God.
- Blessed are those who come to me and are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Admission to the kingdom of heaven is not something we can earn; it is a gift from God, by his grace. Jesus shows his followers, through the Beatitudes, the attitudes and behaviour he would like to see them display to the world as members of his kingdom.
You, who have given yourself to Jesus, already belong in the kingdom of heaven. How will you as a kingdom citizen respond now to the events of everyday life?
Never let go of hope, hope in our Lord’s return and hope in life eternal with him. This brings the state of blessedness which, Jesus tells us, God freely gives to those of the kingdom of heaven.