The Beatitudes

The Beatitudes of Jesus introduce the Sermon on the Mount, which has been called the “Constitution of the Kingdom of God.” Here’s the Phillips translation of the Beatitudes:
When Jesus saw the vast crowds he went up the hill-side and after he had sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began his teaching by saying to them, “How happy are the humble-minded, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs! “How happy are those who know what sorrow means for they will be given courage and comfort! “Happy are those who claim nothing, for the whole earth will belong to them! “Happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for goodness, for they will be fully satisfied! “Happy are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to them! “Happy are the utterly sincere, for they will see God! “Happy are those who make peace, for they will be sons of God! “Happy are those who have suffered persecution for the cause of goodness, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs! “And what happiness will be yours when people blame you and ill-treat you and say all kinds of slanderous things against you for my sake! Be glad then, yes, be tremendously glad—for your reward in Heaven is magnificent. They persecuted the prophets before your time in exactly the same way. (Matthew 2:1-12).
Some people are very critical of the teachings of Jesus. They say they are impractical. They say, “No one can live by a standard that high. Besides, some of those sayings don’t make sense.” Does it surprise you that some people feel this way? It shouldn’t come as a surprise, because, as Paul told us, “The god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of those who do not believe” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Some of the happiness and joy that we claim as Christians is ours because Christ has opened our spiritual eyes and ears so that we now understand His teachings. They make sense to us.
Let’s face it: Jesus offers a life that is radically different from the life offered by the world, the flesh and the Devil. Perhaps the main message of the Beatitudes is that obedience to Christ, even when the world scoffs, is the key to happiness.