Fortunate Sons and Daughters

January 25, 2023

Two things I learned today were that there were two different locations where Jesus taught beatitudes, and they were recorded by two different disciples…

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Beatitude-biblical-literature -

“Beatitude, any of the blessings said by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount as told in the biblical New Testament in Matthew 5:3–12 and in the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6:20–23.”

Then I learned what “blessed” meant at the website: https://turningtogodsword.com/beatitude -

“The Greek word used in the Beatitudes is the word μακάριος (makarios). which means “blessed,” “happy,” or “prosperous.” Originally, this word did not have religious connotation and rather was used to refer to any fortunate person as measured by material security and prosperity.”

So I am using the original definition, “being fortunate.”

Words and phrases are language tools used by everyone to communicate ideas. No matter what language, they are used to draw pictures of events and conceptualize others’ thoughts in our minds.

Words are important, because they can help or hinder our progress in life. They can heal or hurt. They can warn or confirm. They can uplift a person’s soul, or they can depress and destroy a person’s mind. The old adage about “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” may be a defensive retort to a bully, but otherwise it is complete nonsense. Why do young people commit suicide after being drowned in posts on social media? Words are extremely important, and they can be so thoughtlessly weaponized into hateful speech.

Jesus warned in Matthew 12:36, “But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken,”.

If you reject Biblical teachings out of hand, here is an online reference: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/201308/why-words-can-hurt-least-much-sticks-and-stones

After reading it, maybe you can see that Science undergirds Jesus’ words and validates His pragmatic response and the resulting consequence, a really well-deserved punishment…

There are more words and phrases Jesus used (as referenced above, “in the Sermon on the Mount as told in the biblical New Testament in Matthew 5:3–12 and in the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6:20–23”)… So, please allow me the time to elaborate with my comments about the Beatitudes… and let me exchange the incomprehensible religious word “blessed” with the more understandable word “fortunate,” that is “a fortunate person as measured by material security and {spiritual} prosperity.”

Verse 3, “Fortunate are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Do you live in the shadows of bolder personalities? Well, the Amplified Bible has a very interesting and significant expansion which can enlighten our understanding: “Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].” In other words, if a person feels insignificant, overshadowed in their lives, perhaps even oppressed, Jesus will give you purpose. He will remove the heavy burden and yoke Himself together with you to help you plow your way through the fields.

Verse 4, “Fortunate are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Sounds counterintuitive, but in 2 Corinthians 1:3, the apostle Paul wrote this encouragement, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

John 14:18–19, and “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.”

Well, I suppose, you must be a Believer to understand that, because previously, in the same passage Jesus said, “The world cannot receive Him (the Spirit of God), because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.” People have to call on God to receive the benefits He has in store or even be empowered to see that realm.

Moving along, there has been a joke about verse 5- usually made by the more environmentally aware… “Fortunate are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” How fortunate can the meek be, inheriting this polluted and dying planet?!?

Nevertheless there is also this: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea…” Revelation 21:1. Again and unfortunately for most, Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:3.

For further reverences of relevant Bible passages pertaining to this promises, see https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/New-Heavens-And-New-Earth

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29.

Verse 6 sounds simplistic, but it is much richer and more involved than with just a cursory glance, “Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” This striving for what is right and just, fair and equitable, has often been seen in movements for social justice, racial justice, political justice, and environmental justice, and for feeding and housing the poor, for rescuing both domestic pets and even animals from the wild. If you participate in such longings and actions, then Jesus is the one you should look up. He would be in your corner, if you would let Him. Keep in mind that He doesn’t cause unrighteousness or make bad things happen. That is our doing and therefore our responsibility. Yet, He will rescue us from it all. (The way I look at the nature of things is that God set the world aspinning, and it has been spinning ever since.)

Unfortunately, people strive in their own strength, wrestling in their own ways against such indecencies and forces more powerful than they. Activists exclude God and therefore the help He could provide. By the way, yes, there is a future in trying to resolve the messes made by Mankind. This is not just another empty promise, but until you meet Him, you will never believe it. And that isn’t hard for me to understand, since people living with Him and standing 5 feet away from Him had trouble believing Him and in who He actually was. So… I do empathize. In fact, in my pursuit of Labor justice, I left Him out which had disastrous results for me both professionally and personally. I found myself unprepared for betrayal and was in way over my head. I forgot that He is an “ever present help in time of trouble.” So, I can also sympathize with others in the same boat.

Now, yes, He set the world aspinning, but He also put a head on our shoulders which the world can only attempt to also set aspinning. That’s our choice- whether or not to allow that to happen.

Verses 7–9 refer to people taking action, in showing genuine kindness to others, being sincere in their righteous endeavors- not just playacting- and seeking peace between individuals as well as nations. “Fortunate are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Fortunate are the pure in heart,for they will see God. Fortunate are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

The Iroquois nations, The Haudenosaunee, had an elder actually called the Peacemaker who traveled through the nations throughout the eastern Americas, doing precisely that- kind of a circuit preacher, reconciling people with one another.

So, if you like these virtues, Jesus will fill your cup to overflowing. When you meet Him, I’m confident you will like Him and grow to love Him. He isn’t at all like many of the things that people accuse Him.

The last verse, 10, is something quite disturbing and uncomfortable, and many Born Again Believers don’t like to think about it, but they need to understand when they try to share their testimony about their experience with the Lord what will most likely happen. “Fortunate are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man (Jesus).” As I said, words can hurt. But remember Jesus said, “Fortunate are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” Jesus was continually under such pressures, and we have been warned. So, we should consider ourselves fortunate and not cower or be afraid.

Besides, our experiences are nothing like Jesus’ experiences and suffering on the Roman’s wooden cross… “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart!” If He was willing to go through all that He did, we should be able to go through a little trouble… for the joy of others’ salvation, for the rejoicing in heaven over even one who turns to God.