January 20, 2005
In a world marked by pride, ambition, and the endless search for success, Christians are called to live a countercultural lifestyle—one filled with conspicuous humility, mercy, meekness, and peace. Addressing women in particular, Alistair Begg describes the character of those in God’s kingdom with an overview of the beatitudes, or blessings, in Matthew 5. These characteristics are not a matter of temperament but the result of a supernatural process by the Holy Spirit, which makes them available to all in Christ.
1Seeing the crowds, ohe went up on the mountain, and when he psat down, his disciples came to him.
2And qhe opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3r“Blessed are sthe poor in spirit, for utheirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are vthose who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5“Blessed are the wmeek, for they wshall inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and xthirst yfor righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7“Blessed are zthe merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8“Blessed are athe pure in heart, for bthey shall see God.
9“Blessed are cthe peacemakers, for dthey shall be called esons1 of God.
10f“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for utheirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11g“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely hon my account. 12iRejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for jso they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.