Sept. 21, 2008
Background Scripture: Matthew 5:1—7:28.-12
Devotional Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

Although lots of people want to post the Ten Commandments on public buildings and in public places, I have never come across a proposal to do the same with the Beatitudes. Why is that?
I think it is because the Beatitudes propose a level of vales and conduct that is considerably higher and more difficult. The Ten Commandments also propose higher values and conduct than most people realize, but we had the Ten Commandments before and without Jesus Christ.

Actually, the Beatitudes are not intended for everyone – only those who intend to take Jesus seriously.

As Dr. Irvin Batdorf, my late friend and New Testament professor, has written, “No portion of holy writ is so highly praised but so little practiced as the Sermon on the Mount. And no part of the Sermon is so widely quoted but so poorly understood as the Beatitudes. They characterize discipleship once and for all. They epitomize its demands and unerring precision.”*

I suspect that precise characterization of discipleship is perhaps the reason many of us do not pay them more attention. While the Ten Commandments are regarded as moral laws, the Beatitudes are seen as pie-in-the-sky ideals which, unfortunately, are not applicable – and therefore authoritative – in the real world. And that implies that Jesus cannot be taken seriously.

The Jesus code

Those who choose the scripture passages for the Uniform Series (upon which “The Bible Speaks” is based) have picked all 111 verses of the Sermon on the Mount as background scripture, a passage upon which we could well spend several months of study.
Mostly, I will be concentrating on the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-16, which serve as a kind of introduction to the code of Christian discipleship that comprises the rest of the sermon. But I hope you will take the time to read all of Matthew 5,6 and 7. All of this is what it means to take Jesus seriously.

Beatitude is a literary form through which blessedness is communicated. In the Old Testament, the term “blessed” can be applied to God – “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you …” (Ex. 18:10) or to God’s children – “Blessed are all who take refuge in him …” (Ps. 2:12).

When it is applied to the Lord, it means we are expressing praise and worship. When it is applied to us, “blessed” indicates that we have or will receive God’s goodness in some manner.

In saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God,” Jesus is promising the gift of happiness to those who are unhappy. The Beatitudes are a Christian design for true happiness.
Yet, ironically, they are among the least likely standards by which many of us judge happiness. Who among us would embrace being “poor in spirit,” mourning, meekness, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, being merciful, peacemakers or persecuted?

A God-shaped void

In today’s world happiness includes having all the material things you want, economic and professional success, public acclaim and/or a surplus of food, drink, sex and technology. Although our society is based upon this dream of “happiness,” generally these things cannot make us happy – at least not for long.

Most of the antisocial, compulsive and personally destructive behavior, not to mention our economy and political life, is based upon a vague and gnawing perception that there is something missing in us and in our society. But many do not realize that our God-shaped void can never be filled with society’s bogus blessings.
Jesus never promised us that we would not be poor, that we would not have to mourn or that mercy and humility would not be required of us. The promise of the gospel is not escape from, but victory over, trials and tribulations.

I wonder whether the message of the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount are what we are presenting to the world. I wonder whether we take it seriously in our churches. Do I? Do you? Do you want to be blessed, happy?

Jesus pulled no punches – or blessings – when he said: “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Mt. 6:33). That’s taking Jesus seriously.

*(Interpreting the Beatitudes, Irwin W. Batdorf, Westminster Press, 1966).

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.