Tag: beatitudes
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Persecuted
Matthew 5:10 NIV: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Growing up, I recall hearing tales of people in other countries getting persecuted for their faith. Stories of martyrs losing their lives or individuals meeting in secret to study the word of God. Thank goodness that…
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Peacemakers
Matthew 5:9 NIV: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” There are very few of us who relish conflict. Some of you would say you avoid it at all costs, while others don’t look for conflict but don’t mind addressing it when it comes up. One thing is absolutely sure:…
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Pure in Heart
Matthew 5:8 NIV: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Whenever I actually get out paint, whether acrylic or oils, one of the more frustrating elements is keeping white, pure white. Just the slightest leftover color from a not-quite-clean-enough brush quickly muddies the pristine white. This experience is precisely at the…
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Mercy
Matthew 5:7 NIV: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” When I showed my son this art piece this morning and told him the verse, he asked, “What is mercy?” That is the essential question to understand this verse. The Greek word used twice here is elee’o, and the definition is to…
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Hunger and Thirst
Matthew 5:6 NIV: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Have you noticed that when you are really thirsty or hungry, it’s hard not to focus on that nagging lack of something to eat or drink? It’s as if you get consumed thinking and planning how to quench…
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Meekness
Matthew 5:5 NIV: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Somewhere along the way, the word meek became synonymous with weakness. That may have come from the simile, as meek as a lamb or as meek as a mouse. Both animals conjure up images of being docile (in the case of the…
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Those who Mourn
Matthew 5:4 NIV: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Continuing on with the Beatitudes. This is another striking statement, considering that this promise concerns being blessed or fortunate. Let’s look at the two descriptive words in this verse. First is mourning- the Greek word pentheo‘ means to grieve over death in…
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Poor in Spirit
Matthew 5:3 NIV “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs in the Kingdom of Heaven.” I’m starting a series on the Beatitudes, which is part of a more significant portion known as the Sermon on the Mount. This teaching by Jesus is full of powerful wisdom and is the first recorded sermon in Matthew.…