Articles
Beatitudes in Luke 6
Beatitudes in Luke 6
Blessed are the poor, hungry, weeping, and hated. These are descriptions of those who are part of God's kingdom. These are the people who have chosen to allow God to rule their lives, those who follow God's teachings about life. These are not 'qualifications' to enter the kingdom or qualities to be developed. They are descriptions of certain godly people. Especially true was this in the first century when Jesus lived.
To be "blessed" is the idea of being 'favored'. To live by God's ways is to find favor with Him. Those who are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness take great delight in such life. To live so differently from 'the world' has its problems and difficulties and that is what is enumerated here. Secondly, it should be noted we are talking about these situations existing because of the Son of God. These are not just circumstances of life, but that which comes as a reaction to one following Jesus (6:22).
Just being poor is not a favored state with God. Being poor AND walking by His teaching is. Being poor does provide both opportunity and incentive to follow God. Here such people would have little or no hope. With God they are favored and look forward to eternity. The same principles pertain to the hunger, weeping, and being hated.
The opposite of blessed is woe. That is what Jesus says here. The woe is the displeasure and condemnation of God. Those who refuse to follow the teaching of Jesus MAY be rich, full, happy, and popular with the world but they are not in favor with God. They HAVE their reward and pertain completely with this life. They are also temporary.
God's people don't set their goal to be poor, hungry, weeping and hated. They set their goal to have favor with God. IF such lifestyle brings these things into their life, so be it. The interesting thing to me is when those of us who claim to desire God above all else yet seek the same goals as those who deny God's rule in their lives. We are of a divided heart when we do this.
Do we love God with all our heart, soul and mind? Do we love God more than 'these'? Set your heart on things above and not things that are upon the earth (Col. 3:2). Hugh DeLong
