What does it mean to be blessed? I think there are several answers, and all of them good ones, that can satisfy that question. We are blessed when God answers our prayers. We are blessed when someone does something on our behalf. We are blessed when we serve someone else. It makes sense that the word “blessed” correlates with good circumstances. But how does the word “blessed” correlate with bad circumstances? How does it make sense for someone to be blessed while they are going through a difficult time?
The Beatitudes announce the breakthrough of God’s Kingdom in our midst. They serve as the introduction to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (cf. Matthew 5:3-12), having become very familiar and yet misunderstood. To gain a fresh perspective on these 10 teachings, it behooves us to go back to what the original Greek says. Below is my revised translation into words that I believe are closer to the intended meaning of the beatitudes:
Joyful are those who are poor and downcast, because to them belongs the kingdom of heaven.
Joyful are those who experience sorrow, because they will be comforted.
Joyful are those who are considerate and meek, because they will inherit the earth.
Joyful are those who hunger and thirst for restorative justice, because they will be satisfied.
Joyful are those who are concerned for the needy to the point of action, because they will receive God’s mercy.
Joyful are those whose hearts are pure, cleansed of moral guilt, because they will see God.
Joyful are the peacemakers, because they will be identified as God’s children.
Joyful are those who suffer on account of restorative justice, because to them belongs the kingdom of heaven.
You are favored whenever they criticize, persecute, and speak all kinds of wicked lies against you on account of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
These teachings are called the “beatitudes” because they begin with the Greek word makarioi (beatus in Latin), meaning “blessed,” “happy,” “hopeful,” or “joyful.” I went back and forth between the translations “fortunate,” “favored,” and “joyful,” since each can be legitimately used in context. In the end, I chose to translate makarioi as “joyful” because in my study I found that its Hellenistic use (describing those of good fortune) is not as likely to have been on the forefront of Matthew’s mind when he wrote his gospel. Rather, he likely understood this word in the context of the Old Testament (describing those who are deeply joyful, or blessed).
Of its fifty New Testament occurrences, makarioi is almost always used in the context of participation in God’s work in the world. In the Old Testament, the word often promises future consolation to people who are suffering. That is to say, whatever difficult circumstances are present now, they will be reversed. Justice, peace, and joy will break through. Therefore, one is not simply, “happy” in the mundane sense of the word, but rather joyful at the experience of being part of the LORD’s work in the world, that is, deliverance and redemption.
The beatitudes are not just wishful ideals that are unrealistic in the real world. While it is true that these teachings are foreign concepts, seemingly impossible feats like swimming upstream against the mightiest waters; they are in fact real goals attainable by Christ’s disciples. Remember, Scripture informs us that God’s ways are foolishness to the world. So, even though the world doesn't understand how one can be blessed through difficult circumstances, those in Christ are given the wisdom of God to understand such a bizarre concept.
Idealism speaks to people who are not what the ideals urge. It promises that if they live by the ideals they will get rewards. The beatitudes do not function in that way. They speak to disciples who already are being made participants in the presence of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. They do not promise distant well-being and success; they celebrate the reality that God is already acting to deliver us. They are based not on the perfection of the disciples but on the coming of God’s grace, already experienced in Jesus. Once we understand the beatitudes prophetically as God’s gracious deliverance, we understand that blessing has come, blessing is realized now, and blessing awaits.
