Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.                                                                                                    Matthew 5:10  It’s in everything we see happening in our world today. The reality of spiritual warfare is something often denied but it is at the heart of all…

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.                                                                                     Matthew 5:9  We have already examined the biblical mandate for believers to be peacemakers. Let’s take a look at the qualities necessary for peacemaking. First, peacemakers should be confident. While being a believer is not criteria for…

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.                                                                                     Matthew 5:9 Peacemakers are next on Jesus’ list of those who are truly blessed. It is important to note that He does not say, “Blessed are the peacekeepers.” There is a difference between a peacekeeper and a…

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.                                                             Matthew 5:8  The promise for the pure in heart is that they will see God. We would do well to remember what is required for us to enter the kingdom of God and thus see God. Consider these three truths about…

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.                                                             Matthew 5:8  If we are looking for that which is absolutely pure, we must look to God. Nothing in our natural state is pure. Even for the kindest, most sincere human beings, purity is something that eludes us. Purity can be…

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.                                                                Matthew 5:7  We have already mentioned that this declaration from Jesus demonstrates a major biblical principle, namely that God’s response to us largely depends on our response to others. This is the reciprocal effect of being Christ-like. As we show mercy…

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.                                                                Matthew 5:7  Today’s declaration is one that demonstrates the reciprocal effect of being Christ-like. We are blessed when we find ourselves being people of mercy, and in turn, we find that same mercy applied to our lives. We live in a…

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.                                                                                                          Matthew 5:6  For those who hunger and thirst for the things of God, the reality is that they will be satisfied. It makes no difference what we substitute for God, anything in this…

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.                                                                                                          Matthew 5:6  Jesus’ fourth declaration involves desire. In this case a desire expressed by hunger and thirst. Our physical bodies require that we eat and drink regularly to provide fuel for our continuing…

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.                                                              Matthew 5:5 It is easy for us to understand the concept of being gentle, but what does it mean when Jesus says that the gentle will “inherit the earth?” I believe that if we understand the biblical description of what heaven and…