People love to quote the Beatitudes, but frankly, they are anything but easy to understand. Not the words so much, but the intent. Are these teachings by Jesus indicatives or imperatives? (I love when I can use some of the high school English stuff.)Do these 'blessings' describe what is (indicative) or do they command particular behavior (imperative)? Is Jesus trying to paint a vision of what the kingdom of heaven is and will be?
What are we to do with such a statement as 'blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'? When we look around ourselves, those who are poor in spirit (no matter how you define that phrase) do not seem to be in possession of the kingdom of heaven (whatever that is supposed to mean.)
Or, is Jesus telling us that in order to claim our place in the kingdom of heaven, we need to be 'poor in spirit'? I have to ask if 'poor in spirit' is a state of being that one can take upon oneself even if you wanted to. Then they would simply be good advice for the potential followers of Jesus. As you can imagine, there are all kinds of opinions out there, so if you disagree with mine, you can always find a recognized scholar who has a different approach.
Here is my approach: Jesus is painting a picture of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew uses this instead of 'kingdom of God'). This is early in his ministry and he is setting the stage for the kingdom he is bringing to those who follow. Jesus will usher in this kingdom in his own person, and through his death and resurrection, eternally for all.
When this kingdom is in force, those who are poor in spirit will experience it as a blessing. When this kingdom is realized, those who mourn will be blessed with comfort. For these folk and those who are meek and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (v 5-6) the kingdom of heaven will be a blessing, unlike what they are experiencing now.
In these first four beatitudes, Jesus assures his listeners that the reality that they experience today will be transformed into a blessing in the new kingdom he brings. The poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn can embrace this new kingdom - it is more than safe, it is life itself.
This is Good News, and would naturally grab the attention of the disenfranchised in the crowd. Sitting on the mountain (v1), teaching like Moses taught the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai, Jesus introduces God's grand plan for all of creation - a transformation of what is into what can be through the love of God in Jesus.
But wait, there's more. See you tomorrow.
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