Matthew 5:1-10 Seeing the multitudes, He [Jesus] went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This last Sunday, our Associate Pastor Obie preached on the Beatitudes of Jesus’ sermon on the mount (above). The Latin word “beatitudine” is translated into the English word “happiness” and the Latin word “beatitudo” translates as “blessedness or bliss”. The Greek word for “blessed” here is “makarios”, meaning supremely blest; and by extension, favored by fortune, soulfully well-off and happy. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defined the word “blessed” as: Happy; prosperous in worldly affairs; enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God; enjoying heavenly felicity [contentment, joy, pleasure, bliss, and delight].
America’s founding document, the Declaration of Independence states: “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
This is a brilliantly composed document that links our physical existence with our spiritual existence, which are bound together in, on and by our Creator God. The term “pursuit of Happiness” imparts and holds proper meaning and understanding in the light of the definition “spiritual happiness and the favor of God; enjoying heavenly felicity” from Noah Webster during the founding of America era. It’s not about pursuing what “we” determine makes us happy, it’s about pursuing spiritual happiness in what makes God happy; that which is favorable to God or that which is “right” in the eyes of God, and thereby produces heavenly contentment, joy, pleasure, bliss, and delight. In this pursuit of happiness, we are truly blessed … even the pursuit is a blessing because we are pursuing God, and even when we fail to achieve the goal, the intentions were godly and good.
The Greek word for "blessed" used in the Beatitudes is “makarios”, meaning the happiness of God; true, perfect happiness; a state of godly happiness and contentment that was beyond all cares and worries of ordinary people. To be “makarios” blessed, which the world does not know, you had to be God. But, God extends “His happiness” to be experienced by born-again Believes, His children, just as “God’s love” and “God’s peace” which surpasses all understanding. Pursue God’s happiness and be blessed.
In Christ, Brian
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