Beatitudes explained in layman's terms to find true happiness
score:1
Jesus spoke to his people about how they could be blessed, not how to find lasting happiness. There are crucial differences, in the Bible, between mere happiness, and blessedness.
Just look at some of the blessing, to see that. How could anybody wanting to stay in a state of happiness consider themselves in that state when being persecuted? How could anyone be in a state of happiness while simultaneously mourning? How often are 'the meek' happy when most others scorn them, if not trample on them? How can people be happy when being reviled and spoken ill of?
No, Jesus was speaking of something far higher, way above mere human ideas about being happy. He spoke of an inner, spiritual state among those who are truly spiritual in the sense the New Testament speaks of throughout. The clues are all there: those who know thy are 'poor in spirit' will have the kingdom of heaven. Turn to the end of that sermon on the mount to see how, exactly:
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink, or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:31-33 A.V (emphasis mine).
Another clue Jesus gave, a few verses earlier, was that the righteousness of his people had to exceed the apparent, outward righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. If it did not, then "ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (5:20).
Blessedness comes in being brought into the Kingdom of God, which has Christ as its King. Then, no matter what you might suffer on Earth for his name's sake, nothing and nobody can take away the blessedness that is God-given, and which is spiritual, not material or physical.
This question now asked was summed up by Jesus, to ordinary folk, in simple terms they could understand: "But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness".
More post
- π What is the difference between the Ebionites and Nazarenes?
- π According to Catholic Church, did Jesus belong to the Essenes sect of Judaism?
- π How do Jehovah's Witnesses understand Galatians 1:11-12?
- π Did Is. 7:14 inspire Mary to take a vow of virginity?
- π Why can the Catholic Church declare one person a saint but has never declared another damned?
- π According to Catholicism, in the Eucharist, does the bread become Christβs βspiritual bodyβ or βnatural bodyβ?
- π What is the difference between the KJV, AKJV, NKJV, etc?
- π Why does it appear that judeo-christian sects avoid referring to the god they worship by his name?
- π To the Lutherans ELCA, how is the Bible the word of God?
- π How do Protestants interpret "Give us this day our daily bread"?
- π Do any Christian denominations consider it not sinful to commit suicide in order to donate organs? If so, why?
- π How to teach Christianity to an ESL junior high school student who knows nothing about Christianity?
- π Do the church fathers ever include quotes of Jesus that aren't from the Bible?
- π Are there any Lutherans that have a different view about Salvation?
- π What is the scholarly biblical argument against theistic evolution?
- π Why do Catholics believe transubstantiated host may still affect the gluten sensitive?
- π What is the current stance of the Catholic Church regarding the legality of non-Catholic religions?
- π Does the Catholic Church have any teaching on cannibalism?
- π Which Catholic theologians say that Purgatory is a "fiery moment"?
- π Drawing of a Christian helping his own assailant
- π What will be the indication that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf
- π According to Catholic Church, did the Eucharistic celebration of Early Church consist of an entire meal?
- π Why does Christmas end on the Baptism of the Lord and not on the Presentation of the Lord?
- π Are there members in people's ancestry who claim to have seen Jesus, or witnessed His acts?
- π Does Catholicism Have Anything to Say About 'Physical Evil'?
- π According to Unitarians, to whom does the word ΧΦΈΧΦΈΧΧΦΉΧ refer in Mal. 3:1?
- π What Biblical basis supports the idea that questions and answers about Christianity could be sinful?
- π How do the rites for a first and second marriage (after death of a spouse) differ in the Orthodox Church?
- π Why does the Bible say that people no longer need to βfeel guiltyβ under the gospel, as compared to the Old Testament?
- π What is the basis for saying that Aquinas accepted the Immaculate Conception?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π Beatitudes explained in layman's terms to find true happiness
- π Is it true there is only one other place in the bible we can find the number 666?
- π Has any prominent theologian ever explained why Jesus let a thief be in charge of the money?
- π Where can I find out more about other people rising from the dead, when Jesus died on the Cross?
- π Believing that Christianity is "probably" true vs. being fully convinced that Christianity is definitely true?
- π What important Mormon doctrines are taught in the book of Mormon that we couldn't find in the Bible already?
- π Where did Noah find polar bears and penguins in Palestine, according to those who accept a global flood?
- π What does CS Lewis mean by True Myth?
- π Is it true that early Christians were baptised naked?
- π When is the first time in church history we find a prayer ending with "in Jesus' name, amen"?
- π How have Protestants explained how Jesus could be born of mankind and be sinless?
- π Is it true that Martin Luther was calling for killing Hebrew people?
- π Where can I find scans of original Biblical manuscripts?
- π Where can I learn about Catholic terms and phrases?
- π What is an overview of how Christian commentators have explained rulers to be a terror to bad conduct?
- π According to Catholic teaching, was Joseph and Mary's marriage a true marriage?
- π What is joy? How is it different from happiness (or is it)?
- π Origin of the Reformed "Marks of the True Church"
- π How is Matthew 24:36 explained by trinitarians?
- π How is Matthew 18: 8-9 explained in the context of non works-based salvation?
- π Where can I find the Orthodox response to the Augsburg Confession?
- π Where can I find official documents of Buenos Aires' Eucharistic Miracle?
- π Trying to find information on a crucifix found whilst metal detecting
- π How do Protestants who say Catholicism doesn't teach the true Gospel understand a Catholic personβs faith in Jesus?
- π Why does Christianity claim to be the only true religion?
- π From a non-trinitarian perspective, how is love explained as an attribute of God?
- π Where can I find sources showing ecclesiastical vestments of the 1200s?
- π How is the amazement of the Jews explained by those who believe that "Render Unto Caesar" affirmed the paying of taxes?
- π If we want to know what the Bible says about an issue, what methods can help us to find all the relevant scriptures?
- π Where can I find the text of the documents produced at the Council of Quiercy (853)?