What are the Beatitudes?

The name Beatitudes comes from the Latin beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy," the word that opens each saying. They begin the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, after Jesus "went up into a mountain" and his disciples came to him. In the KJV they read: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 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 the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3-10). Jesus then applies the last one directly to his listeners, who would be reviled and persecuted "for my sake," and tells them to "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad" (Matthew 5:11-12). The Beatitudes turn ordinary values upside down. They do not praise the powerful, the wealthy, or the self-sufficient, but the humble, the grieving, the gentle, and those who long for God's righteousness, and each blessing carries a promise of God's comfort, mercy, or kingdom. Luke 6:20-23 records a shorter set in the Sermon on the Plain, followed by warnings of "woe" to those who are rich and satisfied now. Christians usually count eight or nine Beatitudes in Matthew, depending on whether verses 11-12 are counted separately.

Key Passages