| "Blessed" doesn't carry the liturgical sense of the word. Blessing is the opposite of curse. Blessing carries the connotation that salvation belongs to the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is describing what the people who will inherit the kingdom of God are like. These are the characteristics of the people of that Kingdom.The Kingdom of heaven and God are synonymous. They often used Heaven so as not to speak the name of God out of reverence.The Kingdom of heaven is used in Matthew and the Kingdom of God is used in Mark and Luke.The following scriptures describe what it means to be poor in spirit. Isaiah 66:2 But this is the man to whom I will look he that is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at God's word. Isaiah 57:15 I dwell in the high and holy place and also with him who is humble and contrite in spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite. Those who aren't arrogant and full of pride. Jesus is not talking people who are of a poor economic status. Rather it is their poverty of spirit before God. They are people who fear God and take Gods word ever so seriously to heart. God promises to be with such people of His Kingdom even in the now. As Isaiah 57 says God dwells on high, but also dwells now with the contrite and humble in spirit. This is what it means when Jesus proclaims blessed are the poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed means salvation belongs to those who mourn for they will be comforted. Those who mourn are the ones who suffer injustice and wickedness at the hands of the people of this world, who are the enemies of God. The redemption of Jerusalem, the consolation of Israel is what believing Jews were waiting and longing for. For example Luke 2:25 Simeon is waiting for the consolation of Israel. Vs38 Hannah spoke to all about Jesus, who waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. They longed for the day when the darkness would be over and the light would come. Expressed in the New moon festivals, The Day of Atonement. Israel would only be redeemed when the suffering servant bore their sins. If God had saved them in the past he would save them again. Comfort in Isaiah 40 is declared as the true end to her exile. John the Baptist declared the end of exile. To be comforted is for her suffering to come to an end, and for her sins to be forgiven. Pictures of comfort are God wiping away every tear and filling them everlasting Joy. Isaiah 52:9 the Lord has comforted his people is in context of The Lord returning to Zion to redeem His people and Jerusalem. Isaiah 60:20-21 speaks of the days of her mourning been ended in the context of final salvation. The comfort of the people of God is their exaltation by vindication, when there suffering and mourning will be no more.. |
