The Beatitudes
Jesus's "Blessed are..." sayings
Two things you can tap
- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. He has just started teaching in public.
- The disciples: Jesus's first followers. So far, Matthew has named four fishermen: Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
- The crowd: People from many towns. Many of them are sick or in pain.
Setting
- A mountain in Galilee, the area in northern Israel where Jesus grew up. The Bible does not say which mountain.
When
- Early in Jesus's work, about 2,000 years ago.
Before the Story
Jesus has started preaching. His message is short: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (4:17). Repent means turn around. Change direction.
He has called his first followers. Four fishermen left their nets to follow him (4:18-22).
News is spreading. People are hearing that Jesus heals the sick.
Here's what you know that almost nobody in this story knows: These words will become some of the most famous words ever spoken. Today we call them the Beatitudes. Beatitudes means "the blessings."
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Everyone who was hurting | 4:23-25 | Crowds bring their sick to Jesus |
| 2. Jesus sits down | 5:1-2 | Jesus goes up a mountain and starts to teach |
| 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit | 5:3-6 | The first four blessings |
| 4. Blessed are the merciful | 5:7-10 | Four more blessings |
| 5. Blessed are you | 5:11-12 | Jesus speaks straight to his listeners |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 5Everyone Who Was Hurting
Jesus walked from town to town in Galilee. He taught in the synagogues. A synagogue is a local meeting place for Jewish worship and study.
Jesus preached good news about God's kingdom. And he healed every kind of sickness.
News about Jesus spread north into Syria. People brought him everyone who was hurting. They brought people who were sick and people in terrible pain. They brought people troubled by demons, people who had seizures, and people who could not move. Jesus healed them.
Huge crowds followed him. They came from Galilee and from the Ten Towns, a group of cities to the east. They came from Jerusalem, from Judea, and from across the Jordan River.
Scene 2 of 5Jesus Sits Down
Jesus saw the crowds. He went up on the mountain and sat down.
Back then, teachers sat down to teach. So sitting down was a signal. A lesson was about to begin.
His disciples came close to him. Then Jesus began to teach them.
Think about who was on that mountain. Many people there had just been healed. Many were still hurting.
Scene 3 of 5Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (5:3).
Blessed means God's favor rests on them. Poor in spirit means knowing you have nothing to bring to God. Jesus says the kingdom belongs to people like that. It is a gift.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (5:4). To mourn is to feel deep sadness, often after someone dies.
The Bible doesn't say who in the crowd was grieving. But this crowd came carrying pain.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (5:5). Meek means gentle. To inherit means to receive something as a gift because you belong to a family.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (5:6). This is a comparison. Jesus means wanting to be right with God, and wanting what is right and fair, as badly as a hungry person wants food.
Scene 4 of 5Blessed Are the Merciful
Jesus kept going. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (5:7). Mercy is kindness and help for someone who is hurting or has done wrong.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (5:8). A pure heart is an undivided heart. It wants God, and not only to look good.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (5:9). Peacemakers help people stop fighting. "Sons of God" was a way of saying God's children. It includes everyone who belongs to God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (5:10). To be persecuted is to be hurt or treated badly again and again.
The first blessing and this one end the same way. Both say, "theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Scene 5 of 5Blessed Are You
Then Jesus changed one word. He stopped saying "they." He started saying "you."
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me" (5:11).
Jesus told them to be glad. Their reward in heaven would be great. God's prophets long ago were treated the same way.
The crowd came to be healed. Jesus told them that God's favor rests on people like them.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (5:3) | God's favor rests on people who know they have nothing to bring. The kingdom is a gift. | A tax collector who would not even look up to pray (Luke 18:13) |
| "Those who mourn... will be comforted" (5:4) | Jesus does not tell sad people to stop being sad. He promises comfort. | Jesus weeps with Mary and Martha at their brother's grave (John 11:35) |
| "The meek... will inherit the earth" (5:5) | Gentle people will receive the earth as a gift. Jesus is repeating an old promise. | A psalm with almost the same words (Psalm 37:11) |
| "Hunger and thirst for righteousness" (5:6) | Wanting to be right with God very badly. God does the filling. | Zacchaeus climbs a tree just to see Jesus (Luke 19:1-10) |
| "The merciful... will be shown mercy" (5:7) | People who show kindness will receive God's kindness. | The Samaritan who stops to help a hurt stranger (Luke 10:33) |
| "The pure in heart... will see God" (5:8) | An undivided heart will see God. This is a promise, not a test score. | Nathanael, "in whom there is no deceit" (John 1:47) |
| "Sons of God" (5:9) | God's children. Everyone who belongs to God. | "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26) |
These are connections to other Bible passages. The Bible does not say Jesus had these people in mind.
Back Then
Teachers sat down to teach. Jesus also sits down to teach in his hometown synagogue (Luke 4:20).
"Blessed" had a special meaning. The Greek word is makarios. It describes someone God has favored. (Strong's Concordance)
Literal Reader Alert
Is being sad a good thing? No. Jesus is not saying sadness is good. He is saying God comes close to sad people and comforts them.
Were the people with seizures troubled by demons? In this verse, Matthew lists them as two different groups (4:24). Later, one boy with seizures is also troubled by a demon (Matthew 17:15-18). That does not mean seizures come from demons. Today we know seizures are a medical condition. They are never a punishment for sin. People with seizures are made in God's image, like everyone.
Do I have to be all eight things to be blessed? No. This is not a checklist. Jesus is announcing good news to people who are hurting.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The crowds | Astonished | Jesus taught "as one who had authority," not like their teachers (7:28-29) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Which blessing do you need to hear today? Tap one.
"Blessed are those who mourn"
Jesus does not tell sad people to cheer up. He promises comfort. That promise is for you too.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit"
Maybe you feel like you have nothing to bring to God. Jesus says the kingdom belongs to people like that. It is a gift.
"Blessed are the meek"
Gentle people can feel pushed aside. Jesus says the earth is theirs, as a gift.
"Blessed are the peacemakers"
Maybe you are the one who calms things down with friends or at home. Jesus calls people like that God's children. But keeping the peace at home is not your job alone. If home feels unsafe, tell someone you trust.
You Might Have Heard
"The Beatitudes are a list of good behaviors. Do them, and God will reward you."
What's true: God cares how we live.
What the passage is mainly about: Jesus announcing good news to people who were sick, sad, and left out. These blessings are gifts, not a scoreboard. Using them to feel better than other people misses the point. Jesus said them to people who had nothing to show off.
Where Jesus is: He does more than say these words. He lives them. On the cross, people insult him and hurt him. He still asks God to forgive them (Luke 23:34).
Good News
You do not have to climb up to God's blessing. Jesus speaks it over people who have nothing to bring. In Jesus, God's favor rests on you before you do anything to deserve it.
Big Idea
Jesus announces God's favor over hurting people and gives the kingdom as a gift.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Martin Luther preached on Matthew 5 to 7 in the early 1530s. He taught that these words are for every Christian. They are not only for monks or "extra holy" people.
In Church
Many churches follow a reading plan called the Revised Common Lectionary. It reads Matthew 5:1-12 on All Saints Sunday in Year A. It also reads it on the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany in Year A.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
How did that feel?