Message: Who Is Blessed / Matthew 5:1-12

Today’s Gospel reading is about the Beatitudes. They appear at the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which is one of the most important parts of the Gospel of Matthew. Through this sermon, Matthew reveals the true meaning of the Law. 

The Law was a gift given to the Hebrew people as they entered the promised land. It was meant to help them learn how to build a new world shaped by love and peace. By the time of Jesus, however, things had changed. The Law had become a tool of oppression because many religious leaders focused only on following it literally. They no longer cared about the spirit of the Law. They used their knowledge to judge others and to control them.

Because of this, Jesus taught the true meaning of the Law. In the Sermon on the Mount, he repeated the words, “You have heard it said… but I say to you.” Jesus did not reject the Law. Instead, he revealed its true spirit. To begin, the first thing Jesus preached about was the true meaning of blessing.

The Hebrew word for blessing comes from the verb ברך (brk). In the Bible, this word almost always refers to a gift that comes from a favourable, life-giving relationship. When God blesses people, it means promising something good. When people bless God, it means offering praise. And when people bless one another, it shows gratitude and hope for God’s gifts.

In the time of the Old Testament, blessing was understood as “abundance within peace.” People who had a good relationship with God lived faithfully and worked honestly, and so they could expect prosperity, health, and many descendants. For this reason, wealth was seen as a sign of faithfulness and a way to help those in need.

But in Jesus’ time, the situation had changed. Hard work no longer guaranteed prosperity. Under the Roman Empire, people were stripped of their land and forced to pay heavy taxes. Even when they worked hard, they had little in return. Most lived in poverty. The only ways to become rich were to become tax collectors or robbers, taking advantage of their own people. Because of this, wealth was no longer a sign of God’s blessing.

In this situation, Jesus opened his sermon with these words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The Greek word for “poor” here does not simply mean having little money. It refers to extreme poverty, a situation in which someone cannot survive without relying on others.

Poverty could push people to lose their dignity. Some might even commit crimes, using their situation as an excuse. But there are people who do not sell their souls, even when they suffer from poverty. The “poor in spirit” were such people. Even when life was painful, they refused to give up their relationship with God.

So, this was not simply consolation for the poor. It was about the faith and courage of those who tried to keep their dignity as God’s children in every situation. They refused to give up what must not be surrendered, no matter how hard life was. To them, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is theirs.” The verb is in the present tense because they were not waiting for heaven in the future. They were already living in God’s kingdom, connected to God’s heart.

Next, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Many were in sorrow across the land where Jesus lived, and he felt deep compassion for them. Jesus did not hide his feelings. He wept with those who wept and rejoiced with those who rejoiced. When our neighbours suffer, being happy alone is not a blessing. Those who carry God’s heart feel the pain of others. But holy grief does not end there. When we mourn together, we are strengthened and empowered to walk toward a new hope, which brings true comfort.

Third, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Meekness does not mean weakness or staying silent in the face of evil. Meekness is like the earth. It receives everything, but it does not leave things as they are. Over time, it transforms what is in it, just as the earth turns waste into nutrients for new life. Meekness is the inner strength that refuses to repay evil with evil and instead turns it toward good. 

Fourth, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” Here, righteousness is not cold judgement or moral superiority. It is the work of building a world where every person is treated as God’s beloved child. Seeking righteousness means standing with the smallest and most vulnerable. It is never wasted. The widening of human rights has come through the steady effort, courage, and sacrifice of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Fifth, Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” The Hebrew word for mercy comes from the word for womb. Just as a mother protects the child in her womb, God holds us with deep care. To be merciful is to treat others as precious lives within ourselves. A society full of mercy does not collapse easily. Mercy becomes a shelter for everyone.

Sixth, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” To be pure in heart means to live without clutter inside. When people treat what matters most as unimportant and what does not matter as important, their lives become filled with confusion and chaos. Worry and anxiety darken their hearts. But those who are pure in heart can recognize what truly matters in each moment. They see God’s presence everywhere, in another person’s face, in the current of a river, in a flower bud, and in the sound of birds.

Seventh, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” In the Bible, peace is more than the absence of conflict. It is a life where people live in good relationship with God, with one another, and with all creation. So, peace begins when we stop treating others as enemies, and when we stop speaking about the vulnerable as targets to be pushed out. Hostility cannot create peace. Only hospitality can. Those who build bridges where there is division are God’s children.

Finally, Jesus spoke about those who are persecuted for righteousness. He showed what this looks like through the cross. To follow Christ is to be willing to take a risk for what is right. These are people who place God’s kingdom and righteousness above reputation and success. Because of that, no one can control them through fear. Their courage becomes a key that opens the door to God’s kingdom.

The world is shifting fast, and people today are facing new challenges. These changes bring fear to many hearts. In times like these, the Beatitudes invite us to think about what true blessing is.

The shape of blessing may change with time and circumstances, but its heart never changes. Blessing is the gift that flows from a beautiful relationship. A living relationship with God reshapes our relationships with others and with all creation. It keeps us steady when the world is shaking. It gives us courage when fear is loud. It shapes us into people who do not look away, do not harden our hearts, and do not lose hope. That is a blessing no crisis can take away, no tyrant can destroy, and no darkness can overcome.

May we be blessed so that we can become a blessing. May God make us people of mercy, justice, and peace, so that those who live in fear and despair can see a glimpse of God’s kingdom through us.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang