BEATITUDES

By Eva-Maria Hogrefe -- VINCENT -- oil painting

Sweeter than the balm of Gilead, richer than the diamonds of Golconda, 

dear as the friendship of those we love, are justice, fraternity, 

and Christian charity.  The song of my soul must remain so long as I remain.  

Let brotherly love continue.

--Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellany 175--

The word "Beatitude" is from the Latin "blessed."  "Blessing literally means 'happy, 

fortunate, blissful'."  

--MacArthur Bible Commentary--

        

The Beatitudes are "declarations typically associated with the Sermon on the Mount 

in Matthew (5:3-12) and the Sermon on the Plain in Luke (6:20-23).  

They are pronouncements that confer [a] blessing upon persons who 

are characterized by what they are (e.g., the poor) or do (e.g., the peacemakers).

        

"Luke has four Beatitudes balanced by four woes (6:20-26), 

and all take the form of direct address 

in the second person plural ('Blessed are you…').  

Matthew has nine Beatitudes and no woes (5:3-12), 

and all but the last are in the third person plural ('Blessed are the…' 

or 'Blessed are those who…').  

Beatitudes of both types are found in Hebrew and Greek literature." 

--Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible--

--The Bible, Matt 5: 3-12--

 3.  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 4.  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

 5.  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

 6.  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: 

for they shall be filled.

 7.  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

 8.  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 9.  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10.  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  

11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, 

and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  

12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: 

for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (KJV)

Be an honest investigator 

of Love and Truth! 

–Eva-Maria--

…. there rises from them a kind of fragrance 

of moral elevation; 

a love of justice, truth, and light; 

a large, generous way of looking at things; 

and a constant effort to hold high the torch 

in the dusky space of man’s conscience.  

–Henry James--

a picture I took of the Cathedral in Ely/England