After healing the multitudes of their infirmities, JESUS turns his attention to the disciples. A disciple is not someone who comes just to receive from their master, but someone who listens to the teaching of the master and follows him everyday to become more like him.
These were the kind of people who were JESUS’ disciples. First up someone who is poor spiritually and not materially cause the tax collectors followed HIM. The spiritually poor understood the need for the SAVIOR unlike the Pharisees who thought they were spiritually rich. JESUS calls them blessed because they are blessed with the kingdom of heaven. This is a blessing that they get to experience now unlike the other blessings which uses the word “will” which refers to a future sense. A kingdom for the poor!! Woah!! Because of CHRIST and what HE did for them these people are not poor anymore because they have GOD HIMSELF as their spiritual nourishment.
The second is someone who hungers, again not physically but spiritually, for they will be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, after JESUS after ascends. The HOLY SPIRIT will point them to the beauty of the person of JESUS CHRIST to satisfy their hunger of righteousness, knowing well that righteousness doesn’t come from them but from the ONE who died to save them.
There will be sorrow and weeping for the disciples of JESUS CHRIST here on the earth, just as JESUS HIMSELF experienced it. But the disciples can take heart for HE has overcome the world (John 16:33) and one day JESUS HIMSELF will wipe every tear from their eye (Revelation 21:4)
The disciples of JESUS are blessed and declared righteous because when they have JESUS they have everything. And it was not because something that they did, but because CHRIST humbled HIMSELF to meet their greatest need ie to be right with GOD, by taking their punishment on the cross, rising again from the grave and declaring those who believe in HIM as righteous and no longer to be condemned by anyone.
But will those who are made righteous by GOD have an easy life here on earth? No, since they now belong to the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of earth will call them evil and persecute them because of JESUS CHRIST. But JESUS tells them to rejoice and leap for joy when this happens for they have been counted worthy to suffer for the only true and strong and the kindest KING of the whole world who gave up everything for them and is their greatest reward!
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