When I was a kid, Jesus’ words of Matthew 5 made no sense to me. When I became an adult they still made no sense. When I gave my life to Jesus they started to make sense.
Matthew 5
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up
on a mountain, and when He was seated
His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He
opened His mouth and taught them,
saying:
(Jesus’ words)
(How I interpret them, not necessarily accurately)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy are those who have no confidence in their own goodness,
Because Jesus came for them.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Happy are those who sorrow over their heart that is bent toward evil,
Because Jesus will give them a new heart bent toward God.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Happy are those whose strength is under control,
For God will put the earth under their control.
6 Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Happy are those who desperately want their souls to be clean,
For Jesus will clean them as white as snow.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Happy are those who cancel the debts of others that the others’ cannot pay themselves,
For Jesus will cancel their debt to God that they cannot pay themselves.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Happy are those who have no evil desires,
For they will be able to see God working everywhere.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Happy are those who help brothers and sisters to find common ground, creative synergistic solutions and critical understanding of each other and of themselves,
For they will be named after the Most High.
10 Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy are those who are rejected for the purity of, and love in, their heart,
For Jesus is theirs.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile
and persecute you, and say all kinds
of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad,
for great is your reward in heaven,
for so they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.
Happy are you when others hate you because you follow Jesus
and your godly character publicly exposes their own evil,
Jump for joy because a prophet’s reward is waiting for you in heaven.
I AM for You! 