Happy are those! (pt 1)

Sermon planned for Sunday, January 30th, 2011
Text: Matthew 5:1-12; Psalm 15


Our passage this morning focuses on the beatitudes. What’s a beatitude? One definition of the word is that it means a state of extreme happiness. What do the sayings of Jesus in this passage have to do with extreme happiness? What do the poor in spirit, the meek, the peacemaker, the persecuted, and the mournful have to do with extreme happiness? The beatitudes can be a bit confusing at times, but this confusion often results from a misunderstanding of what Jesus was talking about. As Mennonites, we might be especially prone to misunderstand the beatitudes; mostly because we love to-do lists and ethical rules; or at least we can often come across as a rule-oriented people. We love our ethics, and in earlier centuries we were known for our church discipline – excommunicating people who didn’t follow the right rules.

When we read the beatitudes, with the question about rules and to-do lists, we actually misunderstand what Jesus’ sermon was trying to do with the beatitudes. The beatitudes are not a list of rules; they are not a to-do list. Jesus is not commanding us to be poor in spirit. Blessedness is not a reward for going out and being mournful. Being a son of God is not the prize for being a peacemaker. If the beatitudes are not a set of rules, or an action-reward schematic, then what are they? To what could we compare them?

Please join me in your bibles, and read with me, beginning at Matthew 5:3:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Earlier I said that the beatitudes are not a list of rules. Now, mind you, some of them could be read that way. Indeed, Jesus does call us to be peacemakers. We are called to be pure in heart. This is true; but what about ‘blessed are those who mourn’? Does Jesus command us to mourn? Mourn what? Does Jesus command us here to be persecuted? If you look at how these beatitudes come together, it’s clear that they’re not a to-do list, but something else. What then?

The beatitudes describe the people who will experience joy and happiness when the Kingdom of God arrives. As one of my friends would put it: the beatitudes are descriptive, not prescriptive. This becomes clearer if we look at what comes before and after the Sermon on the Mount. If we look at the chapters of Matthew’s gospel surrounding the Sermon on the Mount we notice that they include numerous stories of Jesus’ power over evil and sickness. In chapters 3-4 and 8-9, we read about the disciples gathering around Jesus – the One who has power to defeat the Tempter in the desert. We learn that he is the Beloved Son of God, as we hear the voice at his Baptism. We hear that He is the one who has power over the demons, over sickness and even death. What does this say about Jesus? Well, it says that his proclamation is true.

Before Jesus came on the scene, John the Baptist told people to repent because the Kingdom of heaven was near. And the minute Jesus overcame the Tempter in the wilderness, we read that Jesus began proclaiming the same message of repentance, because the Kingdom of God was near. The Kingdom of God was breaking-into history, therefore repent! That was the message. And the healing power of Jesus, his power over the demons, the chaotic waters, over illness and death – this power was evidence that, in Jesus’ life and ministry, the Kingdom of God was breaking into history. The Beatitudes describe the kind of people that will experience this Kingdom with extreme happiness. It’s not a to-do list or a set of rules – it is a description of the people who will be jumping for joy when God’s Kingdom enters into history. The beatitudes describe the kinds of people who will party the hardest when the Kingdom comes.

Two weeks ago I talked about my initiation into life as a camp counselor, and I talked about how hockey players get initiated as team members. I also pondered what it would be like if a rookie player knew that an NHL scout would show up in the next few hours. How might a hockey player prepare for such an arrival? What kinds of players would be excited if a scout would show up in the next hour? Would the guy who came to practice half-drunk be happy? Not at all! Would the player who was in tip-top shape be happy? What might the beatitudes of hockey sound like? Blessed are those who practice regularly and are in tip-top shape, because the scout will notice them. Blessed are those who work the hardest on the team, because they’ll fit in with the NHL. If you only have a few hours before the scout shows up, there’d be plenty of players for whom this announcement would be bad news. The arrival of the scout is good news only to those who are prepared to impress the scouts and for those who will fit into the NHL.

Or think of hunting. Only hunters who have received permission from landowners will be joyful at the arrival of hunting season. Only those who have a habbit of following all the hunting rules will be at ease when the game warden shows up.

These analogies have some limitations. The hockey beatitudes I mentioned are habits and practices that you can cultivate, but it’s hard to know what it would mean to cultivate being poor in spirit, or being persecuted. You can’t just will yourself to be poor in spirit, or mournful. Jesus isn’t asking us to be mournful here. Now you could say that we can become better peacemakers, and that would be a good thing, but even here Jesus is not giving us a to-do list. The analogy with sports and hunting works on one important level. In each case, there’s a group of people that are going to be happy when the time of trial comes. In the gospel of Matthew, the time of trial is this in-breaking Kingdom of God. When that Kingdom comes, there’s a set of people who are going to be extremely happy about it – and Jesus gives us a list of who those people might be. Jesus announced the Kingdom’s arrival, and his miracles and his power testify that God’s Kingdom was at hand.

Our passage gives us some information about who Jesus was preaching to on that mountain. When he called his disciples, Jesus was being followed by large crowds; but when he got to the mountain, and he began climbing, it was only his disciples that followed him up. The crowds dwindled. Climbing a mountain isn’t easy business, and not everybody’s gone through hockey training camp. Only the most committed followers came up the mountain after Jesus, wanting to hear more and see his power transform their lives. The journey up the mountain separated the committed from the merely interested. In every age, including ours, there is a separation of those who will climb the mountain from those who are merely interested.

In Nazi German, it was the Confessing Church that was seperated-out from the crowds of the state-Church, they climbed into the miry pits of persecution, knowing that this is the place of the prophets. Yet Jesus says that the persecuted are happy, because as the Kingdom arrives, it will all be theirs.

Those who are poor, those who are persecuted, those who are broken and sad… they will be comforted and truly happy. Why? Because in the Kingdom of God everyone has enough to eat – For a poor person, this is reason to be extremely happy. It is beatitude. Now mind you, this same sermon in the gospel of Luke says “Woe to the rich?” This doesn’t mean that it’s a sin to be rich. But when the Kingdom of God shows up, and everyone finally has enough to eat… what excitement will the rich person have from this feast? The rich person has always had enough to eat, and so this aspect of God’s Kingdom won’t necessarily generate extreme happiness – the rich might find it difficult to experience beatitude because they already have a full belly, and they already have had a comfortable life.

Once in a while you’ll hear a preacher go on and on about how great the Kingdom of God will be, or how amazing heaven will be. I heard one fellow, with a Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies once go off on a tangent about the excitement of the future Kingdom. He talked about us being able to fly, or traveling at the speed of light. I found it quite amusing, but afterwards I got to thinking about what he said. I wondered why he felt the need to exagerate on the promises of scripture. Why make it sound so super-fantastical? Is this the only way to get affluent young adults excited about God’s Kingdom, about heaven? Perhaps just the simple fact of everybody having enough food won’t be all that exciting for the rich. Maybe that’s why Jesus gives them a warning.

Or I’ve heard preachers go on and on about the mansions that we’ll live in. Why mansions? What if the place that Jesus prepares for us is a standard apartment-sized dwelling? I’m sure there would be many a poor man, or homeless child, jumping for joy at such an amazing offer. But what about the folks who live in mansions now? What about suburbia? What about us?

In Luke’s version of this sermon we also read “Woe to those who laugh now.” This doesn’t mean that it’s bad to be joyful or happy – not at all. But it does mean that those who have it easy in this life, and those who are happy, may find the comforting aspect of the Kingdom of God not all that exciting. For those who have very little to cry about, the comforting embrace of God isn’t all that needed. This isn’t bad, but Jesus warns the happy – watch out. When the Kingdom shows up, pay attention to it, don’t ignore it; especially when there’s parts of the Kingdom that don’t really address your situation. Your not sad – and that’s great – but don’t lose interest just because a huge part of God’s Kingdom is about comforting the grieving, the depressed and the mournful. Blessed are those who mourn. Why? Because when the kingdom shows up, all tears will be wiped away. Those who are in the dark valley of depression and grief will jump for joy, because when the Kingdom comes God will pull away the dark clouds that shut out all the light of joy.

Peacemakers will be happy when the Kingdom comes. Why? Well because they’ll fit right in – into a Kingdom where enemies are reconciled, and where the Wolf and the Lamb eat from the same plate. In that day, people will say about peacemakers: “you look just like your dad”, like the apple that falls close to the tree. Those who love to gossip and slander won’t find the Kingdom of God all that appealing. Why? Because in God’s Kingdom we’re all on the same team and we’re cheering for one another. Even now, gossipers and slanderers should take note that this fellowship is heading in the opposite direction, so get on board and tame your tongues.

The beatitudes are not a prescription for right behavior. They are a description of those who will be extremely happy when the Kingdom shows up. Mennonite theologian John H. Yoder says it well in his book The Original Revolution.

“Jesus as well begins His moral revolution by announcing who it is that rejoice in its coming:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
Blessed are the meek,
Blessed are the merciful.”
Matthew 5:1-7, RSV

With our heritage of moral bargaining, whether Catholic or Protestant, we have been led to misunderstand the “Beatitudes” as a scheme of performances and rewards. Be meek: then your reward will be to inherit the earth. Be pure in heart: your reward will be the vision of God. This misunderstanding arises when we separate the Beatitudes from the annunciation of the new regime. One cannot simply, by making up his mind, set out to “mourn” or to “be persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Jesus is rather saying, “there are some who hunger and thirst after righteousness: good for them! For the kingdom is at hand and they shall be ffilled. There are those who make peace; good for them! For the kingdom is at hand and it will be known that they are sons of God.” Christendom is not a matter of earning a place in the kingdom, nor is it a simple blind obedience to directions. It is not doing what we feel like, nor computing how to achieve the best results. It is loving in such a way that, when the kingdom approaches, we find ourselves among those who are “at home,” who “fit” there, who are not out of place.”
Source: John H. Yoder, The Original Revolution (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1971), 39-40.


Being a Christian is not about earning a better place in the Kingdom. Climbing the mountain after Jesus isn’t about earning a place on Jesus’ team. Instead, the Kingdom of God is coming, and in some ways it is already among us. It is breaking-into our world and our lives even now. The Sermon on the Mount gives us a thick description of the kind of life that fits into this new reality. Even now, those who are mourning can grow in joy: let God’s Spirit comfort you. Even now, those of you who strive for peace in all relationships with neighbours and enemies – you are a testimony to God’s reconciling love.

If you wanted a to-do list from this passage this morning, I’m sorry I don’t have anything for you. That may come in the next four weeks. If you wanted a set of rules, do’s or don’ts… I apologize. But perhaps you’re interested in hearing more about what this Kingdom of God is like. Perhaps you already know a few of the ways in which God is fitting you into His picture. The point of the Sermon on the Mount is to invite us into a new life of radical love, so that when God’s Kingdom comes in its fullness we’ll be extremely happy, and… by God’s grace, we will fit right in.

The Holy Spirit is building you up as disciples – the Spirit is building us up together as a city on a hill. When the nations look to us, just as when the nations looked to the Confessing Church in Nazi Germany, they will say – Wow! What a blessed people! How can I get in on that beauty? How can I play for their coach? Jesus invites us into this Spirit-filled life, where we live as a foretaste of God’s Kingdom; so that when people see us they’ll catch a glimpse of what God is trying to do with all of Creation. They will catch a glimpse of a restored humanity, a reconciled Child of God, a redeemed friend of God.

May you find yourself filled with extreme joy on the day when God’s Kingdom arrives. May you be filled with such love today so that your neighbours will notice. And as God’s Kingdom breaks-into our neighborhood and community, may you be filled with beatitude, even now, as you live out your calling as agents of God’s Kingdom, His partners in a world that God is transforming with love and grace. Amen.