The Sermon on the Mount opens with the beatitudes—eight statements beginning with the word blessed. This word affirms a state of blessing that already exists. Each beatitude declares that a group of people usually regarded as afflicted is actually blessed. Those blessed do not have to do anything to attain this blessing. Jesus simply declares that they have already been blessed. Thus the beatitudes are first of all declarations of God's grace. They are not conditions of salvation or roadmaps to earn entry to God's kingdom. A further grace of the beatitudes is that they bless God's community, not just God's individuals. By following Jesus, we become blessed members of the kingdom community, even though our character is not yet formed in God's likeness.The Sermon on the Mount opens with the beatitudes—eight statements beginning with the word blessed. This word affirms a state of blessing that already exists. Each beatitude declares that a group of people usually regarded as afflicted is actually blessed. Those blessed do not have to do anything to attain this blessing. Jesus simply declares that they have already been blessed. Thus the beatitudes are first of all declarations of God's grace. They are not conditions of salvation or roadmaps to earn entry to God's kingdom. A further grace of the beatitudes is that they bless God's community, not just God's individuals. By following Jesus, we become blessed members of the kingdom community, even though our character is not yet formed in God's likeness.
