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What are the Beatitudes? (the "blessed are…" sayings that open the Sermon on the Mount)

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Short answer

The Beatitudes are the eight (or nine) "Blessed are…" sayings with which Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–Matthew 5:12). Each pairs a surprising blessing with a promise:

Jesus then widens the last one directly to His hearers: blessed are you when you are reviled and persecuted for my sake (Matthew 5:11; Matthew 5:12). The word translated "blessed" (Greek makarios) means something like deeply, well-off happy, a settled favor from God, not a passing mood.

Question

What are the Beatitudes? (the "blessed are…" sayings that open the Sermon on the Mount)

Analysis

A picture of the kingdom's people

The Beatitudes are not eight separate rules but a portrait of the kind of person who belongs to God's kingdom, and it runs against the world's scorecard. Those the world overlooks (the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek) are the ones Jesus calls blessed, and the promises are God's own doing: they will be comforted, satisfied, shown mercy, and shown God. The first and last blessings both promise "the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3; Matthew 5:10), bracketing the list and making the whole thing about who inherits that kingdom.

They open the Sermon on the Mount

The Beatitudes are the doorway into Jesus' longest block of teaching, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–Matthew 7), which goes on to the salt and light of the world, the deeper meaning of the commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and "seek first the kingdom of God." Luke records a shorter parallel on "a level place," with four blessings answered by four "woes" (Luke 6:20; Luke 6:24), the same reversal, stated from both sides.

Blessing, not a demand

Read closely, each line is an announcement of grace before it is anything to strive for: Jesus is describing where God's favor already rests. The traits, humility, mercy, purity, peacemaking, are what that favor grows in a person, not entry fees for it. That is why the Beatitudes are usually read as gospel (good news about God's kingdom) rather than a new law to pass or fail.

Sources, trace every one

Every cited verse, in full. Tap any reference to open it in the reader.

  • Matthew 5:3bsb

    “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  • Matthew 5:12bsb

    Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

  • Matthew 5:4bsb

    Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

  • Matthew 5:5bsb

    Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

  • Matthew 5:6bsb

    Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

  • Matthew 5:7bsb

    Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

  • Matthew 5:8bsb

    Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

  • Matthew 5:9bsb

    Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

  • Matthew 5:10bsb

    Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  • Matthew 5:11bsb

    Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

  • Luke 6:20bsb

    Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

  • Luke 6:24bsb

    But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

On contested questions we show every major view, attributed and cited, and pick no winner. Answers are synthesized from primary sources, truth you can trace, not opinion.

What are the Beatitudes? (the "blessed are…" sayings that open the Sermon on the Mount) · Bubble Bible