Here are some synonyms for the word blessed:
(They can help us today to understand more of what Jesus was teaching us)
Holy Sacred Sanctified Hallowed Consecrated Set Apart Happy Exalted
Seven Beatitudes
1. 'How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of heaven is theirs.' (Matthew 5:3)
Explanation: For a person to be "poor in spirit" means for a person to totally depend/rely on God; it means being humble and therefore, this humbleness helps people to understand that every single thing we have (both spiritual and physical) come from God; we are relying on God for it. When a person is "poor in spirit", they are available and ready for God's will; because the person is humble, they are able to do His will. They are blessed: they can experience heaven on earth and they are one step closer to being in heaven after death. In our contemporary society, this means understanding that without God, we wouldn't be here. We rely on God for everything that we need help with and try the best to follow what we were taught.
2. 'Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.' (Matthew 5:4)
Explanation: In this Beatitude "gentle" means to be modest, humble and unchallenging. Jesus calls us to do this instead of getting annoyed, distrustful or getting cross with others. Today we face many challenges, and this Beatitude calls us to be "gentle" even in times of great trial. It calls us to control ourselves and to not fight Jesus and His will, but rather, obedient. By doing this, we are able to experience peace both now and in heaven. Today, we can be modest, humble and unchallenging with every single person that we meet. You may even need to stop and think when you meet someone and choose to love them.
3. 'Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.' (Matthew 5:5)
Explanation: To "mourn": this means to feel unhappy about sin and what it does to people and themselves. So those that "mourn" and feel sad about sin and what it does want to be with God and experience His goodness. While becoming closer to God, they are consoled and supported by Him. By mourning, they will want to do better next time and therefore are strengthened to not sin again.
4. 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have there fill.' (Matthew 5:6)
Explanation: To "hunger and thirst" for something means to yearn for nourishment of some sort. To fulfil this Beatitude, a person must take/recieve God's guidance (which can be done by doing something as simple as praying). They need to yearn for "moral perfection" (http://www.jesuschristsavior.net/Beatitudes.html) by discovering God's teachings and following them. Jesus wants us to do this and by doing this, we will receive the goodness of God and His grace.
5. 'Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.' (Matthew 5:7)
Explanation: To be "merciful" means to forgive whenever forgiveness is needed and to love our neighbours whenever they are also in need. We are called to show this love and forgiveness to everyone around us, and even our foes. This enables us to feel God's forgiveness and love from those around us and from God. It is showing complete love towards others, bringing peace to you and those around you. Jesus is in everyone and so it is important that we love and forgive everyone: what we do to others we do to Jesus.
6. 'Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.' (Matthew 5:8)
Explanation: Jesus is asking us to make the key point of our lives about God's will for you and its completion. It asks for Christians to live life, following what Jesus taught. To be "pure in heart" means to not have self-centred goals or wishes and therefore, we are able to follow Jesus 'teachings even more. To live according to Jesus' means you will need to ask God for forgiveness and strength to try again. Then, we will be able to experience God individually. Having these acts of unselfishness can bring great joy and happiness.
7. 'Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God.' (Matthew 5:9)
Explanation: Here, Jesus asks us to love others, doing whatever they can for them when they are in need. Jesus asks us to bring peace to others by rectifying pressures between others: bringing God's peace to them. Those that do this are recognised as good people and one with God. God will know that they have done good. They are living how God lives and are therefore "God's children". It asks us to be peaceful ourselves so that we can share that peace with others.
(They can help us today to understand more of what Jesus was teaching us)
Holy Sacred Sanctified Hallowed Consecrated Set Apart Happy Exalted
Seven Beatitudes
1. 'How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of heaven is theirs.' (Matthew 5:3)
Explanation: For a person to be "poor in spirit" means for a person to totally depend/rely on God; it means being humble and therefore, this humbleness helps people to understand that every single thing we have (both spiritual and physical) come from God; we are relying on God for it. When a person is "poor in spirit", they are available and ready for God's will; because the person is humble, they are able to do His will. They are blessed: they can experience heaven on earth and they are one step closer to being in heaven after death. In our contemporary society, this means understanding that without God, we wouldn't be here. We rely on God for everything that we need help with and try the best to follow what we were taught.
2. 'Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.' (Matthew 5:4)
Explanation: In this Beatitude "gentle" means to be modest, humble and unchallenging. Jesus calls us to do this instead of getting annoyed, distrustful or getting cross with others. Today we face many challenges, and this Beatitude calls us to be "gentle" even in times of great trial. It calls us to control ourselves and to not fight Jesus and His will, but rather, obedient. By doing this, we are able to experience peace both now and in heaven. Today, we can be modest, humble and unchallenging with every single person that we meet. You may even need to stop and think when you meet someone and choose to love them.
3. 'Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.' (Matthew 5:5)
Explanation: To "mourn": this means to feel unhappy about sin and what it does to people and themselves. So those that "mourn" and feel sad about sin and what it does want to be with God and experience His goodness. While becoming closer to God, they are consoled and supported by Him. By mourning, they will want to do better next time and therefore are strengthened to not sin again.
4. 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have there fill.' (Matthew 5:6)
Explanation: To "hunger and thirst" for something means to yearn for nourishment of some sort. To fulfil this Beatitude, a person must take/recieve God's guidance (which can be done by doing something as simple as praying). They need to yearn for "moral perfection" (http://www.jesuschristsavior.net/Beatitudes.html) by discovering God's teachings and following them. Jesus wants us to do this and by doing this, we will receive the goodness of God and His grace.
5. 'Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.' (Matthew 5:7)
Explanation: To be "merciful" means to forgive whenever forgiveness is needed and to love our neighbours whenever they are also in need. We are called to show this love and forgiveness to everyone around us, and even our foes. This enables us to feel God's forgiveness and love from those around us and from God. It is showing complete love towards others, bringing peace to you and those around you. Jesus is in everyone and so it is important that we love and forgive everyone: what we do to others we do to Jesus.
6. 'Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.' (Matthew 5:8)
Explanation: Jesus is asking us to make the key point of our lives about God's will for you and its completion. It asks for Christians to live life, following what Jesus taught. To be "pure in heart" means to not have self-centred goals or wishes and therefore, we are able to follow Jesus 'teachings even more. To live according to Jesus' means you will need to ask God for forgiveness and strength to try again. Then, we will be able to experience God individually. Having these acts of unselfishness can bring great joy and happiness.
7. 'Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God.' (Matthew 5:9)
Explanation: Here, Jesus asks us to love others, doing whatever they can for them when they are in need. Jesus asks us to bring peace to others by rectifying pressures between others: bringing God's peace to them. Those that do this are recognised as good people and one with God. God will know that they have done good. They are living how God lives and are therefore "God's children". It asks us to be peaceful ourselves so that we can share that peace with others.