#36 The
Beatitudes
Please first read: Matthew 5; JST Matthew 5;
3 Nephi 12
In the
Beatitudes we have the very heart of the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
“Each of
the Beatitudes represents a specific step in our orderly progression towards
perfection. The Bible concludes the chapter on the Beatitudes with the
words, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is heaven is
perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) (Elder
Royden G. Derrick, General Conference April 1977)
Prophet
Harold B. Lee:
Peter,
James and John had recently returned to Peter’s home from the experience of
being with the Savior on the Mount of Transfiguration. The Twelve now pose
a question to Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus
“called a little child to him, probably one of Peter’s children, and sat the
child in the midst of them and then took it in his arms and said: “Verily I say
unto you, except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not
enter the kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as
this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4) President Lee expands on this theme and
then addresses four of the Beatitudes that have to do with our individual selves,
the living of our own personal lives, if we would be perfect and have the
blessedness of inward joy.
Blessed
are the Poor in Spirit. To be poor in spirit is to feel yourselves as
the spiritually needy, ever dependent upon the Lord for your clothes,
your food, and the air you breath, your health, your life; realizing that
no day should pass without fervent prayer of thanksgiving, for guidance and
forgiveness and strength sufficient for each day’s need.
Blessed
are they that Mourn. To mourn, as the Master’s lesson here would teach,
one must show that “godly sorrow that worketh repentance” and wins for the
penitent a forgiveness of sins and forbids a return to the deed of which he
mourns. You must be willing to mourn with those that mourn, and comfort
those that stand in need of comfort. (Mosiah 18:8-9)
Blesses
are they that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness. Did you
ever hunger for food or thirst for water when just a crust of stale bread or a
sip of tepid water to ease the pangs that distressed you would seem to be the
most prized of all possessions? If you have then you have
begun to understand how the Master meant we should hunger and thirst after
righteousness.
Blessed
are the Pure in Heart. If you would see God, you must be Pure. There is in
Jewish writings the story of a man who saw an object in the distance that he
thought was a beast. As it drew nearer he saw it was man. As the man
got closer he saw it was his friend. You can see only that which you have
eyes to see. Many saw Jesus only as the son of a carpenter. Only the
righteous saw him as the Son of God. Only if we are the pure in heart will
we see God.
President
Lee then addresses the remaining four Beatitudes:
In order
to gain entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven we must not only be good, but we
are required to do good, and be good for something. These four have to do
with our social relations with others. There are goals we need to set and
strive to achieve as part of the plan of the Master’s Constitution for a
Perfect Life.
Blessed
are the Meek. Who are not easily provoked or irritated and are
fore-bearing under injury or annoyance. They are strong, capable of
self-mastery and maintain the courage of their moral convictions. While
doing so they remain humble-minded and slow to anger. (Proverbs 16:32)
Blessed
are the Merciful. Our salvation rests upon the mercy we show to
others. Unkind and cruel words, or other acts of cruelty towards man or
beast disqualify our claims for mercy in the day of judgement. Blessed are
all who are merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed
are the Peacemakers. They shall be called the Children of God. The
troublemaker, the leader of the mob, the
law-breaker, all are prompted by motives of evil and unless they
desist will be known as the children of Satan rather than God. Withhold
yourselves from him who would cause disquieting doubts by making light of
sacred things, for he seeks not for peace but to spread confusion. That
one who is quarrelsome or contentious and whose arguments are for other purposes
than to resolve the truth, is violating a fundamental principle laid down by
the Master that is essential in the building of a full rich life. “Peace
and goodwill on earth” was the angel’s song that heralded the birth of the
Prince of Peace.
Blessed
are they which are Persecuted for Righteousness sake. To be persecuted in
such a great cause where truth and virtue and honor are at stake is
God-like. Always there have been martyrs to every great cause. The
harm that may come from persecution is not from the persecution itself, but
from the possible effect it may have upon the one persecuted. They may
thereby be deterred in their zeal for the rightness of their cause. Much
of that persecution comes from a lack of understanding, for men are prone to oppose
that which they do not comprehend. Some of it comes from man’s intent upon
evil. But whatever the cause, persecution seems to be so universal against
those engaged in a righteous cause that the Master warns us: “Woe unto you
when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the
false prophets.”
Glenn R.
McGettigan
February
2015
References:
General
Conference. April 1977. Derrick
“The Constitution for a
Perfect Life.” Lee
