On one side of this list we've written down a number of groups of individuals, and on the other side we've written down what seem to be promises offered by God. Over the centuries, believers and followers of Christ have poured over this list and tried to understand the depth of what Jesus was teaching here and there is certainly a lot to learn and love in this list! The words on the right side seem to apply not only to promises that can be realized here and now (in this life), but also seem to describe the reality of a future life with God (in heaven). In fact, the list on the right could easily be seen as a beautiful description of heaven as a place where we will finally inherit all that the earth has to offer, be comforted and filled, be shown the mercy of God and finally see him face to face. The list begins and ends with a promise related to the 'kingdom of God' and while we certainly have access to this kingdom right now through our new life in Jesus Christ, we will have ultimate access to the Kingdom when we finally meet God in the next life.

Do This to Get This…So the list on the left has often been seen as a list of pre-requisites for God's blessing (which is then presented on the list on the right). In essence, many have read this list of blessings and surmised that the left list is a set of requirements to receive the blessings that are found on the right! You know, "do this" to "get this"! Be merciful so God will show you mercy. Be pure in heart so you can see God. Be a peacemaker so you can be called a Son of God, etc., etc. I think you get the idea.

Now, of course, there is a great deal of truth in some of this. That list on the left is a great list and God is greatly pleased when we engage in a life that honours these values. But is there something more than this simple truth that we are supposed to walk away with? What is the total truth of this part of Jesus' sermon? Are we simply supposed to do the stuff on the left to get the stuff on the right? After all, there are a couple of items on the list that seem strange!

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit?…Let's take a look at the first item. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Is Jesus talking about poor people here? If so, why did he add "in spirit" to the description? There seems to be something more. The poor i spirit could be described as those who have no spiritual interest or sensitivity. You know the type. Those people in school with you who don't even want to hear you start talking about the things of God. The people who run from spiritual discussions. The people who have only the simplest idea of what God could be like and really don't want to know anything more. But if Jesus is describing these kind of people, you have to wonder how it is that they too are offered the kingdom of God. After all, doesn't God call us to be just the opposite of 'poor in spirit'? Doesn't God call us to be spiritually mature?

Hebrews 6:1-2…Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn?…Then there's the second item on the list. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted". OK, it makes sense to me that God is more than able to comfort those who mourn, but if the 'beatitudes' are a "do this to get this" list, are we really supposed to seek 'mourning' as a virtue so that we can be blessed? Are we supposed to 'do this (mourn) so we can 'get this' (comfort)? Doesn't God tell us that we are to be filled with joy and peace?

Romans 15:13…May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted Because of Righteousness?…Like the first two items, we certainly do understand that God has blessed those who have been persecuted for the cause of Christ. But are we supposed to make sure that we put ourselves in a position of persecution so that we can receive this blessing? What if we go our entire lives without suffering persecution because of righteousness (my Christian grandfather never suffered persecution); are we sacrificing the blessing of God? Are we supposed to "do this" (seek persecution) to "get this" (the kingdom of heaven)? Doesn't God's Word tells us that God will actually supply us with victory, helping us to overcome the world and it's persecution?

1 John 5:3-4…This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

So What's Up Here?…There appears to be more than one level of truth in these words of Jesus. The beatitudes appear to be more than just a 'do this' to 'get this' list. Considering the way that Jesus reached out and healed EVERYONE who came to him and the way that he loved without condemnation (and offered this love to all, regardless of their ethnicity, social background or behavioral past), there appears to be another level of truth in Jesus' words.

The beatitudes are not simply a 'do this' to 'get this' list. The beatitudes are an 'even these' are 'offered this' list! That's right, God is making it clear that his promise in John 3:16 is truly offered to 'whoever'! The greatest offer ever made is made even to those who may be presently dispassionate about spiritual matters (the poor in spirit). The greatest offer ever made is made to those who are presently gripped in sadness and paralyzed by grief (those who mourn). The offer is made not only to those who have demonstrated an ability to do what is right, but even to those who have failed (or been unable) to do what is right. In spite of who we are or are able to be, God extends his GRACE and MERCY.

That's the Difference…And that, my friend, is what separates the God of Christianity from the gods of every other faith system. Jesus is trying to tell us something here, and if we respect him as a teacher and as God Himself, we ought to listen to his words. There is a total truth about the Christian Worldview, and this truth is very different than the truth claims of other faith systems.

All the world's religious belief systems believe that humans have the ability to work their way into God's presence through some set of good behaviors that they perform. Is this part of the Sermon on the Mount merely another religious 'to do' list? Clearly it is true that God blesses those who find themselves on the left side of the list, but it is also clear that several of the left side items cannot be objective goals we are to strive toward in order to be blessed! How can both truths be true? They are both true because there is a total truth claim in Christianity that is very different from the truth claims of other religious systems. All other faith systems proclaim a similar truth: you, as a simple human can control your eternal destiny through good worls that you perform. Stuff you do on the left side of the list to get what you hope for on the right side of the list. If you're a Jew, you obey the Ten Commandments. If you're Muslim, you obey the Five Pillars of Faith. If you're a Buddhist, you obey the implications of the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path. If you're a Baha'I, you must keep the Baha'i Law. If you're a Hindu, you must perform good deeds (Karma Yoga), work to attain a state of consciousness in meditation (Jnana Yoga), or perform acts of worship, temple rituals, and pilgrimages (Bhakti Yoga). If you're a Mormon, you obey the Ten Commandments of Judaism, every commandment of Jesus, and the teachings of all the Mormon Prophets!

These faith systems tell us over and over again, 'do this' to 'get this'! And all these worldviews are dependant on the thoughts or works of men. All these faith systems hope to unite believers to God through their own good works. Orthodox Christianity stands alone, in isolation, proclaiming the divine reality of GRACE (the undeserved free gift of salvation). The beatitudes are not another list of commandments. These are not a 'do this' to 'get this' list. They truly are an 'even these' are 'offered this' list. Jesus taught the simple truth that God is too powerful and too perfect to be impressed with good deeds. The religious life is not a set of DO's as described by the religions of the world. The total truth of the TURE God is what He's DONE for us on the cross. It's not what you can DO, it's what He's already DONE. Jesus taught that there is nothing you can do as a mere mortal to earn your way to heaven. Amazingly, God simply offers something that he has already done for you.

Can You Even See Him Any More?…God knows that we don't need another list of things to DO. He knows that we don't need another impossible set of standards. That's not what the beatitudes are supposed to be. Think about it for a minute. When we are focused on rules and behavior, where is our attention really placed? When we focus on the stuff that WE do, how much time is left over to be focused on the GOD who created us. The more we WORK, the more we center ourselves on our own achievement, and as a result, the less we center ourselves on the God who should really be the focus of our lives. Before long, we don't even see God anymore. All we see is our own achievement, our own ability to save ourselves. That's why Paul is so quick to warn us not to rely on our own good works:

Ephesians 2:8-9…For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith ├ö├ç├┤ and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God ├ö├ç├┤ not by works, so that no one can boast.

A Matter of Worldview…Remember that every system of thought, every view of the world, has to answer three questions. First, 'how did we get here?' Second, "how did everything get so messed up?' and third, 'how can we fix this mess?' In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is offering us an answer to the third question and it is a very different answer than the answer that is offered by the other faith systems. When asked, 'how can we fix this mess?' ('how can we be saved?'), the other faith systems simply answer, 'work more'! Christianity, on the other hand, says, 'TRUST more'! Trust in the God who is powerful enough to create everything we see, and powerful enough to bring us home. Trust in a powerful God who not impressed with the works of men. Trust in a powerful God who does not need our help. Trust in a powerful God who is fully able to get the job done on His own.

The Sermon on the Mount begins with a dual declaration of truth. First, Jesus tells us that God does truly bless those who obey his commands and love Him with all their hearts and minds. But the total truth is that God offers salvation and blessing to WHOEVER is willing to bow to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus offers salvation to us in spite of who we are or what we have done, and regardless of our good works.

The Others Share a Similar Flaw…If I placed the true Mona Lisa painting in a room along with copies that I painted myself, you would quickly realize that I am not an artist of the caliber of Leonardo Da Vinci. You would see immediately that there is only one true Mona Lisa, and all the rest of my paintings would differ from the original (even though they might share common characteristics as copies). You would be able to recognize the true painting; it would stand out from the rest. It would have the property of "singularity" which would mark it as true. And you would also recognize the fact that my paintings would be the obviously imperfect work of someone who is far less gifted than the inspired artist. One painting in the room would reflect the nature of a gifted artisan and creator, the rest would reflect the nature of an ordinary man, doing his best to copy the master. And so it is with the competing worldviews and religions of our day. All of them share a common misunderstanding. All of them share a common flaw. All would argue that your own efforts can somehow save you.

The Sermon on the Mount begins with a mixed list of both things we might strive for and conditions we might simply be suffering with. It begins with a list of people in the midst of victory and people in the midst of defeat. And all of them, regardless of who they are, have been offered the same blessing. The offer is made to all of us, in spite of who we are or what we are able to do. That is the definition of GRACE; a free gift that is offered to everyone, so that we might all be saved. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith ÔÇô and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God ÔÇô not by works, so that no one can boast." This GRACE is the distinctive truth of Christianity. A gift offered to all, if only they will receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The Rest of the Story…Now while that sure does sound like Good News to me, there are many who would argue that this distinctly Christian offer is harsh and limiting. They would call us 'intolerant' and judgmental for saying that there is a singular truth about the nature of God and Salvation. They would argue that all roads lead to Rome (and therefore all religious systems lead to God). To take a position like Jesus and say that the offer of Salvation is NOT dependant on your works, to say that there is only ONE truth about God and Salvation, is to set yourself up for criticism, especially in the pluralistic world in which we live. Get ready to get hammered. Jesus doesn't just leave us with the total truth; he also encourages us in light of what he knew we would have to endure:

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

The beatitudes finish with this word of encouragement and, in some ways, warning! We're not blessed IF we are challenged and demeaned for our positions related to truth and faith, we are blessed WHEN this happens to us! Clearly, God wants us to know that it's not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN! You WILL be called judgmental and intolerant for holding a worldview that claims to be OBJECTIVELY true! Christianity is not just true for me, it's true for everyone, even though they may not accept it at all!

But know that when this happens, when you are treated in this way, you begin to enter into a new relationship with Jesus Christ. You join him not only as a spiritual brother, but as a brother in arms. You begin to get just a glimpse of what he must have gone through on the cross. You begin to get just a glimpse of what he must have felt like as he underwent the ridicule and cruelty that accompanied his claim of total truth. And in so doing, you'll begin to enter into a relationship that will change your life:

Hebrews 2:10-11…In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Total Truth…So take heart. Jesus has something he wants you to know. It's total truth. Not opinion. Not limited to my personal belief or opinion. Not restricted to issues of faith. Not restricted to ancient history. It will often be a harsh truth that is difficult to live out each day. It may place you in a position of harsh judgment and criticism. But don't back down. Don't give in:

John 16:33…"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."