BibleProject Guides
The Beatitudes
Two thousand years ago, on the eastern side of the Mediterranean, a teacher named Jesus of Nazareth climbed a hillside and started teaching people about the Kingdom of the skies—the renewed world God had long promised. For largely poor, oppressed Galilean farmers and laborers, this was good news.
In this guide, you can learn all about the sermon’s introductory section and explore related videos, podcast episodes, and more.
The Beatitudes
6:34 • Sermon on the Mount
Context
The Beatitudes introduce Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which is found in the Gospel of Matthew. The events described in Matthew take place in Jerusalem, Judea, and the surrounding occupied lands of the Greco-Roman Empire between 10 B.C.E. and 40 C.E. The book was likely composed between 50 and 90 C.E.
Literary Styles
The Beatitudes, and the Sermon on the Mount as a whole, are written in the literary style of prose discourse.
Key Themes
- Human affection and action in the Kingdom of God
- The humble, generous, and non-violent character of Kingdom people
- The cost and reward of following Jesus
Structure
The Beatitudes includes nine sayings from Jesus about the hearts and actions of people living out his Kingdom reality. These statements are grouped into three triads, concluding with three images: salt, light, and a city on a hill.
Jesus Introduces the Kingdom of the Skies
The crowd listening to Jesus had been suffering under the Roman Empire’s greed and violence for many years. And they were longing for a new kind of empire, God’s heavenly Kingdom in the skies, to become real on Earth. And though this crowd was made up of those societies deemed unimportant, Jesus said that his Kingdom would begin with them and their willingness to choose love. He began his Sermon on the Mount with these words:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of the skies.”
Jesus uses the phrase “Kingdom of the skies” to talk about a new kind of reality. We live in a world of violence and corruption—a world where might makes right. But for Jesus, there is a realm where generosity reigns, where there’s justice and peace, and where love is the final word.
And that world might as well be up in the skies. It’s beyond us. God’s heavenly reality can seem far off. But Jesus claimed that Heaven was coming to Earth here and now, beginning with these people.
Grieving and Unimportant People Know the Good Life
Next, Jesus says to the crowd:
“Blessed are those who grieve,
for they will be comforted.”
This group is at the bottom of society, and they know all about loss and grief. But Jesus said this coming reality would turn sorrow into joy.
“Blessed are the unimportant,
for they will inherit the land.”
These people are not powerful or important, at least from the world’s perspective. But despite this, Jesus tells them that one day, they will be ruling the world. This kind of language almost sounds like Jesus is trying to start a revolution. And that’s because he is. But it’s a Jesus-style revolution—not a violent grab for power and influence but a new way of life ushered in by people who serve, forgive, and love others because they long for right relationships.
The Merciful and Pure in Heart Peacemakers
Jesus continues to describe these Kingdom people when he says:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.”
Just imagine it: a group of powerless people at the margins of society, ruling the world through generosity, forgiveness, and justice. This is what a Jesus-style revolution looks like. The next thing Jesus says is:
“Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.”
Doing good without mixed motives can feel impossible. Even our best choices can come from poor motivations. But Jesus says that the good, blessed life belongs to those who love with pure intentions, as God does. This is at the heart of experiencing God’s blessing and true peace.
When we are compelled to love because of love itself rather than personal gain, we can experience the blessing of good life. This is a radical calling already, and Jesus makes it more radical by what he says next.
“Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.”
God’s new reality requires people who are willing to stop fighting with their enemies and start seeking good in the world. Kingdom people are those willing to help resolve conflict with love and patience and urge those around them to create a way toward peace.
Persecuted Peacemakers Like Israel's Prophets
Jesus acknowledges that life as a peacemaker can be dangerous when he says:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of the skies.”
Entering into conflicts and advocating for peace is not a comfortable way to live. And Jesus names the high cost of joining this peace-making revolution.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you
and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward in the skies is great,
for they persecuted the prophets
who were before you in the same way.”
What does Jesus mean by “the prophets before you”? He and most of his audience are Israelites who know the Hebrew Scriptures well. And in the Scriptures, God promised that his Kingdom would be restored over all the world through Israel. With this comparison, Jesus is telling his audience that they will suffer a fate similar to the Hebrew prophets—abused, rejected, and often killed.
As the story goes on, Israel becomes as corrupt and violent as everyone else, and they end up enslaved to oppressive nations. But Israel’s prophets stood up to these kingdoms and criticized their corruption, even calling out their own wayward leaders. The prophets said that one day, God’s heavenly Kingdom would break in, starting with a small group of faithful Israelites willing to surrender the desire to destroy their enemies and embrace love instead. These people would turn to God and trust that his way of life is truly good.
Now on that day, the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will no longer rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.
For though your people, Israel, may be like the sand of the sea,
only a remnant within them will return;
A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.
But I will leave among you
A humble and lowly people,
And they will take refuge in the name of the Lord.
The remnant of Israel will do no wrong
And tell no lies,
Nor will a deceitful tongue
Be found in their mouths;
For they will feed and lie down
With no one to frighten them.
Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened attentively and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord and esteem his name. “And they will be mine,” says the Lord of armies, “on the day that I prepare my own possession, and I will have compassion for them just as a man has compassion for his own son who serves him.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus invites the crowd to follow in the way of these prophets by embracing truth and love for others in the patient, bold, and good ways of God.
The Salt, Light, and City
Jesus concludes the Beatitudes with three images from Israel’s Scriptures. The first is:
“You are the salt of the land.”
Salt is a mineral that preserves food for a long time. And in the Bible, salt is a symbol of God’s long-lasting covenant with Israel.
Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God will not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you as a permanent allotment. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the Lord to you and your descendants with you.”
“Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?”
Jesus is saying that he and this ragtag group will become the launch party of God’s long-lasting, ancient promises to renew the world. And then he says:
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden;”
Here, Jesus is referring to the biblical image of God’s light, his presence shining out from its dwelling place in the temple in Jerusalem, which was a city on a hill. But Jesus’ audience aren’t rulers or people with power, and they’re a long way from Jerusalem. But Jesus says that despite this, they are God’s salt and light and city. They are the blessed ones, the new Jerusalem that’s going to display God’s Kingdom to all the world.
The Big Idea
The Kingdom of the skies represents a new kind of society where generosity, justice, and peace reign. It's a world where love is the final word.
Videos
Watch our second Sermon on the Mount video and its related visual commentaries.
Podcasts
Listen to these episodes on the Beatitudes from our Sermon on the Mount podcast series.
More Resources
Find BibleProject articles as well as books recommended by our scholar team.
Articles
Books
BOOK
Sermon on the Mount (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
BOOK
The Cost of Discipleship
BOOK
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
BOOK
Matthew 1-7: Volume 1 (International Critical Commentary)
BOOK
The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary
BOOK
The Gospel According to Matthew (The Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC)
BOOK
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)
