by Gary L. Evans
(revised 8/3/2023)
The Lord’s Blessings — Part 1
Mat 5:1-3 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The word “blessed” is from the Greek “mak-ar’-ee-os” which means “supremely blest; by extension fortunate, well off,” that is, happy.
The phrase “poor in spirit” implies “praying from the heart,” because the word “poor” is from “pto-khos'” which means “a beggar (as cringing).” It does not mean destitute in the literal sense, but instead is an attribute of the spirit or mind.
These are the humble before The Lord, and these will inherit The Kingdom of Heaven.
What is the opposite of those who are humble? Those who are arrogant, so they are not included in our Lord’s blessing and they will not inherit The Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
The word “mourn” is from the Greek “pen-theh’-o” which means “to grieve (the feeling or the act).”
The word “comforted” is from “par-ak-al-eh’-o” which means “to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation).”
These will be called and invited to come to The Lord.
What is the opposite of those who are grieving? Those who are rejoicing, so they are not included in our Lord’s blessing and they will not be invited to come to The Lord.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
The word “meek” is from “prah-ooce'” which means “mild, that is, (by implication) humble.”
The earth remains forever, and these will inherit the earth for The Eternity.
Ecc 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
The earth remains forever, and our Lord will return to establish His Kingdom here on earth. He will reign for one thousand years as King of kings and Lord of lords. Then will be The Great White Throne Judgment when those who continue to be wicked to the end will be cast into The Lake of Fire and cease to exist, but those who overcome the deception of Satan at the end of The Millennium will receive Eternal Life and inherit the earth along with those who have already inherited at The First Resurrection.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
The word “righteousness” is from “dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay” and means “equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification.”
God’s Law illustrates His Divine Character and points the way to righteousness. Those who “hunger and thirst” to learn how to be righteous in imitation of our Father’s Character will be filled, that is, satisfied.
When anyone enters into The New Covenant, God gives them a new heart and a new mind, the Heart and Mind of Christ Jesus, The Holy Spirit. They become a new creature in the image of The Only Begotten Son of God, and begin to cry to The Father, “Daddy, Daddy!” And they have an insatiable desire to study to learn the understanding of our Father’s Word, which is like “milk” to them.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
The word “merciful” is from “el-eh-ay’-mone” which means “compassionate (actively)”
These will in turn receive mercy themselves, because they have shown mercy to others.
Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Our Father never desired animal sacrifices. These were only shadowy examples of what He truly desired, which is our love for Him for all of the blessings He has given to us. With few exceptions, the people ate of the sacrifices at The Temple. Temple services were religious festivals. Our Father desires that we love our neighbor as our self, and to be merciful to others, and for us to seek the understanding of His Word.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
The Lord’s Blessings — Part 2
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
The word “pure” is from “kath-ar-os'” and means “clean (literally or figuratively).”
And the word “heart” is from “kar-dee’-ah” and means “the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle.”
The word “see” is from “op-tan’-om-ahee” and means “to gaze (that is, with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable).”
So those who have clean minds will gaze with wide open eyes upon God Most High.
What is the opposite of clean? Those who have filthy minds, and they will not be permitted to look upon The Glory of The Lord.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
The word “peacemakers” is from “i-ray-nop-oy-os'” and means “pacificatory, that is, (subjectively) peaceable.”
The word “children” is from “hwee-os'” and means “a ‘son’ (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figurative kinship.”
So those who are peaceable and who try to make peace among people will be called the sons (children) of God Most High.
Heb 7:1-3 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Our Lord has come after the order of Melchisedec, The King of Peace, and therefore we must also seek to make peace, so that we can also be called peacemakers. These are God’s Children.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The word “persecuted” is from “dee-o’-ko” which means “to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication to persecute.”
The wicked hate God and hate God’s Law and do everything they can to defame our Lord and to turn people away from His Law of Liberty. They persecute anyone who begins to believe in Christ Jesus and who begins to study God’s Word in an attempt to turn them away from The Truth. But those who truly believe and who endure persecution will enter The Kingdom of Heaven.
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Jesus taught that because we believe in Him, we are not of this world, and that those who do not believe will hate us.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Jesus taught that since the people of this wicked world persecuted Him, they will also persecute us who believe in Him. What is our reward for enduring persecution? The Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Our Lord emphasizes the precept He just taught in verse 10, by expounding persecution to include “false evil speaking against us,” which is simply the bearing of false witness. And why will they persecute us? For The Lord’s Name’s sake, because they also persecuted (and killed) the prophets in old time. And He says be very happy when these things happen to you, because you have a great reward stored up for you in Heaven.
It does seem rather backward, that we should be happy when other people in this world hate us for no reason. That hurts. But note that they hate us for no reason, not that we have wronged them. When they persecute us, we should consider that what is happening is the fulfillment of our Lord’s Prophecy in our own lives, and let that realization give us consolation.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
The Lord’s Blessings — Part 3
Deu 28:1-2 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
The word “blessings” is from the Hebrew “ber-aw-kaw'” and means “benediction; by implication prosperity.”
The first promise for obedience is that we will be set above all nations on earth.
Deu 28:3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
We will be happy dwelling in our cities and we will be happy as farmers and ranchers in the country-side.
Deu 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Our children will make us happy, as will also the grains and produce from the ground, and the offspring of our cattle and oxen and sheep.
Deu 28:5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
We will be happy from the abundant food we grow and store for the winter, and from the many cattle and sheep that we accumulate.
Deu 28:6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
We will be happy when we walk into our house and happy when we walk out of our house.
Note that all of our Lord’s Blessings are conditional in both The New Testament and in The Old Testament. If we meet the specified conditions, then we will be made happy by The Lord’s promises. Therefore, it is most important that we meet His conditions to the best of our abilities, and then pray diligently that our Father help us by making up the difference when we fall short, because we will, and because He will help us if we sincerely try.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
The Lord’s Blessings — Part 4
Deu 28:7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
The Lord makes us invincible in war, because He fights our battles for us.
Deu 28:8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
The Lord gives us the good land to dwell in, and gives us abundance of food that we can store up for the winter, and success in all that we do.
Deu 28:9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
The word “holy” is from the Hebrew “kaw-doshe'” and means “sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary.”
Therefore The Lord will establish us as His Sacred People, even a Nation of Saints, because we keep His commandments and adhere to His teachings.
Deu 28:10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
All of the Gentiles will see that The Most High has given us His Name, and they will be very afraid of us.
Deu 28:11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
The Lord will insure that we are wealthy, and that our children are healthy and strong, and our cattle and crops are abundant, while we dwell safely in The Promised Land.
Deu 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
The Lord will give us an abundance of all good things, rain in due season, and success in all of our work and endeavors. We will be the bankers and lend unto many other people, but we will not need to borrow anything.
Deu 28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
The Lord will make us the rulers of other nations, and they will be submissive. We will be above them and they will be beneath us. Because we learn and obey God’s Commandments, Laws, and Statutes.
Deu 28:14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
We must never turn to the right or to the left, but go straight ahead in our diligent obedience of God’s Law, which points the way to Eternal Life.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.