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Who Does God Promise To Bless With His Covenant Promises?
Jesus speaking to His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount listed those whom God promises to bless with His covenant promises. You might feel disqualified to receive blessings from God. You might feel like you don’t know enough or haven’t done enough.
The good news is that while man looks at the outer appearance, God looks at the heart. If your heart is sincere and you want a better relationship with God, you can have it!
This is what the Sermon on the Mount is all about: Jesus was reminding His disciples that the heart of a person matters to God. And when someone’s heart is toward God and others, He blesses them!
Let’s examine these groups of people from Matthew 5 and endeavor to be among these mentions.
The Poor
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” (Matthew 5:3).
Jesus said the poor are blessed. This wasn’t a note about poverty. “The poor,” as noted during the Sermon on the Mount, are those who recognize their need for a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When they reach out to Jesus, they are blessed. The greatest blessing anyone could receive is to be part of the kingdom of heaven and receive God’s covenant promises.
Those Who Mourn
“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).
Jesus said that God would bless those who mourn by comforting them. When you have lost something or someone, you come face to face with the truth of your need for God. The most excellent comfort you can receive is knowing that God deeply loves and cares about you. He has a plan to anoint your soul with a healing salve, the oil of gladness (Hebrews 1:9, NKJV).
The Humble
“God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth” (Matthew 5:5).
According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition, the word humble means “marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.” Jesus said that if you are humble and meek, your pride won’t get in the way, and you can receive God’s covenant promises and inherit the whole earth.
Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Justice
“God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).
In this reference, Jesus was speaking about those who search for God will be satisfied. They will know God in this life if they continue to seek Him. The more of God you know, the more you will want to know Him. God is pleased when you hunger and thirst for Him.
The Merciful
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
Jesus promises you will receive mercy, not just from people, but also from God. Remember, you were a sinner, but God showed you mercy. He forgives you for all your sin, rebellion, and miserable attitude toward Him, and cleanses you from all wickedness (1 John 1:9). Then He provides you with His covenant promises of blessing.
Those With Pure Hearts
“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).
What does it mean to have a pure heart? David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:10-11). Those who draw near to God and spend time with Him enjoy God’s presence in their daily lives. David did it with purpose, and now he is defined by his relationship with God.
Peacemakers
“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
The word peace is usually thought of as “tranquility.” However, the English word “peace” is derived from the Hebrew word “shalom,” which can mean “wholeness of life or body (health); harmony between two parties; prosperity, success or fulfillment; and victory over one’s enemies or war.”
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that you can’t successfully work to be complete, whole, healthy, in harmony with others and prosperous without being a child of God.
Those Who Are Persecuted
“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” (Matthew 5:10).
We don’t like to think about persecution in any form, and it certainly seems unfair to suffer for doing right. Rejection, verbal abuse, jail, prison, beatings, and even death were the fates of many of the followers of Jesus Christ. Yet, they endured, just like Jesus did.
Jesus looked forward with joy to the glory set before Him as He endured the pain and the shame of crucifixion. Jesus suffered the punishment in hell, and He rose victorious over death itself to be seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, now preparing a place for you to be with Him (John 14:2).
Be among those who are blessed and receive God’s covenant promises by believing what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount and applying the Word of God to your life. You can enjoy peace and prosperity in your life, enjoying the blessing of God and being a blessing to others!
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