"Blessed are the poor in spirit ... they that mourn ... the meek ... they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness ... the merciful ... the pure in heart ... the peacemakers ... they which are persecuted ... Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven ..." Matthew 5:1-12
"Blessed" here literally means "happy, fortunate, & blissful", the divinely bestowed well-being that belongs only to the faithful. The way to heavenly blessing is the opposite of the way to worldly pursuit of happiness which is found in riches, merriment, abundance, leisure, and such things (MacArthur).
Blessed are the people who possess godly characteristics. Those with a penitent spirit, mild-tempered, gentle spirit, thirsting for righteousness, compassionate and merciful spirit, the spirit of mediation, long-suffering and forgiving spirit. These characteristics are God-given and are evidence of the indwelling of The Holy Spirit within the Christian.
We will be blessed for exhibiting these Godly attitudes and characteristics while we are here on earth living in a world that behaves totally differently.
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