Knowing the Word in Luke 6:20-23, The Beatitudes

Jesus addresses the words of the Beatitudes to his disciples. In blessing the poor, Jesus is not blessing poverty. He is blessing his disciples who are poor and without resource. They rely on God and will need to continue relying on him. Rich people tend to be self-reliant, not so the poor, so they can enter the kingdom now. Those who are hungry hunger for righteousness not food. Those who weep refers to people sensitive to evil and the world’s rebellion against God. Jesus also blessed those who experience persecution for they have attached themselves to Jesus.

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

Prayer: Cleanse our minds, O Lord, we beseech thee, of all anxious thoughts for ourselves, that we may learn not to trust in the abundance of what we have, save as tokens of thy goodness and grace, but that we may commit ourselves in faith to thy keeping, and devote all our energy of soul, mins, and body to the work of thy kingdom and the furthering of the purposes of thy divine righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Euchologium Anglicanum