Introduction
• In the Beatitudes found in The Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus teaches us some of the qualities of life in the Kingdom of God. But what if those qualities aren’t just a list? What if they are a roadmap for spiritual growth? When we see the progression, purpose, and path of the Beatitudes we find a journey that begins with emptiness and brokenness and ends with and eternal purpose.
• I’m Brent, and this is episode 42 of The Bible Unplugged. We conclude our series on The Beatitudes of Jesus where we find a path for our spiritual growth.
• Please take a minute to visit the show notes for this episode at PowerLoveandMiracles.com under the Podcast tab.
The Beatitudes aren’t Random
• When we read the Beatitudes individually, they may seem disconnected and random. When you step back and look at them as a whole you see a progression.
• Jesus describes the progressive transformation of the human soul. They aren’t rules to follow, they present the character God develops in citizens of His kingdom.
• Here’s a summary of the meaning of the Beatitudes:
• Progress starts when we recognize our need for God.
• We grieve the brokenness we see in ourselves and in our world.
• We surrender control and power to God.
• God instills in us an intense craving for God’s justice in the world.
• We show compassion to those who have met injustice and cruelty.
• Our inner lives become clean and undivided.
• We help bring others to God and away from spiritual conflict.
• As a result of all this, we may endure rejection for living out this life, but God has blessings in store for us when we do.
• We see that this is not a list of random virtues. It’s a spiritual staircase.
The Beatitudes as a Map
• Let me give you three of my observations about the Beatitudes as a pathway to spiritual growth.
• Spiritual Formation:
• The Beatitudes are sequential. You don’t become a peacemaker before you have shown and received mercy. You don’t feel a deep craving for righteousness until you’ve grieved your own spiritual emptiness.
• The qualities of kingdom citizenship are both descriptive and prescriptive. They show us what God blesses and they show us the way to grow closer to God.
• A New Mount Sinai
• Just as Moses received the Law from God on Mount Sinai, Jesus is on a mountain giving the disciples and his other followers a new understanding of how we should live.
• Moses received laws carved in stone. Jesus gives us blessings engraved on our hearts.
• In Exodus, the Ten Commandments shaped the behavior of God’s people. In Matthew chapter 5, the Beatitudes shape the character of His people.
• This is a new covenant lifestyle. A revolution of love, humility, and holiness.
• Echoes of Isaiah 61
• Isaiah chapter 61 includes a passage that will be familiar to those who have read the Gospel of Luke. That chapter reads in part, “The Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor... to bind up the brokenhearted... to comfort all who mourn… to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”
• Jesus quotes this passage in Luke chapter 4 to announce His mission to the world. What Jesus presents in the Beatitudes is the unfolding and progression of His mission and ours as well.
What Do We Learn from This?
• The Beatitudes are not a list of “nice ideas.” They are a spiritual blueprint for a blessed life. These qualities go against common culture and may cause some backlash against use.
• They begin and end with the mission to proclaim freedom and grace to those who need to know God.
• We find that the blessings of God are not about worldly success, but spiritual depth.
• And, Jesus is forming a new kind of people who are meek warriors, merciful prophets, and joyful sufferers.
What Do We Do with This?
• Reflect on where you are on the journey of the Beatitudes. What qualities do you see in your life and how can you demonstrate Kingdom citizenship to those who are hurting?
• Pick one Beatitude you need to live out more intentionally this week. Maybe it’s mercy, or perhaps it’s peacemaking. You might even experience the need to rejoice in rejection. Ask God to develop the characteristics in you that Jesus laid out for us.
• I challenge you to live in the pathway Jesus gave us. Let the Beatitudes guide your prayers, shape your relationships, and fuel your purpose.
The conclusion
• And yes, the music means my time’s up for this episode. But I’ll be back with more next time.
• I hope this has been helpful. If so, take a second to give this podcast a high rating and share it with someone who feels the weight of the world as they strive to live for God.
• In the next episode, we will conclude this series by examining the Beatitudes as a spiritual map. God has blessings in store for us as we follow the path of spiritual transformation and live out that transformation for our world to see.
• I’m going to wrap up this series with a blessing for your spiritual journey ahead.
• I challenge you to recognize your spiritual need and find the Kingdom of Heaven opening to you this week.
When you grieve, I pray that you will be met with comfort.
Present your quiet strength to the world as a witness to God’s power
When you hunger for righteousness, know that God’s justice is there for you.
Know that your mercy will be met by heaven’s mercy.
Follow God’s lead to grow your heart pure enough to see God’s work in your world.
Have the courage to be a bridge-builder and a bearer of peace.
And when the world pushes back, stand firm with joy, knowing your reward is great in heaven.
• Have a blessed week.
The disclaimers
• Just to let you know
• All opinions are my own. If you agree, keep listening. If you don’t… keep listening, I might surprise you with something you didn’t know.
• All Bible quotations come from the World English Bible which is a public domain work.
• Our show theme song is “Awesome Call” by Kevin MacLeod and is available under a Creative Commons license.
• The content of this podcast is copyrighted 2025 by J. Brent Eaton
• This has been a Power Love and Miracles production.
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