Last week I discussed the beatitudes as recorded in Matthew chapter 5. This week I want to touch on the beatitudes that appear in the Book of Revelation, The Book of Luke and the Psalms.

Beatitudes in the Book of Revelation

Donald Parry, an expert in Hebrew and Hebrew literature, lists what he calls The beatitudes of the Book of Revelation

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand (1:3 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them (14:13) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame (16:15) Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the lamb (19:9) Blessed and holy [are they who have] part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of god and of Christ, and shall rien with him a thousand years (20:6) Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book (22:7) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city (22:14

These beatitudes are work beatitudes. The Book of Revelation frequently references the need to listen and to obey. Blessed are those to study the scriptures and keep the commandments, those who die in the Lord, or in other words, those who endure faithful, will preside because their works follow them. Blessed are those who are always watching, those who are pure in heart, and those who keep the sayings in the scriptures. He is saying that those who learn and obey are those who will be ok when they die, these are they who will be invited to the proverbial supper of the Lord.

Rev 1:3 – Readeth and heareth refers, I suspect, to the notion that we must not only read the text but listen to the promptings of the spirit to understand it through revelation. The pattern, therefore, is to read, ponder, and once confirmation comes through the Holy Ghost of the truthfulness of the message, to then obey.

Rev 14:13 Resting from our labours does not mean taking a nap, but rather, it suggests the notion of presiding. So the intent here is that our works culminate in the ability to preside in the same way that studying and writing exams in university culminates in us obtaining a university degree. We rest from our studies when we are able to put all our hard work to good use by getting into an occupation. Their works follow them because their works prepare them for the eternities. Works do not earn our way, but rather they prepare our way so that we can learn the lifestyle of heaven.

Rev 16:15 – Coming as a thief indicates that we do not know when the Lord will come again, and nor do we know when our own mortal experience will end so we must be prepared lest the day of our reckoning does not come during the proverbial night when we are undressed and unprepared to act. Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance. There is an expression: luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Being prepared becomes a lifestyle, a part of our nature.

Rev 19:19 The marriage supper has a reference to the parable of the 10 virgins, as well as to Revelations 3:20 which states that, if we open the door to the Savior, he promises “I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” . Again, the notion of resting or presiding. We are in the process of becoming like God and we will be invited to sit with him at his table.

Beatitudes in Luke

Luke 6:21-26

Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

But

woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Scholars debate whether the beatitudes of Luke are the same discourse as the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew but from a different perspective. Arguably, the discourse recorded in Luke could be a different one altogether. Matthews is on a mount, whereas Luke is in a field. Matthew is focused on our spiritual needs, Luke on our physical needs. Alternatively, Luke’s version may have been part of the larger discourse that was left out of the sermon in Matthew but since the books were written years, possibly decades after the events occurred, it is safe to assume that this is how each person recollected the discourse.

The version in Luke leaves off mention of the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart and the peacemakers, and gifts the mourners with laughter rather than inheriting the earth. What I find interesting is that it balances the four blessings with four warnings: he warns those who have an abundance of money, food, entertainment, and the praises of men. He is making a stark contrast between those who are rich in terms of the world’s standards and those who are rich in terms of Gods standards. The two groupings are direct contrasts:

Poor versus rich

Hunger versus full

Weep versus laugh

Persecuted versus praised.

Luke’s version is, in a sense, more practical than spiritual. Rather than the poor in spirit, he is talking about the literal poor. Rather than hungering after righteousness, his is about those who are hungering after actual food. Rather than those who are mourning out of empathy, he is talking about those who are actually weeping. People in genuine distress, at the point of breaking where all they can muster is sobs.

The Beatitudes in Psalms

Finally it is important to consider the beatitudes in the Book of Psalms which likely are the primary influence for the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Andrew C. Skinner makes the following observations: “It should not surprise anyone that Jesus relied upon Israel’s sacred lyric poems or hymns more than a little when presenting the Beatitudes (as well as the sermon as a whole) precisely because that was the pattern of his entire teaching ministry; he used the Psalms more than any other single Old Testament source during the three years he was among the people” Andrew C. Skinner (“Israel’s Ancient Psalms: Cornerstone of the Beatitudes,” in The Sermon on the Mount in Latter-day Scripture)

The literary form of the Matthew 5 beatitudes is based on an ancient Hebrew form of speech ‘ashre’. The very first psalm begins with: ’Ashre ha’ish ’asher lo’ halakh,” “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly” (Psalm 1:1).

Here is an overview of the ashre’s of the psalms:

1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly

2:12 blessed are all they that put their trust in him

32:1 blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered

32:2 blessed is the man unto whom the lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile

34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

40:4 blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies

41:1 blessed is he that considereth the poor: the lord will deliver him in time of trouble

65:4 blessed is the man whom thou chooseth, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts

84:4 blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will be still praising thee

84:5 blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them

84:12 blessed is the man that trusteth in thee

89:15 blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance

94:12 blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law

106:3 blessed are they that keep judgement, and he that doeth righteousness at all times

112:1 blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments

118:26 blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord

119:1 blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord

119:2 blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart

128:1 blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways

There are no doubt many other examples in the Old Testament of this construct. By studying the source and inspiration of Matthew 5, we have a better chance of understanding the intended message. There is a repeated promise to those who obey, who trust in the lord, who consider the less fortunate, who are pure in heart.

At least, that is how I see the beatitudes.