Better Get Ready

I regret that it’s ending, this study I’ve enjoyed making of the eight Beatitudes as reported by the Gospel writer of The Book of Matthew. They fascinated me on a number of levels. First, they express, no matter how we might choose to interpret them, the fact that salvation is not a gift reserved for the rich and mighty, as so many in modern America believe. Nor, it seems, is it reserved for those whose biological makeup might be different from ours or our skin color different. Sorry.

No, the words of the Galilean, as expressed by “Matthew” open a vision of glory and happiness for “the least of those among us.”

That brings me to the second, and main point. I think the Sermon on the Mount, as reported in Matthew, as coming from the lips of this simple preacher, are epochal in these times for another reason. That is that they are so eschewed by the modern fundamental evangelicals who have kidnapped Christianity for their own selfish and nefarious purposes. They couldn’t carry the transcendental power they do if Franklin Graham and his heroes didn’t hold them in such disdain, even threatening to punish those who would form their lives by these simple sayings. (See: the parable of the Samaritan who was punished for giving a drink of life-giving water to a dying immigrant).

Last week, I visited the eighth of the Beatitudes. Some scholars claim it doesn’t belong with the others, since it attaches the blessing to an outward condition and not to a disposition of the heart, i.e. “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (RSV) This seems to be supported by the next verses (5:11-12 RSV), "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

I’m not a scholar of the Bible, just a confused wanderer trying to understand how so many people could use the document to foment hate. Anyway, we could argue all day about the number of Beatitudes or the cause for the difference between the version in Matthew and the version in Luke. For the latter point, I’ve read many explanations, such as the claim that the shorter version must be the most accurate. What strikes me is that the explanations seem to flow more from the personal beliefs of the explainers than from empirical evidence.

For example, who do you reckon might adhere to

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” (Matthew), as opposed to

“Blessed are the poor,” (Luke)?

Yep, someone who became a billionaire when the physician slapped them on their bottom may indeed grow up to feel they are “poor in spirit,” because they are unable to decide which public school to close next or which voting group to disenfranchise. Or someone who made a fortune the hard way, selling chicken sandwiches for example, may suffer the pangs of the damned trying to decide which sexual orientation to hate most.

And I now come to my final observation on the Beatitudes as stated by the Galilean according to the writer of Matthew. It is said that, “Some writers have endeavored to trace in the group as a whole the steadily ascending stages in the development of the Christian character.” (https://www.bible-history.com/isbe/b/beatitudes/).

I drift toward this view. If I’m right, there are a hell of a lot of so-called “Christians” who are in a heap of trouble.

It's in there, I promise, and
you don't have to look that hard.