These verses, the opening phrases of the Sermon on the Mount, hold some of the Bible’s most beautiful and best-loved poetry. Part of its beauty, though, lies in the fact that the meaning is not quite clear. What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? What does it mean to “inherit the earth” or to be called “the children of God.” The fact that there are many possibilities causes us to linger over the phrases, pondering them.

Understood in the internal sense, these blessings show the spiritual states of the various people who could be receptive of the Lord and the new church he was launching. On a deeper level it shows that states within ourselves that can lead each of us to the Lord and to a deeper understanding of His truth today.

The “poor in spirit” are those who know little about spiritual things, but want to learn. Those that “mourn” are those who want to be good, but see no desire for good in their church. The “meek” are those who love to care for and serve others. To “hunger and thirst after righteousness” shows a desire to rise up, to learn about what’s good and to come to desire it.

The “merciful” are those who love their fellow people. The “pure in heart” are those who love only what is good. “Peacemakers” are those who are in harmony with the Lord, gaining knowledge from Him and wanting what He wants. And to be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” means acting out of love and care for others, even though you are condemned by others for it.

There’s something of a progression there, from those who simply want to learn to those who actively want to be good people to those who actually are good and acting out of love for others. None of it, though, describes those who are learned in the Jewish traditions, or even necessarily observant in terms of ritual; they are, rather, those who sense that it is possible to be a good person and are willing to make the effort.

And they are promised their rewards! The “kingdom of heaven” is the understanding the angels have of the Lord; “comfort” represents ideas that lead to the good of life; “inheriting the earth” is a state of loving others and being loved by them in return. The overall message is simple: If we truly wish to be good people, and are willing to let the Lord teach us how to be good people, we will end up filled with love and wisdom from Him. And that’s what we need to focus on: The desire to be good, and openness to ideas from the Lord. It’s not about ritual and intellectual “correctness”; it’s about ideas that lead us to be good.

But what of being reviled and persecuted? This depicts temptation, when the hells attack our newborn good desires and true understanding. They cause us to doubt our ability to be truly good and question the ideas that are leading us. And they can do it in many ways, reminding us of the fun we’ll be missing or reminding us of all the bad things we’ve ever done to render us hopeless. They will even attack the Bible and the ideas that come to us through it from the Lord; that’s represented by the idea that people also attacked the prophets.

These states, however, are blessed in their own way; only by battling these evils, which are rooted inside us, can we finally fully embrace the good life we have been striving for. That’s why it is pictured last, and that's why it leads to the “great reward” in heaven.

20. 18. Because of Jehovah thy God, and because of the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 55:5).

Let the wicked return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:7).

Jehovah of Hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called (Isaiah 54:5).

We have transgressed against Jehovah, and have departed from following our God (Isaiah 59:13).

They shall bring thy sons from far; silver and gold with them, for the name of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 60:9).

Jehovah shall be to thee for an everlasting light, and thy God for thy glory (Isaiah 60:19).

(Ye shall be called priests of Jehovah, ministers of our God (Isaiah 61:6).)

In being glad I will be glad in Jehovah, my soul shall exult in my God (Isaiah 61:10).

Arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. And nations shall walk to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising (Isaiah 60:1-3). The Lord is treated of throughout the chapter. See the section on the consummation.

The Spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon Me, because Jehovah hath anointed Me to tell good tidings to the poor. He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to foretell liberty to the captives, and to those in bonds and to the blind; to proclaim the year of good pleasure, and the day of vengeance of God; to console all that mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2). Throughout that chapter the Lord's advent is treated of.

To proclaim the year of the good pleasure of Jehovah and the day of vengeance of our God (Isaiah 61:2).

The Lord Jehovih will cause justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations (Isaiah 61:11). Concerning the Lord.

Jehovah hath sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength (Isaiah 62:8).

Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh; behold His reward is with Him, and the recompense of His work before Him (Isaiah 62:11).

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with sprinkled garments from Bozrah, marching in the multitude of His strength, great to save? (Isaiah 63 seq.) Concerning the battle of the Lord against the hells, and of their subjugation and thus the redemption of the faithful; wherefore it is said, the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come. So He became a Savior to them. Then the angel of the faces of Jehovah freed them, and He redeemed them (verses 4, 8-9).