The Beatitudes are a set of blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, and four in the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke. They describe the blessedness of those who have certain qualities or experiences peculiar to those belonging to the Kingdom of Heaven. The nine Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–12 read as follows:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
The Beatitudes describe the characteristics of the ideal follower of Christ and the blessings they will receive, both on Earth and in Heaven. Each Beatitude consists of two phrases: the condition and the result, and they present a new set of ideals for living a Kingdom life.
