"I do not think that word means what you think it means...."

( Name that movie! )


"Blessed are those..."
Matthew 5

Let's do a little word study of the Beatitudes.  I'm going to break these up into two batches, half today and half tomorrow, so ideally we'll have a chance to really think about what they mean, and whether or not they describe us.  And I'm hopefully going to make you look at them in a new way, by changing some of the words to the original Greek, since sometimes things get lost in translation.  Ready?  Okay, then join me!

"Blessed are the poor in spirit."  ~ "Blessed are the ptochos in pneuma."  It means to be begging for the Holy Spirit.  Are you desperate for His Spirit to be your Counselor and Comforter?  Then yours is the kingdom of heaven.  

"Blessed are those who mourn."  ~ "Blessed are those who pentheo".  If you suffer in sadness, then you shall be parakaleo: consoled, encouraged, strengthened, or taught.

"Blessed are the meek." ~ "Blessed are the praÿs."  If you are gentle, and meek toward God, you will inherit land that will be productive for you.  (Man, I love that promise of productivity!)

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." ~ "Blessed are those who peinao and dipsao for dikaiosyne."  If you long for and seek with eager desire to be acceptable to God, then your desire will be satisfied, and you will be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful." ~ "Blessed are the eleemon."   If you have mercy on others, helping those are are troubled or suffering, then compassion and mercy shall be shown to you.


See you tomorrow!  Or as they say in the Greek:  Tha se dw avrio!
... and in the French:  A demain!
... and in the Pig Latin:  Ee-say ou-yay omorrow-tay!


Okay, I'm done now....