The Beatitudes Page 4
.
.
Then Jesus opened his mouth and said: "Blessed are the humble, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." There were a great many poor and destitute people in the anxious assembly who sat on the grass at the feet of Jesus. There were many widows and orphans who wanted a change and who had been looking for the reign of justice. Jesus had sympathy for them -- the poor, the oppressed, and the under-privileged -- but he was not addressing only those who were seeking material things, the easy life, and the bread that perishes, he was addressing the poor in pride, the humble, those who were looking for the kingdom which had been heralded by the prophets, the reign of God on earth.
Jesus was not condemning material prosperity, as many of his followers have wrongly thought, he was condemning false racial pride. His words echoed the voice of John the Baptist, who, a little while before, had warned the Jews concerning their racial pride and their false trust in their forefathers and in their glorious past.
The Jews, like all races who rise to power and prominence, were proud of their racial ancestry, their pure, monotheistic religion, their rich culture, and their Holy Scriptures; because for a long time they had been 'The Light of the World.'
But the Jews, instead of being grateful to God who had counted them worthy and had called them to a great mission and entrusted to them His law and His spiritual treasures, mistook their missions and thought that being the children of Abraham they would be spared no matter what they did. They did not know that they must produce good fruit and be worthy of their mission in order to be free and to be called Abraham's children.
This false concept of racial pride or racial superiority has been the cause of the downfall of many great nations. Pride is a heavy burden to those who demonstrate it and to those who suffer under it. Pride is fleeting; it is like a shadow that passes away. It comes suddenly and may suddenly be taken away. It is like the grass of the field which today flourishes and tomorrow fades away.
Jesus, in this living message to humanity, admonishes his followers to divert themselves of false pride so that they might become a light to those who were dwelling in darkness and an example to the oppressors and the proud. As Christian teachings must be experienced and lived in order to be effective.
Jesus had read and studied the Scriptures and was well versed in the teachings of the prophets. He knew that God humbled the proud and exalted the meek. He also knew that he who humbles himself shall be exalted. Humility is the key to inner forces through which one sees God and understands the world around him. To be humble is to be natural - to be loving, to be immune from resentment and enmity. Nature does not boast of its own wisdom and beauty, but instead it declares the glory of God and the beauty of His wondrous works that are from everlasting to everlasting.
The humble were blessed because they were to become the heirs of the everlasting kingdom. When the inner meaning of Jesus' words are understood, hatred will give place to love, and pride to humility.
Jesus was not condemning material prosperity, as many of his followers have wrongly thought, he was condemning false racial pride. His words echoed the voice of John the Baptist, who, a little while before, had warned the Jews concerning their racial pride and their false trust in their forefathers and in their glorious past.
The Jews, like all races who rise to power and prominence, were proud of their racial ancestry, their pure, monotheistic religion, their rich culture, and their Holy Scriptures; because for a long time they had been 'The Light of the World.'
But the Jews, instead of being grateful to God who had counted them worthy and had called them to a great mission and entrusted to them His law and His spiritual treasures, mistook their missions and thought that being the children of Abraham they would be spared no matter what they did. They did not know that they must produce good fruit and be worthy of their mission in order to be free and to be called Abraham's children.
This false concept of racial pride or racial superiority has been the cause of the downfall of many great nations. Pride is a heavy burden to those who demonstrate it and to those who suffer under it. Pride is fleeting; it is like a shadow that passes away. It comes suddenly and may suddenly be taken away. It is like the grass of the field which today flourishes and tomorrow fades away.
Jesus, in this living message to humanity, admonishes his followers to divert themselves of false pride so that they might become a light to those who were dwelling in darkness and an example to the oppressors and the proud. As Christian teachings must be experienced and lived in order to be effective.
Jesus had read and studied the Scriptures and was well versed in the teachings of the prophets. He knew that God humbled the proud and exalted the meek. He also knew that he who humbles himself shall be exalted. Humility is the key to inner forces through which one sees God and understands the world around him. To be humble is to be natural - to be loving, to be immune from resentment and enmity. Nature does not boast of its own wisdom and beauty, but instead it declares the glory of God and the beauty of His wondrous works that are from everlasting to everlasting.
The humble were blessed because they were to become the heirs of the everlasting kingdom. When the inner meaning of Jesus' words are understood, hatred will give place to love, and pride to humility.