2. MATTHEW 4:20
From that time on Jesus began to
preach,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
has come near.”

3. Heaven
Earth

4. PRESUMED
REQUIREMENTS FOR
ENTRANCE INTO GOD’S
1. Had to be ethnically JEWISH
2. Had to be MALE
KINGDOM
3. Had to be religiously PURE
4. Had to be physically
HEALTHY/WHOLE
5. Had to be financially WEALTHY

6. “This is a
battle, a war &
the casualties
could be
your hearts &
souls...”
“No matter
what anybody
tells you,
words & ideas

7. THE “BEATITUDES”
Latin “Beatus” = happy, blissful
or fortunate

8. THE “BEATITUDES”
Latin “Beatus” = happy, blissful
or fortunate
Makarios = highest form or well
being possible

9. THE “BEATITUDES”
Latin “Beatus” = happy, blissful
or fortunate
Makarios = highest form or well
being possible
“Blessed are...” is NOT about
“happiness” or about
a condition one has earned by

10. MATTHEW 5:20
For I tell you that unless your
righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees &
the teachers of the law, you will
certainly not enter the kingdom of
heaven.

11. “BLESSED ARE…”
Makarios might best be
translated:
“Truly well off...” or
“Those for whom everything is
truly good...”
“The poor in spirit are truly well
off because...”

12. “This is a
battle, a war &
the casualties
could be
your hearts &
souls...”
“No matter
what anybody
tells you,
words & ideas

13. MATTHEW 5:1-5
Now when Jesus saw the
crowds, He went up
on a mountainside & sat
down. His disciples came to
Him, & He began to teach
them.
He said: “Blessed are the
poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of

14. MATTHEW 5:6-10
Blessed are those who hunger
& thirst for righteousness, for
they will be filled. Blessed
are the merciful, for they will
be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will
see God. Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they will be

15. MATTHEW 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people
insult you, persecute you &
falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of Me.
Rejoice & be glad, because
great is your reward in
heaven,
for in the same way they
persecuted the

17. THE TRULY WELL
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
OFF...
for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.”
- Spiritual zeros
- Spiritually bankrupt
- Don’t know the law
- No religious clout
- Don’t know the language

18. THE TRULY WELL
“Blessed are those who
OFF...
mourn,
for they will be comforted.”
- Spouse died or left
- Paralyzed by rejection
- Lost entire 401k
- Can’t avoid depression

19. THE TRULY WELL
“Blessed are the meek,
OFF...
for they will inherit the earth.”
- Shy, intimidated
- Mild, unassertive
- Always take the blame
- Backed into a corner

20. THE TRULY WELL
“Blessed are those who
OFF...
hunger & thirst
for righteousness, for they will
be filled.”
- Despise injustice
- Long to see things
set right, in themselves
& in the world

21. THE TRULY WELL
“Blessed are the merciful,
OFF...
for they will be shown mercy.”
- Taken advantage of
- Mocked by the strong
- Kind to a fault

22. THE TRULY WELL
“Blessed are the pure in heart,
OFF...
for they will see God.”
- Expect perfection
- Rarely satisfied
- Nothing is ever
good enough

23. THE TRULY WELL
“Blessed are the
OFF...
peacemakers,
for they will be called children
of God.”
- Always in the middle
- Trusted by no one
- Called anything BUT a
“child of God...”

24. THE TRULY WELL
“Blessed are those who are
OFF...
persecuted
because of righteousness, for
theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.”
- Whistle blowers
- Harassed for integrity
- Refuse to comply with

25. THE TRULY WELL
“Blessed are you when people
OFF...
insult you, persecute you &
falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of Me.”
- Insulted & lied about
- Viewed as crazy
- Rejected for their faith
by family & friends

28. MATTHEW 5:20
For I tell you that unless your
righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees &
the teachers of the law, you will
certainly not enter the kingdom of
heaven.