Everyone wants to be happy. Jesus's beatitudes reveal his vision for what the good life is, and how we get it. The beatitudes strike us - as one commentator put it - as "crazy." Yet, Jesus is the true Teacher who tells us what is truly true and really real - the very revelation of God.

The Gospel of Matthew especially highlights Jesus as the Teacher. He organizes his Gospel around five large teaching blocks. The first of which, the Sermon on the Mount, begins in Matthew 5:1-12 as Jesus describes what flourishing in the Kingdom of Heaven looks like. Contrary to some interpreters, the Sermon on the Mount is not only for ethnic Israel, but is a vision of flourishing for all citizens of God's Kingdom.

Jesus teaches that "Blessed" or "Happy" or "Flourishing" (9x in these verses) are those who embrace the beatitudes. The Worldly Way to "flourishing" simply won't work. Whenever we look to something or someone other than God to give us ultimate joy and meaning we inevitably find ourselves dissatisfied and continually striving for more (Jer 2:13). Self-righteous religion falls short too - the greater righteousness Jesus wants for us is not performative or outward only, but heart deep righteousness. The Beatitudes are not moral achievements, but a disposition of the heart of utter dependence on God - his comfort, mercy, righteousness, and kingdom. And this was the life Jesus himself lived. He was poor in spirit, pure in heart, and persecuted for his commitment to God's plan to rescue us from sin. He rejoiced in his persecution on the cross, for through it he brought life and salvation to all who would receive him. The Beatitudes invite us into this new way of being in the world - to move out of the crowd and to become one of his disciples (apprentices, v. 1) and become heirs of the Kingdom (v. 10).

Taking It Home: How have you pursued happiness apart from God? How did such a pursuit show itself to be empty and ultimately fruitless?

How does thinking of "disciples" as learners or apprentices change how you think about following Christ?

Family Discussion Question: What make a Christian different from other people?