Happiness is...Matthew 5:5-8

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 5:5-8 (ESV)

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 receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

BACKGROUND

Previously I have written about the poor in spirit and those who mourn. I want to continue looking at what should make us happy.

LANGUAGE

(From yesterday) My Bible app (Olive Tree) offers translation of words in the original language. I like this feature, as translators have to make a choice of how to translate a Greek word, and sometimes their choice may not convey the best or clearest meaning. Now I know that they know much more about the translation of the Bible than I do, but since they do not always even agree with one another, I like having this information.

The word translated "Blessed" in verse 3, can also be thought of as "fortunate," "well off," or "happy." In fact, this same Greek word is translated as Happy or Happier 6 times in the New Testament.

meek = humble

inherit = be an heir to

hunger = famished, crave

thirst = painfully feel the need for water

righteousness = condition of being acceptable to God

satisfied = supplied in abundance

merciful = compassionate

mercy = divine grace

pure = clean

heart = thoughts and feelings

see = discern clearly, attend to, experience

COMMENTS

So much hear, but I want to be brief. So consider these alternate renderings:

• Happy are those who are humble, for they are the true heirs to the things of earth.
• Happy are who crave the ability to be acceptable before God, to the point that it almost overwhelms them, for their craving shall be supplied in abundance.
• Happiness is found in compassion, and so is the divine grace of God.
• Happy are the ones with clean thoughts and emotions, for they shall experience the fullness of God.

The proud often seem to be the ones who get it all, but often that is only one the surface. They often have as much bitterness and pain, if not more, than anyone else. They just are good at covering it up, or burying it deep inside. The best things the earth has to offer can't be possessed. Things like beauty, peacefulness, joy.

Happiness for those who truly crave God is found in God Himself, and that is supplied by God in abundance for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see.

Happiness is found in compassion, because that compassion is grounded in God's grace.

Happiness is found in clean hearts, because those heart are the hearts that experience the fullness of God, without having to question or waiver.