Blessed Are the Meek

The words

Matthew 5:1–12 (opens a new tab)

1. Blessed

   Matthew repeats Blessed as Jesus names the poor in spirit, mourners, the meek and others, pairing each description with a promise in the opening of his teaching.

   Matthew 5:3–10 (opens a new tab)

2. Comforted

   Jesus’s promise that mourners “shall be comforted” follows the blessing of the poor in spirit and precedes the promise that the meek will inherit the earth.

   Matthew 5:3–5 (opens a new tab)

3. Exceeding Glad

   Very glad; greatly rejoicing.

   Matthew records Jesus urging “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad” after describing insults and persecution for his sake; Jesus then refers to the persecution of earlier prophets.

   Matthew 5:11–12 (opens a new tab)

4. Hunger

   Jesus pairs hunger with thirst “after righteousness” and promises that those described will be filled; Matthew later repeats righteousness in the blessing of those persecuted for it.

   Matthew 5:6; Matthew 5:10 (opens a new tab)

5. Inherit

   Matthew’s promise to the meek uses “inherit the earth,” also found in KJV Psalm 37:11; it stands between the blessings for mourners and those who hunger for righteousness.

   Matthew 5:4–6 (opens a new tab) · Psalms 37:11 (opens a new tab)

6. Meek

   Mild or humble, in Strong’s explanation.

   Jesus names the meek as those who will inherit the earth; Strong’s explains the Greek word as mild or humble, without changing the KJV’s promise.

   Matthew 5:5 (opens a new tab) · Strong’s G4239: meek (opens a new tab)

7. Merciful

   Jesus pairs the merciful with the promise that they will obtain mercy; Matthew places this blessing after hunger for righteousness and before purity of heart.

   Matthew 5:6–8 (opens a new tab)

8. Mountain

   Matthew opens with Jesus seeing the multitudes, going up a mountain and sitting down; his disciples come to him before he begins the blessings.

   Did you know?

   Notre Dame’s location report explains that the pictured modern church has eight sides representing the eight Beatitudes; the building commemorates the teaching rather than establishing its exact location.

   Matthew 5:1–3 (opens a new tab) · Notre Dame: Mount of Beatitudes (opens a new tab)

9. Mourn

   Matthew places those who mourn among the people Jesus calls blessed, with comfort as their promise; the verse does not name a particular mourner or occasion.

   Matthew 5:4 (opens a new tab)

10. Peacemakers

    Jesus promises that peacemakers will be called “the children of God”; Matthew places this blessing between those for the pure in heart and those persecuted for righteousness.

    Matthew 5:8–10 (opens a new tab)

11. Persecuted

    Matthew records Jesus blessing those persecuted “for righteousness’ sake” and promising the kingdom of heaven; the following verses address his hearers directly about persecution for his sake.

    Matthew 5:10–12 (opens a new tab)

12. Poor in Spirit

    Jesus opens the blessings with the poor in spirit and “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”; Matthew repeats that kingdom promise for those persecuted for righteousness.

    Matthew 5:3; Matthew 5:10 (opens a new tab)

13. Pure in Heart

    Matthew records Jesus’s promise that the pure in heart “shall see God,” between the blessing of the merciful and the naming of peacemakers as God’s children.

    Matthew 5:7–9 (opens a new tab)

14. Revile

    Insult or speak abusively about someone.

    Matthew places reviling alongside persecution and false accusations in Jesus’s address to his hearers; the NET uses insult, while both retain the qualification about false statements.

    Matthew 5:11 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 5:1-12 (opens a new tab)

15. Righteousness

    Matthew uses righteousness in two blessings: Jesus promises filling to those who hunger and thirst for it, and the kingdom of heaven to those persecuted for its sake.

    Matthew 5:6; Matthew 5:10 (opens a new tab)