II. THE HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM.

3. Blessed.

There follow nine beatitudes, each of which pronounces. blessing upon those who have certain characteristics. The word "blessed" is first applied to God and means more than "happy" as it has sometimes been translated. Happiness comes from earthly things; blessedness comes from God. It is not bestowed arbitrarily;. reason follows each beatitude. It is. permanent state of spiritual felicity.-- Schaff.

The poor in spirit.

The humble in contrast with the haughty; those sensible of spiritual destitution, rather than those puffed up with spiritual pride. The same state of mind is referred to when he speaks elsewhere of. contrite and broken spirit. The Publican who prayed to God to have mercy upon him,. sinner, was an example of one poor in spirit. The Jews, generally, with their carnal hopes and spiritual pride, were not poor in spirit.

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If there was one sentiment spread more widely than any other through this multitude it was the hope of the near approach of the kingdom of God. Of this kingdom they had no higher conception than that it would be. free and independent outward Jewish monarchy, composed of the proud children of Abraham, of noble descent, the worthiest of the earth. This spiritual and national pride is now treated by our Lord. It is the humble, contrite, lowly, and those who feel their spiritual needs who shall possess the kingdom. What could run more counter to the ambitious hopes of that multitude than the first sentence of the Lord! Sense of want must come before spiritual blessings. Those who thanked God that "they were Jews by birth, and not sinners as the Gentiles," had no sense of spiritual wants.

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