Jesus Reveals His Revolutionary Kingdom

Originally published at https://rethinknow.org.

The Beatitudes open up the most famous sermon Jesus ever preached. What he says is shocking, countercultural, and a message we cannot miss. There’s a good chance you’ve read them or heard a sermon on them. But have you ever had the Beatitudes explained in a way that unpacks this revolutionary message? Or have you stopped to think about how they apply to your life?

Let’s take a look.

If you want to read the Beatitudes first you can read it here: Matthew 5:1–12

The Beatitudes Explained (Matthew 5:1–2)

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1–2

In Matthew 5 Jesus begins teaching a section of scripture called “The Beatitudes.” Which translates as “Full of Blessing” or “Full of God, fully and wholly satisfied in God, connected to God and having God live in you.” Simply put, Jesus is saying this is how to have the good life, the best life, the life intended for you to live.

For all the Jews in the crowd, this image of Jesus sitting on a mountainside would have reminded them of Moses coming down the mountain revealing God’s law, the 10 commandments, to the…