Blessed Are You
Matthew 5:1–12
I remember in junior high, I was a big red letter guy. If you've seen the Bibles that have the words of Jesus in red letters, I'm actually kind of a red letter Christian. I really think those words are extra important because they came from Jesus. So I thought, "I'm gonna read through the Bible," and I knew better than to start in Genesis. I started in Matthew. I get to chapter five, and when I read these verses, I was lost. What is He talking about? These people didn't seem blessed at all.
That's because Jesus has a whole different view of what the world should be like than what it often is. The Beatitudes are a reminder that the world as we generally encounter it is not the world that God intends or desires for us. We live in a world that tells us that the strong are blessed, the powerful are blessed, the wealthy are blessed, and those who are successful, influential, and admired are the ones who truly made it in life. But when Jesus comes along, what does Jesus say? "Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the peacemakers."
Jesus seems to be describing a world that's very different from the one we know, and that is precisely the point. The Beatitudes are not simply a collection of comforting religious sayings. They are a declaration that God's kingdom operates according to a very different set of rules. Jesus is describing the world as God intends it to be, and He is inviting us to become part of that world. That's why we're here. Every week there's an invitation.
Then Jesus offers one of the most challenging statements in the entire passage: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Notice that Jesus does not say, "Blessed are those who avoid conflict." There is a difference. Peacemaking requires effort. It requires listening when we would rather argue. It requires understanding when we'd rather judge. It requires forgiveness when resentment feels justified. Sometimes it means standing up for someone who is being mistreated. Sometimes it means refusing to participate in gossip, hostility, or the endless cycle of blame. And sometimes it means being willing to take the first step toward reconciliation. We've become very good at identifying what separates us. We're not always good at recognizing what we share. And yet Jesus says the peacemakers shall be called the children of God, because peacemaking reflects the very character of God. When we become peacemakers, we reflect the family resemblance.
The Beatitudes ask all of us to imagine a better world. A world where kindness, gratitude, and mercy actually happen. When you imagine such a world, you are changed by what you imagine. All change begins with an idea. How many of you have reached into your wallet to give to a cause that helps people who suffer? Blessed are you. How many of you have helped someone less fortunate — a meal to a shut-in, a kind word to someone who got laid off? Blessed are you. You didn't give in to the worldview that misfortune is blameworthy. And you did what you did because someone gave you the idea of a better world.
I don't have to tell you: for many, many people, these are very difficult times. This is a time for kindness, for mercy, for the gospel. That's why we come together. That's why we need each other — to remind each other what we really believe. Because the world can beat you down, and you can get back up, because we don't worship the world. We worship the Lord, and the Lord loves us all.
From the sermon of November 1, 2026
Pastor William Mitchell
I remember in junior high, I was a big red letter guy. If you've seen the Bibles that have the words of Jesus in red letters, I'm actually kind of a red letter Christian. I really think those words are extra important because they came from Jesus. So I thought, "I'm gonna read through the Bible," and I knew better than to start in Genesis. I started in Matthew. I get to chapter five, and when I read these verses, I was lost. What is He talking about? These people didn't seem blessed at all.
That's because Jesus has a whole different view of what the world should be like than what it often is. The Beatitudes are a reminder that the world as we generally encounter it is not the world that God intends or desires for us. We live in a world that tells us that the strong are blessed, the powerful are blessed, the wealthy are blessed, and those who are successful, influential, and admired are the ones who truly made it in life. But when Jesus comes along, what does Jesus say? "Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the peacemakers."
Jesus seems to be describing a world that's very different from the one we know, and that is precisely the point. The Beatitudes are not simply a collection of comforting religious sayings. They are a declaration that God's kingdom operates according to a very different set of rules. Jesus is describing the world as God intends it to be, and He is inviting us to become part of that world. That's why we're here. Every week there's an invitation.
Then Jesus offers one of the most challenging statements in the entire passage: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Notice that Jesus does not say, "Blessed are those who avoid conflict." There is a difference. Peacemaking requires effort. It requires listening when we would rather argue. It requires understanding when we'd rather judge. It requires forgiveness when resentment feels justified. Sometimes it means standing up for someone who is being mistreated. Sometimes it means refusing to participate in gossip, hostility, or the endless cycle of blame. And sometimes it means being willing to take the first step toward reconciliation. We've become very good at identifying what separates us. We're not always good at recognizing what we share. And yet Jesus says the peacemakers shall be called the children of God, because peacemaking reflects the very character of God. When we become peacemakers, we reflect the family resemblance.
The Beatitudes ask all of us to imagine a better world. A world where kindness, gratitude, and mercy actually happen. When you imagine such a world, you are changed by what you imagine. All change begins with an idea. How many of you have reached into your wallet to give to a cause that helps people who suffer? Blessed are you. How many of you have helped someone less fortunate — a meal to a shut-in, a kind word to someone who got laid off? Blessed are you. You didn't give in to the worldview that misfortune is blameworthy. And you did what you did because someone gave you the idea of a better world.
I don't have to tell you: for many, many people, these are very difficult times. This is a time for kindness, for mercy, for the gospel. That's why we come together. That's why we need each other — to remind each other what we really believe. Because the world can beat you down, and you can get back up, because we don't worship the world. We worship the Lord, and the Lord loves us all.
From the sermon of November 1, 2026
Pastor William Mitchell
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