We have come to the end of our study of the Beatitudes (Matt. 5.3–12). Before moving on to the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, however, we should pause and ask a simple question: Who is Jesus?

 

The question of Jesus’ identity is a persistent one in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life. It finds an explicit answer in Matthew 16.13–20, where Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Then Jesus makes the question personal: “But who do you say that I am?” To which Peter replies: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Oddly, Jesus “strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.” Why the silence? Probably because the people of Jesus’ day had misconceptions of what a Christ (or Messiah) should be, and Jesus did not want to be the prisoner of their erroneous ideas and expectations.

 

And yet, Jesus’ status as the Messiah was an open secret among the crowds. His manner of life, miracle-working power, and authoritative teaching all pointed him out as Israel’s long-expected king and the world’s desperately needed Savior. Matthew concludes his rendition of the sermon with this remark: “the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (7.28, 29).

 

We are so accustomed to the Beatitudes’ beautiful melody line that we fail to hear the strong note of authority running harmoniously beneath it. To hear that second line, ask yourself a question: Who does Jesus think he is to announce blessings on such a disconsolate group of people? He promises God’s kingdom to the poor in spirit, comfort to the mourning, an earthly inheritance to the meek, righteousness for the hungry, mercy to the merciful, the beatific vision to the pure of heart, divine sonship to peacemakers, and an eternal reward for the persecuted.

 

And not just any persecuted. Jesus equates those persecuted “on my account” with the Old Testament prophets who spoke for God to the children of Israel. An Old Testament prophet would never have blessed people persecuted “on my account.” On God’s account, yes, but not his own. That would have been presumptuous. Either Jesus is making promises he cannot keep, or he has the authority to offer heaven to those of us on earth.

 

The Beatitudes, in other words, do not show Jesus as an exemplary moral teacher, though he is. Rather, they show him as something more, more than even a prophet. He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 

One more thing: Have you ever noticed that the beatitudes perfectly describe Jesus? He is poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker, and persecuted—crucified, even— for righteousness’ sake. Doesn’t that imply that he has entered God’s kingdom and experienced all the blessedness it contains?

 

We will do so as well if we follow in his stead.