Bible facts
The Beatitudes: the text of Matthew 5 and what each one means
The Beatitudes are the sayings with which Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:3–12: “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”, “they that mourn…”, “the meek…”. There are eight declarations of blessing for people who seem to be at a disadvantage, plus a ninth, more personal one, for the persecuted. Luke has a shorter version, with four beatitudes and four “woes” (Luke 6:20–26).
What are the Beatitudes?
Jesus goes up a mountain, sits down like a teacher and begins to teach:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
What does “blessed” mean?
The Greek word is makarios: happy, fortunate, someone in an enviable position. It echoes the Hebrew ashrei, which opens Psalm 1 (“Blessed is the man…”). The surprise lies in whom Jesus calls blessed: the poor, those who mourn, the persecuted. It is not a rule of behavior but an announcement: God is on the side of these people.
What does each Beatitude mean?
- The poor in spirit: those who know they depend on God, with no self-sufficiency.
- They that mourn: those who suffer loss or grieve over injustice; the promise is comfort.
- The meek: those who do not use force to get their way. “They shall inherit the earth” quotes Psalm 37:11.
- Hunger and thirst after righteousness: longing intensely for things to be as God wants.
- The merciful: those who forgive and help will receive the same mercy.
- The pure in heart: sincere intentions, without duplicity; the promise is to “see God”.
- The peacemakers: not only peaceful people but those who build peace; they will be called children of God.
- Persecuted for righteousness’ sake: the promise repeats the first one, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”, framing the whole set.
Verses 11–12 apply the last one directly to the listeners (“Blessed are ye”), so some count nine beatitudes.
How do Matthew and Luke differ?
In Luke 6:20–26 the sermon takes place on a plain. There are four beatitudes, more direct (“Blessed be ye poor”, “ye that hunger now”), followed by four “woes” for the rich, the full, those who laugh and those spoken well of. Matthew gives a more spiritual emphasis (“poor in spirit”, “hunger and thirst after righteousness”).
How the traditions read the Beatitudes
- Catholics: the Catechism calls them “the heart of Jesus’ preaching” and a portrait of Christ himself (nos. 1716–1717). Pope Francis presented them as the Christian’s “identity card”.
- Orthodox: the Beatitudes are sung at most Divine Liturgies as the third antiphon, before the Gospel reading.
- Protestants: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in The Cost of Discipleship (1937), read the Sermon on the Mount as a concrete and costly call to follow Jesus.
- Jewish and scholarly reading: the sayings follow a form well known in Jewish wisdom (Psalms 1 and 32, Proverbs) and echo Isaiah 61:1–2, good news for the poor and comfort for those who mourn.
Where is the Mount of the Beatitudes?
Tradition places it on a hill on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, near Capernaum. The octagonal church that stands there today, a pilgrimage site, was dedicated in 1938; its eight sides recall the eight Beatitudes.
The Sermon on the Mount goes on to the Lord’s Prayer, in Matthew 6.
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Frequently asked questions
Where are the Beatitudes in the Bible?
In Matthew 5:3–12, at the start of the Sermon on the Mount, and in a shorter form in Luke 6:20–23.
How many Beatitudes are there?
Matthew has eight, plus a ninth addressed directly to the listeners (vv. 11–12). Luke has four, followed by four “woes”.
What does “blessed” mean in the Beatitudes?
Happy, fortunate. It translates the Greek makarios and the Hebrew ashrei, common in the Psalms.
Who are the “poor in spirit”?
Those who recognize their need for God and do not trust in themselves or in riches.