In this sermon on the Beatitudes, we reconsider one of Jesus’ most familiar teachings and discover that it is not a checklist for becoming blessed, but a revelation of the gospel itself. Jesus’ words first function as a mirror, exposing our spiritual poverty and the impossibility of achieving righteousness on our own. They then become a portrait, showing us the life and character of the one truly blessed man—Jesus Christ—who perfectly fulfills the law for us. Finally, the Beatitudes stand as a promise: through faith in Christ, his righteousness becomes ours, and the blessings he declares are given to us now and fulfilled when we see God face to face.

The Beatitudes don’t tell us how to climb our way to God. They announce what God has given us in Christ—true blessedness grounded not in our performance, but in his finished work.

Lost to God. Lost to the flock. Lost to themselves. That’s how Matthew Henry describes the wandering sheep of Israel. But there is a Good Shepherd of our souls who leaves the 99 to seek out his one lost lamb and carry them safely home.

“The word of the Lord; Thanks be to God.” That’s the refrain you hear after scripture is read in Anglican worship. Sometimes we give thanks for words that are obviously full of sweet comfort and joy. Others time God’s word is hard to our ears and hard on our hearts. All of God’s Word is good, though. And even those hard words come from his great love for us and his longing that we might be with him.