You may think you know what the word “blessed” means, but in today’s episode of the Everyday Faith Podcast, we’ll discover its true meaning and its original context. So, join us as we interview Andrew Steier, founder of Always Going Ministries, to learn more about what God means by calling us blessed. Together, we’ll discover what Jesus really meant by blessed and help you understand the Bible better.
What Does “Blessed” Mean in the Beatitudes?
One of Jesus’ most famous teachings in the Bible is the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. In the Beatitudes, Jesus begins telling the crowds who is blessed, why He calls them blessed, and how to face difficult circumstances. But you may be wondering, what does the word “blessed” mean in the Beatitudes?
When Jesus used the word “Blessed,” he wasn’t just talking about being favored by God; he was actually telling us something far deeper. The Greek word Jesus used in the Bible is “makarios”. The Greek word “makarios” not only means being fortunate, happy, or favored; in the Biblical context, it also means to have an unshakeable, solid, and deep state of health in your soul. To listen to Jesus’ words about blessings in Matthew 5, click below:
The Meaning of Blessed in Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
– Matthew 5:3
As you’re discovering what “blessed” means in the Bible, the gold standard for clarity is to look at Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes. What does it mean to be poor in spirit in the Bible? Being poor in spirit means acknowledging your need for God, rather than acting like you have it all together. So, Jesus calls you “blessed” when you recognize your need for Him. What good news for the searching soul!
Discover more about what Jesus accomplished and how you can be born again today: This Is For You!
The Meaning of Blessed in Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
– Matthew 5:4
Did you know that Jesus calls you blessed if you’ve experienced grief and sadness? In Matthew 5:4, Jesus tells his followers that those who mourn will be blessed and that they will also be comforted. So, this Bible verse about what it means to be blessed shows us that Jesus is interested in blessing us by establishing our faith deep within us. Even though hard times can feel overwhelming, God’s word is full of encouragement, support, and even tools to walk through heavy things.
Visit our blog for Bible verses to give you hope: What Does the Bible Say About Hard Times?
The Meaning of Blessed in Matthew 5:5
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
– Matthew 5:5
Did you know that being meek is a good thing? Meek is another word for humble in the Bible. In Matthew 5:5, Jesus says that those who are meek will inherit the earth. How is this possible? It’s possible because of the power of Jesus through His followers and the Gospel of His Kingdom. Those who remain humble are also called blessed by Jesus.
Learn more about humility in our blog: What Does It Mean to Walk in Humility?
The Meaning of Blessed in Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
– Matthew 5:6
Being blessed is about far more than outward appearance in Jesus’ book. Rather than expensive cars, fancy houses, or the best job in the whole world, Jesus says that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed. And in this Bible verse about what it means to be blessed, Jesus says that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled! As you hunger and thirst for the things of God, He will meet you there and fill you with His Spirit.
Related Post: What Is Divine Favor in the Bible?
The Meaning of Blessed in Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
– Matthew 5:7
In this Bible verse about what blessed actually means, we discover that those who are merciful are considered blessed in God’s sight. When we make the choice to be merciful, God shows mercy to us, and often times, we also receive mercy from others as well. While you may not see God’s blessings in the form of material abundance or an increase of possessions, God showers blessings on you in other ways too. One way He does this is by giving us 24/7 access to His Holy Spirit, so that we’re never alone.
Learn how to connect with the Holy Spirit in our blog: How to Hear the Voice of God
The Meaning of Blessed in Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
– Matthew 5:8
Are you feeling confused about what “blessed ” means in the Bible? As you read Matthew 5:8, you will see a type of blessing that can only come from God. Being blessed in Matthew 5:8 means seeing God. As you grow in purity of heart, you will see God: talk about a profound blessing! While you may not see God with your literal eyes, you may see Him in a dream; you may see Him in the glory of His creation, or you may see Him in the Word as you read the Bible and grow in relationship with Him. This blessing in the Bible is unmatched, and no human or form of entertainment can give it to us. This blessing can only come from God Himself.
Related Post: What Does the Bible Say About the Word of God?
The Meaning of Blessed in Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
– Matthew 5:9
Did you know that God calls you blessed if you are a peacemaker? Those who make peace are like God; thus they are called children of God. In the Bible, a peacemaker is someone who works to bring restoration and reconciliation. Even though conflict is inevitable in our lives, we don’t have to run away from it. As believers in Jesus, God calls us blessed when we step into conflict to try to bring peace, wholeness, and hope to a situation.
Discover more about peacemaking in our blog: How Can I Love Someone I Disagree With?
The Meaning of Blessed in Matthew 5:10
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
– Matthew 5:10
How can you be blessed if you’re being persecuted? How can persecution be a blessing? Matthew 5:10 challenges what we generally think of as blessing in our world. In the Kingdom of Heaven, God calls those who are persecuted for righteousness sake blessed. This Bible verse about what it means to be blessed also says that if you’re experiencing persecution for God, yours is the kingdom of Heaven.
One way that believers in Jesus can say they are blessed even in the midst of persecution is because they’re partaking in Christ’s sufferings and able to know Him more. Jesus gave everything to save you, even going so far as to die on a cross after being flogged by Roman soldiers. He took all of our sin, guilt, and shame to make a way for us to enter into Heaven and into His presence.
And too, this Bible verse about what blessed means mentions that we’re only blessed if we’re persecuted for righteousness. If you do something bad and experience hardship, there’s no blessing attached to it. However, Jesus calls us blessed when we experience persecution because of righteousness or when we experience it on His behalf. The Bible goes on to say that anyone who wants to live a Godly life will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).
Read more of Jesus’ warnings about persecution in our blog: What Does the Bible Say About the End Times?
The Meaning of Blessed in Matthew 5:11
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
– Matthew 5:11
This Bible verse about what it means to be blessed shows us once again that blessings in God’s eyes go beyond material things. In this Bible verse about blessings, Christians are instructed to consider it a blessing when people insult them, persecute them, or falsely say evil things against them because of Jesus’ name.
Even though this may feel backwards, Jesus assures His followers that they are indeed blessed. How can this be possible? Because they’re enduring, building character, and standing strong for the sake of His holy name. And at the same time, they are making the world a better place as they bring the kingdom of heaven to earth through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Related Post: How Unconditional Love Creates Boldness to Share Your Faith
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different meanings to the word “blessed” in the Bible. Blessings in the Bible go far beyond the sorts of blessings we can see in the material world; the blessings God offers us are powerful through His Holy Spirit. So, whether you’re facing a hardship because of your faith in Jesus, if you’re overcome with joy for seeing God in the Scriptures, or if you find yourself somewhere in the middle, waiting for your breakthrough, head to the Beatitudes for encouragement. And remember: God calls you blessed!
