THE BEAUTITUDE - MATTHEW 5:3-10

Out of the eight categories of people classified under the beatitude, just two are connected to heaven with their reward, the remaining six have their rewards enjoyed here on earth.

If you mourn on this earth, you will be comforted, if you are meek even as Moses, it only earn you this earth. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you will be filled here on earth, you will be quenched of your thirst. If you are merciful, you will receive mercy.

If you are a peacemaker, people will call you a child of God, that’s people calling not God. All these are ordinary things that earn you ordinary rewards. If you do all these, you will be blessed here on earth.

But here comes the extraordinary things that will earn you extraordinary rewards. Purity in heart leads you to see God, persecution for righteousness’s sake earns you the kingdom of God, the rewards are similar for this two.

The point is, it’s not enough to do something a normal person will do, you have to go the extra and abnormal mile. Do the common thing and get the common reward, do the uncommon and get the uncommon reward.

Nothing in the first category talks about preaching of the gospel, it’s not enough to receive (the gospel) you also have to give (the gospel), doing this people will persecute you and say all manner of things to you for his sake, but he said you should rejoice because your reward in heaven is greater.

The summary of it is that all believers should preach and live the gospel with a pure heart. Am I saying the first category is a waste of energy? No, but it is not enough to get you to heaven. Neither should you do the second without the first, all should be done as one in case you are planning to do one and ignore the other.