I've come across a way of reading of the Beatitudes which I've not put together before. Simply, Matthew 5:2-12 is a picture of what New Creation will be when the Kingdom of God appears in fullness. Jesus relates a present point of tension and its outcome in New Creation.
Case studies:
V. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- In New Creation those who have had cause to mourn previously will be entirely comforted.
Or
V.8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Those who are pure [made righteous in Christ] will see God when the Kingdom comes in fullness.
However, these verses are not limited to a future hope. (Note the present tense 'are'!) Scripture tells us that the Kingdom of God is appearing even now. As we act as the body of Christ on earth, we can expect to see these verses being realized as New Creation happens in our lives, and the lives of those around us.
Granted there is some mystery about why the Kingdom does not come in fullness a.s.a.p. I'll leave that for a later time; more can be said, but we all know nobody reads long blog posts.
-C.D. Clements
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