Do the Beatitudes describe character qualities or blessings from God?
What person would not like to find the secret of happiness? The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and the parallel passage in Luke 6 describe the happiness that comes with membership in God's kingdom - and the price of that happiness.
The expression "happy are those" translates into English the Greek word makarios, which, in turn translates a similar phrase in the Old Testament (based on the Hebrew word 'aser). These phrases describe the person who is "happy" or "fortunate" or "blessed." In the Old Testament, happiness comes to people who are faithful in their relationships with God. Those who belong to God are fortunate and blessed Psalm 33:12 . Being chosen by God makes Israel a blessed people (Psalm 1:1-2). Naturally, those who trust in God find will-being and blessing (Psalm 40:4; 85:10-14).
Blessing and happiness flow to those people who seek God in order to obey the Lord (Psalms 106:3; 112:1; 128:1-2). Therefore, happiness comes when we avoid those things which would bring us misery by leading us away form God - the sad influence of the wicked (Psalm 1:1-2) and the misleading influence of idols (Psalm 40:4). If obedience leads to happiness, then even God's correction leads to happiness, if we learn to leave disobedience behind (Job 5:17). God not only corrects us, but he also forgives us, renewing our happiness as we renew our relationships with Him (Psalm 32:1-2).
The happy person is the wise person, who knows God and seeks to know the ways of God better (Proverbs 3:13; 8:32). Happiness comes with doing the right thing, and with respect and hard work (Proverbs 20:9; 28:14). In short, the righteous person experiences the blessings of God and lives the fortunate life.
Matthew 5:1-12 describes the fortunate person as a member of the community of the kingdom of God. The Beatitudes do not describe different people who are blessed, but different aspects of what it means to belong to God's kingdom and so find happiness. Each of the Beatitudes is a couplet: the first part describing the characteristic of the believer ("those people who know they have great spiritual need are happy"), and the second part the result of that characteristic ("because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them").
P<> Matthew 5 lists seven Beatitudes. In some there is a contrast between the characteristic of the person and what they receive. Those with "great spiritual need" receive the kingdom as a result. Those in grief receive comfort. The humble inherit the earth. These Beatitudes stress that God seeks people who come humbly and with a sense of their own sinfulness and need. The Kingdom belongs only to those who know they need it, not to those who think they are self-sufficient. Thus, the Beatitudes invite repentance, a turning away from sin and toward God, who gives such good gifts to His people.Other Beatitudes stress a more positive relationship between the character and acts of the person and their relationship with the kingdom of God. The merciful receive mercy (5:7). The pure will see God (5:8). The peacemakers will be accepted as God's children (5:9). Purity, mercy and peace are attributes of God's own character. As the people of God take on the character of God, they will be fortunate and blessed.
Other Beatitudes warn that being a part of God's kingdom will mean opposition and even suffering (5:10-11). In these last Beatitudes we see the Christian nature of the Kingdom. Those who are persecuted "because you follow me" (5:11) are promised happiness. The person willing to witness about Christ and trust in Him may have to endure the censure and evil opinions of others, but in God's eyes that person is still fortunate.
Luke 6:20-26 recounts only four Beatitudes. These stress a reversal of the condition of those who belong to the kingdom of God. Presently, the faithful are those who are hungry, who weep, who are poor and hated by others for their faith in Jesus (6:20-23). But, in the Kingdom, they will find joy and plenty to make up for their sacrifice.
The Beatitudes set the standards of the Kingdom for happiness and meaning in life - and the way to happiness is quite different from the usual way of the world. Riches, peace and comfort may be traps that help us ignore God. We are fortunate in the depth of our hunger for God and our sense of need for belonging to God. We are happy if we take on the character of God. We are blessed if we are willing to witness to Christ, even at a cost of embracing rejection and opposition.