What are the eight Beatitudes found in Matthew's Gospel?

• A. A general ethical guideline consisting of four principles for daily living.
• B. A collection of four blessings given by God.
• C. (Eight Beatitudes listed in Matthew's Gospel)
• D. A set of prophecies about the end times.

Answer: (C)

Beatitudes are statements of blessedness spoken by Jesus at the start of the Sermon on the Mount, signaling the values and conditions that characterize the people of God's Kingdom. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus pronounces eight such blessings, each beginning with “Blessed are…”: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. These sayings invert worldly notions of fortune, showing that genuine happiness comes from a relationship with God and a life shaped by Kingdom values rather than by power, wealth, or status. The eight Beatitudes together form a compact portrait of the community Jesus is forming and point forward to the future reality of God’s reversal of fortune. Other descriptions like broad ethical guidelines or prophecies about the end times don’t capture this specific sequence of blessedness and the distinctive focus on humble dependence on God that these sayings express.