TRUE BIBLICAL PROSPERITY
AS REVEALED IN THE BEATITUDES
AS REVEALED IN THE BEATITUDES
As we begin to begin our study of “The Beatitudes,” the series of Jesus’ declarations of “blessings,” from which the Latin derivative “beatitudes” comes, we must first remember that Jesus was a Jewish rabbi. As such He followed many of the patterns and the customs of his first century culture and in conformity with Hebraic traditions. In doing so, His hearers understood many of the meanings and the implications of what Jesus said that we often have a tendency to miss, because we are not first century Jewish believers steeped in the traditions of the Hebrew Scriptures. Rather, we are first century Americans, and as such we need a little help in understanding how to approach this introduction to Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount.
As we know, prior to the invention of the printing press, the preparation of and the making of copies of written materials was time consuming, laborious, tedious and very expensive. Therefore, much information and teaching in the Hebraic, and later n the Jewish culture in the days of Jesus, was predominately done via oral transmission and memorization. Various devices to aid in accurate memorization of material were employed. Much of Hebrew poetry was written to be sung, the Psalms being a primary example, and we know how much easier and enjoyable it is for many of us to memorize song lyrics than it is to memorize rote facts and data.
Another primary method used to aid memorization was also used to emphasize information of particular importance was the use of repetition. When used in psalms or prophetic passages, Bible scholars have dubbed this “parallelism,” that is, the use of two or more lines or phrases that “parallel” each other meaning that the speaker is saying the same thing over again but using different words and synonyms to convey the same meaning. Most often this is seen in “couplets” or two lines that parallel each other. Sometimes a “triplet,” or three lines, is used.
A classic example of this is seen in Psalm 1:1. Quoting from the NASB:
How blessed is the man who does
As we know, prior to the invention of the printing press, the preparation of and the making of copies of written materials was time consuming, laborious, tedious and very expensive. Therefore, much information and teaching in the Hebraic, and later n the Jewish culture in the days of Jesus, was predominately done via oral transmission and memorization. Various devices to aid in accurate memorization of material were employed. Much of Hebrew poetry was written to be sung, the Psalms being a primary example, and we know how much easier and enjoyable it is for many of us to memorize song lyrics than it is to memorize rote facts and data.
Another primary method used to aid memorization was also used to emphasize information of particular importance was the use of repetition. When used in psalms or prophetic passages, Bible scholars have dubbed this “parallelism,” that is, the use of two or more lines or phrases that “parallel” each other meaning that the speaker is saying the same thing over again but using different words and synonyms to convey the same meaning. Most often this is seen in “couplets” or two lines that parallel each other. Sometimes a “triplet,” or three lines, is used.
A classic example of this is seen in Psalm 1:1. Quoting from the NASB:
How blessed is the man who does
not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand in the path of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
On the one hand, “walk, stand, sit” can be seen as a progression of involvement and/or complicity, but on the other hand, the parallel is clearly seen in that one who desires to be blessed of God will not, in any way, involve himself or entangle his life with those who are sinning against Him!
nor stand in the path of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
On the one hand, “walk, stand, sit” can be seen as a progression of involvement and/or complicity, but on the other hand, the parallel is clearly seen in that one who desires to be blessed of God will not, in any way, involve himself or entangle his life with those who are sinning against Him!
With our next post, we will see, specifically, how this speaking/teaching pattern is used in Jesus’ presentation of the Beatitudes. Once we have this concept clearly in mind, we will then dig into the Hebraic meanings of each statement He made, and will be able to feel the power and the impact of what Jesus is teaching was far more powerfully than ever before. God Bless!
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