In thinking about growing in Christ, becoming like Him, the question might naturally come up, “What does (or should) a Christian look like?” What does it mean to be like Him? It doesn’t mean that we will be clones, “little Christs” running around. Being transformed into His image is more a matter of character and attitude.

Jesus gave a great picture of the character and attitude in the Kingdom when He taught the masses in what is normally called the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). Some liken it to the Constitution of the Kingdom, but it is more akin to a picture of the Kingdom. It is not so much, “You must live this way to enter the kingdom,” but “those in the Kingdom will live this way.” Jesus begins by pronouncing a blessing on those who have specific character traits, in what is known as “The Beatitudes”:

* Those who are poor in spirit (5:3). What does it mean to be poor in spirit? It means that I realize that I have nothing within myself that was not given to me by God. Apart from Him, I am nothing, worthy of only eternal death. The one who is poor in spirit does not talk down to himself or think ‘badly’ of himself. He simply acknowledges that he is bankrupt spiritually without the grace of God. Such people are blessed because “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Just like the thief on the cross, whose dying declaration was that he deserved his own fate, only to be assured by Jesus that he would be in Paradise, the one who is poor in spirit is humble, broken over his own weakness, and to such God is pleased to grant them the kingdom.

* Those who mourn (v. 4). When Jesus speaks of those who mourn in this verse, He is primarily referring to those who mourn for their own spiritual bankruptcy and that of those around them. The one who mourns sees the toll of sin on individuals, families, and nations. How are they comforted? They are comforted in the knowledge that they are not alone (there is always a Remnant, as God reminded Elijah), and there is a coming day when all sin will be wiped away and recompensed. Things will be set right. The comfort, however, does not stop them from continuing to mourn and seeking His face and righteousness.

* Those who are meek (v. 5). To be “meek” in the Bible implies a spirit of gentleness, and the self-control that comes with it. It’s one thing for the Christian to know he is spiritually bankrupt, but quite another when someone else tells him he is! Meekness demands that we answer in gentleness and self-control. Jesus was the perfect example of meekness. In all of His answers, He never lashed out against those who accused Him. Even His rebuttal to the one who struck Him in the face (John 18:23) was gentle and reasonable. The meek shall inherit the earth because they will be part of the Kingdom at Christ’s second Advent and shall “dwell in the land” (Ps. 37:9, 11).

* Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (v. 6). When we hunger and thirst for something, we desire it greatly. We long for it. Jesus says that those who long to see righteousness are blessed. They seek not only their own righteousness, but that justice and righteousness would be done worldwide. Their hearts long for the day when the Lord will bring justice and righteousness to the earth in the consummation of the Kingdom. Until then, each glimpse they get of it here on this earth makes them want more. Jesus promises that they will be satisfied. There will be a day when injustice is vanquished, sin is no more, and peace and righteousness are found throughout the earth.

*Those who are merciful (v. 7). Mercy is often misunderstood as simply overlooking sin. However, mercy embraces both the sinner (with merciful forgiveness, as we have been forgiven) and the suffering victim with compassion. In the same way, the Lord described Himself as “the God of mercy and compassion” (Ex. 34:6-7). Mercy goes farther than forgiving sin, though, it extends to helping the weak. The servant who was heavily indebted to his fellow servant plead for mercy and patience. The merciful one will receive mercy, Jesus says. Not by others, necessarily, but by the Lord. God’s showing of mercy is always greater than man’s.

* Those who are pure in heart (v. 8). Another concept commonly misunderstood, “pure” primarily means singlemindedness, free of hypocrisy or deceit. A person who is pure in heart is committed to the Kingdom and its King (Matt. 6:33). Because he seeks the kingdom first, he keeps himself morally pure. For now, “morally pure,” also means walking in the light (1 John 1:5-10). He does not pretend to be something he is not. When he sins, he confesses and forsakes it. Such a person will see God, both through the eyes of faith (here in this life) and in the Kingdom, when it is finally revealed and we see Jesus face-to-face.

* Those who are peacemakers (v. 9). Here Jesus is concerned not with peace in general (the absence of conflict), but those who would be peacemakers. Jesus was the ultimate peacemaker, having built a bridge in order to bring peace between men and God. The peace that His disciples bring is the same reconciliation–peace between God and man, as well as peace between man and man. This is not a false, paper-thin peace, but true reconciliation. Paul echoes these thoughts when he reminds the Corinthian believers that God has appointed us as ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19). Peacemakers are called ‘sons’ of God, for they are imitating the Son of God, who came and died to bring peace to all.

* Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (v. 10). While the disciple of Christ is to be a peacemaker, such peacemaking is not always welcome (in today’s world it is often more unwelcome than welcome). The disciple of Christ can expect persecution, even as he seeks to love those who persecute him. Their reward will be entrance into the Kingdom of heaven.

Verses 11-12 shift and apply the truth of verse 10 directly to those who would be a disciple of Christ. Instead of an impersonal “those,” He switches to “you,” in order to intensify His message. He says to rejoice and be glad when others “revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” In like manner, He says, they persecuted Him, as well as the prophets who came before Him, preaching the righteousness of God. Great will be our reward, He says, if we maintain our faith, and do not fall away.

These beatitudes are not something we strive for. They are something we become as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us. We can only learn to be poor in spirit when confronted with our brokenness. We only learn to be merciful when we realize the mercy shown us and are put in situations to give mercy. Reading them in a book is one thing. Knowing that this is what a disciple of Christ looks like is still another. Yet, we never learn them fully until we embrace them in life.