Blessed are You!
Sermon February 1, 2026 Matthew 5:1-12
Blessed are You!
Reverend Fred Okello
Most people spend their lives looking for things that they think will make them happy, like money, fame, power, or stability. Ads, social media, and even good advice often tell us that being ahead, being noticed, or staying in control is a blessing. The same assumption can be taken in church. We begin to judge how blessed we are by how many people show up each Sunday, how much money we collect as offerings, how visible we are, or how well things seem to be going. But a lot of people who get these things still feel restless, anxious, or spiritually empty.
Imagine you have been climbing a ladder for years, only to find out it was leaning against the wrong wall when you got to the top. The work was hard, the progress was great, but the destination was mistaken. Jesus talks to people who are tired of climbing the wrong ladders. As Jesus sits on a hillside, Jesus looks at the disciples and starts to tell them who is truly blessed. It's not the impressive, the efficient, or the self-sufficient, but the humble, the grieving, the merciful, and the faithful.
Matthew 5:1–12 prompts us to consider not only our own values but also who we are as a church. Before Jesus talks about obedience or mission, He shows us who makes up His Kingdom. The Beatitudes pose a practical inquiry: How would our church manifest these values in reality?
Jesus starts with being poor in spirit. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall inherit the kingdom of heaven." A healthy church is not one that pretends to have everything figured out. It understands how much it needs God. When we pray honestly instead of pretending to be spiritual, when leaders admit they are weak, and when we rely on God rather than just on strategies, we show that we are poor in spirit. Churches lose their way when they mix up faith in systems with faith in the Spirit.
Then Jesus blesses those who are sad. This is important for us because churches often want to move on from pain too quickly. We like positive thinking, quick fixes, and well-polished testimonies. But Jesus says that a blessed community is one that mourns for sin, injustice, broken families, and people who are hurt in the room. Instead of pretending everything is fine, mourning means making room for confession, lament, and healing.
Then, Jesus blesses those who are humble. When we are meek in church, it shows in how we deal with power, disagreement, and influence. People who are meek don't have to win every argument or be in charge of everything. A humble church listens well, gently corrects, and doesn't try to take over. Jesus says that these kinds of people will inherit, not because they seize or take, but because they trust God with the future.
"Hunger and thirst for righteousness" makes us think about what we really care about. Do we want comfort more than holiness? More for growth than being faithful? A church shaped by this Beatitude wants people to live out God's ways in their own lives, marriages, sense of justice, and honesty. This hunger keeps us from getting too comfortable or bored with our faith.
Then Jesus talks about mercy. A merciful church is one where people show grace, not just talk about it. It shows in how we deal with failure, how we treat people who are having a hard time, and how we welcome people who aren't doing well. Mercy does not disregard truth; rather, it refrains from utilizing it as a weapon. Jesus says that a church that won't show mercy will eventually be unable to receive it.
"Blessed are those with pure hearts." In a church setting, having a pure heart means being honest and living in line with what we say we value. It means serving others without any ulterior motives, giving without wanting anything in return, and following Christ with all your heart. Jesus promises these people that they will see God working in their lives.
The church needs to work for peace more than anyone else. People will always have disagreements, but they don't have to be divided. Peacemakers don't run away from tension; they face it with humility and bravery. Instead of picking sides, they want to make peace. This is what Jesus says about how God looks like his family.
Lastly, Jesus talks about being persecuted. Being faithful can sometimes cost us in our relationships, culture, and even our social lives. A church that follows the Beatitudes may not always be praised, but it will be strong. Jesus tells us that being faithful is never a waste, even if it is not understood.
The Beatitudes don't talk about a perfect church; they talk about a faithful one. They show us what happens when a group of people lets God's rule shape their values, relationships, and mission. We don't need to ask ourselves if we like these words; we need to ask ourselves if we are willing to let them define us. Will we count our blessings like the world does, or like Jesus does?
A church that is shaped by the Beatitudes may not always look good, but it will be very strong. And in the end, that's the kind of church that Jesus says is blessed.
Let's pray.
Dear God,
We come to You knowing how easy it is for us to judge blessings by the wrong standards. We admit that we often want success, comfort, and control more than we want Your Kingdom. Make us poor in spirit again, so we can depend on You, learn from You, and be honest with You.
Make us into the kind of people Jesus said we should be: humble, merciful, pure in heart, and dedicated to peace. Give us the strength to want to do what is right and be faithful, even when it hurts. Bring comfort to the places where we are restless. Where we don't agree, help us make peace. When we are scared, remind us that Christ has given us the Kingdom of Heaven.
We give ourselves to You, believing that Your way will bring us real blessings. Amen in the name of Jesus.