The good life. No matter who you are, chances are you have a picture of what it looks like—and how to achieve it.

When Jesus opens His first sermon in the New Testament with the famous words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” He introduces a new paradigm for the good life—a stunning invitation to true joy in God’s kingdom. 

The Beatitudes, eight powerful statements from Jesus, show us what following Jesus really means—and why it’s the best decision we’ll ever make. 

In this episode, we unpack Matthew 5:1-2, the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount, asking questions of the text and finding answers by searching Scripture. 

If you want to dig deeper into the themes of this episode, here are a few reflection questions and passages to consider:

Which of the eight beatitudes surprises you the most right now? Why?

Read Luke’s account of the beatitudes in Luke 6:17-26. What differences do you notice? Does anything stand out that you’re interested in learning more about? Why?

Consider beginning our study of the beatitudes in prayer. Ask God to open your eyes to behold wonderful things about Jesus in His Word! To get you started, here’s a guided prayer:

Jesus, 

You are prophet, law-giver, 

teacher, preacher, and king—

help me to see You with my heart.

May I know You as my king, 

and follow You with joy.

This is the blessed life—

to be with You and bring You glory, 

now and forever. 

Amen.