耶穌坐在一個離加利利湖不遠的小山坡上，向圍繞著祂的群眾宣講這篇信息。信息似乎是因應門徒的情況有感而發，但在場的群眾也聽到救主的教導。

按照希臘原文的結構，這篇講論是由一連串句子組成，每句都是以「有福」這個詞作為開首。我們可以用「愉悅」一詞來取代「有福」。有錢的人未必一定愉悅；反之，那些知道自己需要神，並接受神在基督裡所賜予一切的人，才能感到真正的喜樂。

這段講論包含了許多寶貴的應許。例如，哀哭的人，只要來到神的面前，便可得著安慰。

那些真正渴望與主同行、真正飢渴慕義的人，神應許他們必如願以償，得著滿足。

那些憐恤別人的人，實際上是在學效神；因為我們的神正是憐憫我們的天父；凡去尋求父的憐恤的人，從來不會失望而回。

在這個敗壞墮落的世界中生活，要保持思想和內心清潔，殊不容易。然而，人若想認識神和與祂相交，就必須保持自潔。

對於那些致力保持和平，促使人與人之間，以及神與人之間關係和好的人，必得著神的祝福。

此外，基督還特別鼓勵那些為著神的緣故，遭受逼迫和排斥的人。基督應許他們，他們此刻雖然受到毀謗，但終必得著賞賜。神疼惜祂的每個兒女。

因此，基督在這裡作出了很多應許，但每個應許都幾乎有附帶條件。這是一條蒙福之道，但我們也要盡上本分。正如有一位作者曾經說過：「我們不用祈求神的賜福；只要我們順服遵從神的話語，福氣就隨之而來。」

禱告：

主啊，求你使我成為一個和平之子，為擾攘的地方帶來你的平安。

The mountain where Jesus gave this sermon is a small hill in Galilee not far away from the lake. The message seems to have been directed to the disciples, with a larger crowd around also listening to what the Saviour said.

He began his message with a series of sentences, each starting with the word 'Blessed'. You could use the word 'happy' instead. It is not always the rich people who are happy. Those who have realised their need of God and have taken what he has provided in Christ, are truly happy.

There are some wonderful promises here. Those who mourn can have the comfort which God alone gives.

Those who really want to go on with the Lord, who hunger and thirst after righteousness, have God's promise that he will satisfy their longing.

Those who show mercy are acting like God does. He is our merciful Father and never turns away anyone who asks for his mercy.

It is not easy to keep purity of mind and heart in our corrupt world. Those who really want to know God and have his fellowship need to be pure like God.

There is a special blessing for those who try to keep peace, those who are willing to help men and women be reconciled to each other as well as to God.

Christ had a special word for those who are persecuted, those whom the world turns against because they are on God's side. Christ's promise is that every word spoken against us here will bring a reward when we get home to heaven. God's children are very precious to him.

Here then are Christ's promises. Almost everyone has a condition attached to it. We always have our part to play on the pathway to blessing. As one writer said 'We are never told to pray for blessing. We are told to be obedient and the blessing will follow'. What does that say to us?

A PRAYER:

Lord make me an instrument of thy peace.