WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JUNE 09, 2026
TOPIC: THE BEATITUDES SHOULD BE YOUR ATTITUDES (1)
BY T. O. BANSO
“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 5:1-3 New King James Version).
In Matthew 5-7, the Bible records the teaching of Jesus Christ referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, His longest recorded sermon in Scripture. In chapter 5, He taught His disciples what are known as the Beatitudes. There are at least eight Beatitudes in all. There is a shorter version of these in Luke 6:20-23, which Jesus taught during the Sermon on the Plain (a passage that encompasses His teachings in Luke 6:20-49). These consist of four Beatitudes, followed by four woes in verses 24-26.
Bible scholars approach the Beatitudes in different ways. One way to view them is as the attitudes you should have as a new creation in Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 New King James Version).
The Beatitudes represent new attitudes that differ from those of people who are not yet born anew. Such attitudes should define you as a child of God and characterise other Christians. Ephesians 4:22 says you should put off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, corrupted by lust and deception..
Matthew 5 starts by saying, “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 5:1-3 New King James Version). Jesus went on to share more Beatitudes, each starting with the word “Blessed.”
The Greek word makarioi translated as blessed, also means happy. The New Living Translation commentary says that “blessed” means more than happiness but implies “the fortunate or enviable state of those who are in God’s Kingdom.” In the New King James Version commentary on “blessed,” used in the Beatitudes recorded in Luke 6:20-23, it states that “blessed,” which means happy, refers to “the special joy and favor that comes upon those who experience God’s grace.”
What are the eight attitudes that you should cultivate from the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12? We shall look at four today.
1. Regard yourself as spiritually poor without Jesus in your life. If you don’t have Jesus in your life, you’re suffering from spiritual poverty, and you should give your life to Jesus. Those who recognise their spiritual poverty and turn to Jesus will enter the kingdom of heaven. In the first Beatitude, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3 New King James Version).
The New Living Translation renders the verse thus: “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” The Amplified Bible puts it this way: “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].” From these translations, we learn that the poor in spirit are those devoid of spiritual arrogance – those who regard themselves as insignificant.
Jesus said that those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick do. He added that He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance (Mark 2:17). Matthew 9:12 and Luke 5:31 also record Jesus’ words regarding this. Those who do not acknowledge their spiritual sickness cannot receive healing.
Only those who admit that they are sinners and cannot save themselves will receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. This is the right attitude to have. The self-righteous will be lost forever! Isaiah 64:6a says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (New King James Version).
2. Humble yourself and genuinely repent of your sins. This is related to the first attitude. There is forgiveness for those who humble themselves and genuinely repent of their sins. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b).
The second Beatitude says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4 New King James Version). The Amplified Bible presents it thus: “Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].”
If you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Whether you’re a Christian or not, do not cover your sins. Proverbs 28:13 says that whoever covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. God will lift the burden of sin from such a person. He will comfort him.
The Beatitude “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” can also mean that God will comfort or take care of those who have suffered a loss or are suffering and cry to Him. He will wipe away their tears. Therefore, look unto God in every situation. He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b). He will console or comfort those who mourn, give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3a).
3. Be meek. Jesus, in the third Beatitude, says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 New King James Version). This aligns with Psalm 37:11a, which says that the meek shall inherit the earth. Some Bible translations render the word meek as gentle. The Greek word for meek, praus, means “mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). Meekness is “strength under control.” Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is bringing your strength under the control of God. It means submission to God’s will.
The Amplified Bible renders Matthew 5:5 as, “Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.” The earth can be translated as land, which is a reference to the Land of Canaan for God’s people, the Israelites, as a type of the heavenly land, which the meek shall inherit. The meek shall enjoy all that God has destined for them on earth and inherit the New Earth.
4. Hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus said in the fourth Beatitude, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6 New King James Version). The Amplified Bible says, “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.”
Hunger and thirst are natural appetites. They are used in this scripture to express a strong desire. You should have a strong desire for righteousness. This means actively seeking “right standing with God” or having the greatest desire to do what God requires. “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!” (Matthew 5:6 Good News Translation). This also means you should pursue holiness. Without holiness, no one shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
1 Peter 1:15-16 says He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written that you should be holy, for He (God) is holy. Have a hunger and thirst for righteousness, for those who do shall be filled, as Matthew 5:6 says.
Philippians 2:13 says it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. No one can be righteous and holy by his power. The ability comes from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, you must depend on the Holy Spirit to live a holy and righteous life.
Let these four Beatitudes be your attitudes. We shall look at the remaining Beatitudes tomorrow.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must give your heart to Jesus now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, deliver me from spiritual arrogance; help me to see my spiritual poverty without Jesus in my life. Father, create in me a hunger and thirst for righteousness and fill me. I will have a strong desire for righteousness in Jesus’ name. My greatest desire will be to do what God requires, and He will satisfy me fully. Help me to be meek, and let me keep my strength under control. Father, console those who mourn, give them beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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