At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew includes two phrases to emphasize to his Jewish/Hebrew audience how important Jesus Christ’s message is that follows. His wording also tells us, as we discussed last time, that what follows is a summary or condensation of Jesus’ regular teaching to His followers. The message that follows was quite radical to the groups of people with whom Jesus regularly interacted, and it remains radical today in challenging our core assumptions. Jesus begins His message with a remez, a teaching method that points His audience to look back to two of Israel’s best-known leaders. We conclude this study with a look at the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words translated “blessed” to better understand what Jesus wants us to understand through the Beatitudes.

Scott Ashley

United Church of God Pastor, Beyond Today Managing Editor

Scott Ashley is managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado. 
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he has worked for 50 years.