Greek: Makarios

Vine’s: “akin to A, No. 3 [happy, blessed] is used in the beatitudes in Matt. 5 and Luke 6”

Thayer’s: “blessed, happy…blessed the man, who…Mt. v.3-11”

Blessed as used in Matthew 5:3-11, gives the double idea of happy and what we commonly think of as blessed—privileged, favored. Those who possess the character or conditions that Jesus describes are happy and favored by God.

This specific Greek word, Makarios, is found 49 times in the New Testament. It is found in Matthew 11:6, where Jesus said, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” In Matthew 16:17, Jesus declared, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Hence, the one who confesses Jesus and is not ashamed of Him, is happy and favored by God.

If we are afraid to confess Jesus as the Christ, or refuse to do so, we cannot be truly happy in this life. We may have temporary pleasures and be able to shut out the guilt, pain, or sorrow that is associated with alienation from God, but it will come back sooner or later.

If we are offended by His Words, then we cannot be happy. Rather, we will be angry and bitter. We will be confused in life, not having stable moral on which to stand. The favor of God and contentment only comes when we embrace Jesus’ teaching.

Are you blessed?