The Beatitudes. A message for the disciples in the hearing of the crowd.

How many times are the words 'Blessed are' repeated? 9 times.

Any other Biblical nines you can think of? 9 is 12-3 or 3 * 3.

Why 9? Why in this order? poor in spirit, mourn, meek, hunger, merciful, pure, peacemakers, persecuted for righteousness, insulted for Jesus.

If God ordered the atoms is it likely that He just threw in a list of good things here? No, there is an order to them. We will discover it together.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What does it mean to be blessed, in the context?

What does it mean to be poor in Spirit? What is the kingdom of heaven in the context, and what would it mean for the kingdom of heaven to belong to someone who is poor in spirit–does that term only apply to humans or does it also include God–does He own the kingdom because He is poor in Spirit? Do we take ownership of the kingdom away from Him when we become poor in spirit, or is this sort of 'theirs' not an exclusive 'theirs?'

It basically says that the kingdom of heaven (a great spiritual kingdom) belongs to the poor in spirit. How so? How can they both have a great spiritual kingdom and be spiritually poor? It would have to mean that they recognize their inherent poverty, and that they are then open to receive great riches, and God give them great riches.

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control.