The Secret of HAPPINESS Pt. 2

“Makarios” - What Jesus said about HAPPINESS:

As you know, the New Testament was written in Greek. When the scholars first translated the Sermon on the Mount into English, their first task was to translate the word, “makarios.” This was problematic because no English word properly gives the meaning of “makarios.” Many wanted to use the word “happy,” as we see today in some other translations. However, the early scholars saw the word “happy” as derived from “hap,” or luck, and in the end, chose “blessed” instead. Now that we realize makarios does mean both “happy” and “blessed,” we will discover it actually means much more.

Makarios wasn’t originally a word associated with Jehovah or the Jewish religion at all. Instead, this was a word the Greeks used from their own mythology, to describe a place or state of complete fulfillment and joy, beyond human experience or understanding. To the Greeks, makarios meant “the ecstasy of the gods.” In their thinking, this supernatural state (of happiness) was only available to supernatural beings. They believed they might taste it, but to live in it was impossible. Humans were bound to the earth, to its circumstances, and to the whim of the gods themselves. Makarios was reserved for those without such bondage.

Permanent Joy

William Barclay, in his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, writes his conclusions on this wonderful word. He joins JOY with HAPPINESS. You can hear his own joy as he writes:

“Makarios then describes that joy (happiness) which has its secret within itself, that joy (happiness) which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained, that joy (happiness) which is completely independent of all the chances and the changes of life. …The Christian blessedness (happiness) is completely untouchable and unassailable. “No one,” said Jesus, “will take your joy (happiness) from you” (Jn.16:22). The Beatitudes speak of that joy (happiness) which seeks us through our pain, that joy (happiness) which sorrow and loss, and pain and grief, are powerless to touch, that joy (happiness) which shines through tears, and which nothing in life or death can take away.”

The Beatitudes

There are Eight Beatitudes, which is the number of NEW BEGINNINGS! Verses 11-12 are clarification of the Eighth Beatitude of Verse 10, dealing with persecution.

Israel had suffered more than we can imagine. They didn’t need their “luck” to change, they needed their Messiah to come and establish His Heavenly Kingdom here on earth. Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, begins and ends The Beatitudes with the same promise, the Kingdom of Heaven. Remember, these are NOT the “WANNA BE-ATTITUDES” or the “OTTA BE-ATTITUDES,” but the “EXACT BE-ATTITUDES” required to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, thereby addressing the WOEs of mankind.

Both John and Jesus preached repentance (metanoeo – a change in our thinking or attitudes) that was necessary to receive the coming Kingdom. Then, how much more are these BE-ATTITUDES essential to live happily forever within this Heavenly Kingdom? The Beatitudes are not a list of things I need to work on, but literal promises of healing and ministry I will receive and the new person I will become, as I am changed into the image and likeness of Christ. The Beatitudes are WHO WE ARE in Christ!

Matthew 5:1–12 1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed (happy) are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (NKJV)

(1) The happiness of the destitute.

The word poor in Hebrew, underwent a four-stage development of meaning: (1) They began by meaning simply poor. (2) They went on to mean, because poor, therefore having no influence or power, or help, or prestige. (3) They went on to mean, because having no influence, therefore down-trodden and oppressed by men. (4) Finally, they came to describe the man who, because he has no earthly resources whatever, puts his whole trust in God. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who have come to this place in their spiritual maturity. The man who is poor in spirit is the man who has realized that all he can do, all that he can be, and all he can possess in his own strength means nothing, while God and His Kingdom means everything. This is the repentance declared as the necessary response to the coming of God’s reign on the earth.

4 Blessed (happy) are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

(2) The happiness of a broken heart.

The Greek word used for to mourn is the strongest word for mourning in the Greek language. It is the word used in the Greek O. T. to describe Jacob’s grief when he believed that Joseph, his son, was dead. It is the kind of sorrow that grips the heart and cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:3-4 is the promised fulfillment of:

Isaiah 61:1–3 1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted… 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (NKJV)

5 Blessed (happy) are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

(3) The happiness of a God-controlled life.

The meaning of meek today is quite different than in the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Biblically, meek was a character quality by which the Messiah would be identified, according to Zechariah 9:9 and quoted by Jesus in:

Matthew 21:4–5 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly (meek), and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” (NKJV)

Jesus would not be a zealot or military conqueror who would take the world through force and intimidation, but would inherit the earth by winning the hearts of men with meekness and gentleness.

6 Blessed (happy) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

(4) The happiness of a starving spirit.

Hunger and thirst in ancient Palestine was a far greater concern for sustaining life than we have in our world today. For the common people, there was often little food and water could be scarce. At issue here is how much do you desire uprightness, goodness, justice, and fairness in your world? Our televisions currently show unhappy multitudes marching for justice and fairness, but don’t seem to have a clue as how to attain it for themselves or others. Jesus offers the promise of the Kingdom as the only way to happily satisfy these desires.

7 Blessed (happy) are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

(5) The happiness of expressing perfect kindness.

This Beatitude states a principle that runs throughout the New Testament. It is the principle of sowing and reaping. We must forgive if we expect forgiveness. We must be merciful to obtain mercy. Mercy is the Greek word “eleos” which means kindness or concern expressed for someone in need, mercy, compassion, pity, or clemency. It is used of God who has provided salvation to all mankind. In the order of the manifestation of God’s purposes of salvation, grace must go before mercy … only the forgiven may be fully blessed. He who has received mercy must then extend mercy to others in need.

8 Blessed (happy) are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

(6) The happiness of a clean heart.

To be pure in heart means to be clean, clear, unmixed, and unadulterated with no other motives, plans or agendas, except God and His perfect love. Judas is an example of someone who had a place next to Jesus, but also had a selfish political agenda in his heart, as well. To carry it out, He plotted to put Jesus in a position where He would have to overthrow the Roman rulers. His plan led to his own death and his mixed heart blinded him from seeing Jesus as God and robbed himself of the happiness of being part of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

9 Blessed (happy) are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

(7) The happiness of the peacemaker who brings people Together.

The promise of happiness is for the PEACEMAKER, not the peacekeeper. The tendency of the peacekeeper is to love peace so much they are willing to compromise and avoid any situation to preserve the calm. The peace which the Bible calls blessed does not come from evading issues, but facing them, dealing with them and conquering them. The Sons of God are those who operate in the same nature of their Father which is always to make the two into one.

10 Blessed (happy) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed (happy) are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(8) The happiness of the martyr’s way.

The moment Christianity begins to cost us something is the moment we are called to demonstrate our loyalty to Jesus Christ. According to Our Lord, to suffer persecution is to walk the same road as the prophets, the saints and the martyrs who went before us. It is the Holiest of Ground! William Barkley wrote, “To suffer persecution is to make things easier for those who are to follow. Today we enjoy the blessing of liberty because men in the past were willing to buy it for us at the cost of their blood. They made it easier for us, and by a steadfast and immovable witness for Christ, we may make it easier for others who are still to come.”

Christianity needs its witnesses. It’s not likely that any of us will be called upon to die for Christ, yet persecution in many forms awaits those who will live for Him. Truly, ours is the Kingdom of Heaven!