Commanding Blessings

When we talk about the commandments of Christ, we usually mean the commandments of bliss. But long before the Sermon on the Mount, the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Sinai. Why do you need new ones? The thing is, The 9 Commandments of Beatitude They do not alter or replace the commandments of Moses.



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The Ten Commandments were given in Old Testament times to keep savage and rude people from evil. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me; thou shalt not make thyself an idol; thou shalt not say the name of the Lord thy God in vain; thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:3-15).



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Bliss shows us the opposite way, upwards. They symbolize the beginning of the ascent to life, to the Kingdom of God. The law is one continuous “no” to evil. Bliss is one whole creative yes.

The Beatitudes The Gospel Commandments of Bliss They are given to Christians to show what spiritual qualities they must have in order to draw closer and closer to God and gain holiness, and with it bliss, that is, the highest degree of happiness.



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The commandments are set out in a certain sequence. They show a person the way to true happiness and explain how to follow this path. They can be likened to the heavenly ladder. The text of the Beatitude Commandments is found in two Gospels (Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-23).

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who weep, for they shall be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for truth, for they shall be satisfied.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
8. Blessed are the exiled for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
9. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and curse me in every way unjustly. Rejoice and rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven.

Interpretation of the commandments

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.
   It is remarkable that just as the fall of man began with a proud desire to be equal with God (“You will be like the gods,” the seducer promised to our forefathers, Gen. 3:5), so the restoration of man begins with a humble admission of his helplessness. The first commandment of bliss calls a person to understand his spiritual illness and turn to God for help. A great reward is already promised for one good beginning.
   
   Spiritual poverty is not material poverty or mental incompetence, it is a humble way of thinking that follows from an honest admission of one’s imperfection. St. John Chrysostom says: What does it mean: poor in spirit? Humble and broken in heart.”
   
   Blessed are those who do not consider anything their own and recognize that everything belongs to the Creator, and he gives and takes from whomever he wants. Happy are those who are able to humble themselves: they know the height of God and their unworthiness before Him, they do not boast of imaginary merit.
   
   In a believer, the consciousness of his misery and sinfulness is necessarily expressed in a repentant mood, in the condemnation of his past and in the intention to correct himself. Sincere repentance has great grace-filled power and is often accompanied by tears. This leads us to understand the second commandment.
   
   
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2. Blessed are those who weep, for they shall be comforted.
   Happy are those who weep for sins: it is for them that it is worth weeping in order to acquire a repentant spirit, with which the correction of life begins. Weeping for sins in the church is called joyful weeping. And it is true that those who have been to confession have felt it. It is after the sacrament of repentance that sins are forgiven.
   
   
   
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
   Happy are those who overcome anger and make it serve themselves. Inner anger is necessary if it is set right: a person should angrily reject from himself everything that removes from God. The meek are not the ones who never get angry, they are the ones who know when to get angry and when not. The meek imitate Christ, for when He saw in the temple an indiscriminate trade, He took the whip and dispersed the traders, knocking over the tables with money.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for truth, for they shall be satisfied.
   What is the truth here? The supreme, divine truth. “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Those who seek the truth will find it. Christ finds those who seek God himself as the Shepherd finds his sheep. Happy are the tireless in this search, those who are not satisfied only with comfort and prosperity, who respond to the call of the heart and go in search of their Savior. The reward for these people is great.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
   Mercy and mercy are acts of love towards others. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Prayer is a direct path to heaven. According to the direct words of the Savior, helping the sick, the poor, the suffering, the prisoners, the strangers, the needy, we help in their person Christ Himself. Happy are those who have learned to give themselves to others in order to benefit and instill faith in people for good.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
   An example of such a state of spiritual purity, passing into foresight, were such righteous people as St. Seraphim of Sarov, Father St. John of Kronstadt, Optina Elders and many other saints of the Orthodox Church. God makes such righteous people the tools of His providence for the salvation of other people and for this purpose gives them wisdom and special spiritual sensitivity.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
   Of course, all people should try to be peacemakers in the circle of their family and friends, but the highest form of this virtue needs a special gift from above, which is given to people with a pure heart.
   
   
   
8. Blessed are the exiled for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   Just as light, in dispelling darkness, shows things in their present form, so the virtuous life of genuine Christians reveals all the moral ugliness of the wicked. Hence, sinners are born hatred of the righteous and desire to avenge them for their reproaches of conscience.
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9. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and curse me in every way unjustly.
   Happy are the faithful to Christ to death. They will share his kingdom with their God and reign with him. This is what is promised to all martyrs and confessors for their faith.
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In conclusion, a very beautiful penitential chants of the choir of the Cathedral of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, (Nizhny Novgorod), Regent Kira Molev. God bless you!

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The monks and elders of Athos believe that the main salvation of each person is his faith. Their teachings are permeated with age-old wisdom and decades lived away from the worldly bustle.

“Why should I do this?” is a question often asked by people who do not have everything as smoothly as they would like. We suggest not to be discouraged, but to think. If your luck is gone, it's probably about you. There are laws that are pointless and stupid to argue with: they work with everyone, in all conditions.