Beatitudes connections

Fault tolerance is important in distributed systems and in organizations.

Redundancy can be used to detect and correct errors (discrepancies).

Bar codes, ISBN, Credit card numbers, UPC, CRC checks, parity checks, etc.
Space shuttle: Four redundant computers with one backup (cross-checking 500 times a second).
Accounting (manual) method of casting out nines.
Masoretic Hebrew text copying rules.
Two (reliable) witnesses (at least) needed.

An understanding of FTC (Fault Tolerant Computing) techniques is important in understanding the differences in various Bible texts.

The key to fault tolerance is redundancy. The simplest model is to use redundancy and take a majority vote of the various ways. There are many more advanced methods not discussed here.

More: Fault-tolerant computing concepts

There are some interesting connections of the Beatitudes to another statement made by Jesus as recorded in Matthew.

The Beatitudes can be connected to church history and with the Kingdom Parables and with the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. Redundancy and fault tolerant principles can be used to provide additional meaning to the Beatitudes.

Here is a quick summary of the Beatitudes. Each starts with "Blessed are".

1. poor in spirit - theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. they that mourn - shall be comforted.
3. meek - shall inherit the earth
4. those that hunger and thirst for righteousness - shall be satisfied
5. merciful - shall obtain mercy
6. pure in heart - shall see God
7. peacemakers - shall be called children of God
8. persecuted for righteousness sake - theirs is the kingdom of heaven
...reviled... (follow-on, not same format as previous eight)

To not be negative, most series of ARMS (Attractive Refrigerator Magnet Sermons) stop at number 6 or 7. The Sermon on the Mount then starts with "salt of the earth" and ends with the "house built on sand".

More: Attractive refrigerator magnet sermons

More: The Beatitudes

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1 Churches

2 Parables

3 Beatitudes

4 Time periods

Interpretations
☐ Literal	☐ Christian living
☐ Figurative	☐ Heresies over time
☐ Historical	☐ Prophetic details

Note that the time of Roman persecutions was that of the universal church as a collection of small "mustard seeds" while the time of Roman acceptance was that of the universal church as "tree with birds making a home in the branches".

More: Church history and linear combinations

*	Churches	Parables	Beatitudes	Church ages
1	Ephesus	Sower	Poor in Spirit	Jesus and the Good News
2	Smyrna	Weeds	They that mourn	Roman persecutions
3	Pergamus	Mustard	Meek inherit	Roman acceptance
4	Thyatira	Leaven	Hunger and thirst	Catholic Church
5	Sardis	Treasure	Merciful and alms	Protestant Reformation
6	Philadelphia	Pearl	Pure in heart	Great Awakenings
7	Laodicea	Harvest	Peacemakers	Apostate church age

$Time periods$ If you do not like the historical interpretation, as prophecy, just use the model to remember the order of the Churches, Parables and Beatitudes.

More: Church history and linear combinations

A "refrigerator magnet sermon" is a sermon that is quite "attractive" but contains little meaningful content. Such sermons can be preached in any church. A euphemism for a "refrigerator magnet sermon" is ARMS.

When someone asks you what you thought of the church or sermon, you can say:

Your church has real open ARMS.

I felt welcomed with open ARMS

That preaching was an great example of open ARMS.

Note: A "refrigerator magnet sermon" not of the polarity of the congregation is "repulsive" unlike actual magnets where opposite poles attract.

More: Attractive refrigerator magnet sermons

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]

Six noun‑verb pairs
1.	blind	sight
2.	lame	walk
3.	lepers	cleansed
4.	deaf	hear
5.	dead	raised
6.	poor	gospel

These signs are recognized as "signs" of the Messiah. Is there a deeper meaning?

Jesus cites six pairs of nouns (representing people) and verbs (representing actions), shortened for table and discussion purposes.

Jesus often uses double meanings here the nouns represent something else while the verbs are carefully chosen. This requires looking at the Greek words in more detail.

More: Matthew 11:5: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]

Six noun‑verb pairs decoded
6.	poor=fallen, beggars	start	gospel=good news preached
5.	dead=asleep	then	raised=wake up you deadhead
4.	deaf=not listening	then	hear=listen and understand	repent
3.	lepers=sinners	then	cleansed=be born again#44; cleansed in the blood	Ask
2.	lame=passive	then	walk=active start walking in righteousness	Seek
1.	blind=not seeing	then	sight=look up/ahead and see God & others	Knock

The top-down verses (in English) may be more understandable as a bottom-up progression (as events unfold in time) using the Greek meanings of the words. Approaches to change: (stop, repent, be cleansed and walk).

11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]

… blessid… sclaundrid … [wy]

… happy … offended … [ty]

More: Matthew 11:5: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]

11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]

… blessid… sclaundrid … [wy]

… happy … offended … [ty]

blind	look up
lame	walk
lepers	cleansed
deaf	hear
dead	woken up
poor	gospel preached

Having discovered a deeper meaning to Matthew 11:5, how might someone "misinterpret" what Jesus has said?

What should the church be doing?

What should believers be doing?

Discuss: Do churches or believers ever get "ensnared" or "misinterpret" in helping the poor, the blind, those without clothes, in prison, etc., and lose sight of the real purpose of Jesus? Many of those words used by Jesus have double meanings.

How many are like those picked by Gideon?

More: Matthew 11:5: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus

Jesus relates what should be told to John the Baptist (in prison).

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]

Jesus then says that "happy" is he who does not "misinterpret" or "entrap themselves" in Him.

11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]

και μακαριος εστιν ος αν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι [gnt]

… blessid… sclaundrid … [wy]

… happy … offended … [ty]

Let us match up the first six Beatitudes (in order) with the six parts of Matthew 11:5 (reverse order) and then match the seventh Beatitude with Matthew 11:6.

More: Matthew 11:5: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus

More: Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend

One can infer the word "blessed" or "happy" (same word in the Greek) for each if the parts of Matthew 11:6. One might assume that those to whom the action was done were "blessed" or "happy".

6.	Blessed	Happy	those to whom Gospel preached
5.	Blessed	Happy	those dead woken up
4.	Blessed	Happy	those deaf hearing
3.	Blessed	Happy	those lepers cleansed
2.	Blessed	Happy	those lame walking
1.	Blessed	Happy	those blind seeing
7.	Blessed	Happy	those not deceived

If the "Blessed" or "Happy" had been added to each part by Jesus, the patterns presented would have been much easier to detect.

Jesus does this in other sayings whereby one must detect the first pattern and then fill in that pattern in successive verses where the pattern is not provided.

We will see this again, starting three verses after the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.

(not good) You are the salt of the earth (stated)
(not good) You are the light of the world (inferred)
(not good) (inferred) candlestick (inferred)
Summary verse (good part of the previous three verses)

Matthew 11:5 … and the poor have the gospel preached to them. [kjv]

τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]

Those who were "poor" in "spirit" and "begging" for the "Good News", now have that "Good News" preached to them as part of the "kingdom of heaven".

5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι πτωχοι τω πνευματι οτι αυτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων [gnt]

This Beatitude refers to the present time (of Jesus) when Jesus was doing this. All following Beatitudes refer to some time after (future).

More: Matthew 11: Exploring the Kingdom of Heaven

More: Matthew 5:3 The good news about being poor in spirit

The first Beatitude refers to the present time (of Jesus) when Jesus was doing this. All following Beatitudes refer to some time after (future).

5.3	εστιν	is	Poor in Spirit
5:4	παρακληθησονται	shall be comforted	they that mourn
5:5	κληρονομησουσιν	shall inherit	meek inherit
5:6	χορτασθησονται	shall be filled	hunger and thirst
5:7	ελεηθησονται	shall obtain mercy	merciful and alms
5:8	οψονται	shall see	pure in heart
5.9	κληθησονται	shall be called	peacemakers

Matthew 11:5 … the dead are raised up, … [kjv]

τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]

Those who are "dead" in "Christ" are "woken up" after "hearing" the "Good News". They are "comforted" instead of "mourning", reflexively for themselves and for others.

5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι πενθουντες οτι αυτοι παρακληθησονται [gnt]

Blessed are they who were "dead" in Christ and "mourning" (reflexively) for they shall be "raised" and "comforted" with the "Good News".

More: Matthew 5:4 Good grief: the consolation prize of comfort

More: Reflexive relationships in the Bible

Matthew 11:5 … and the deaf hear, … [kjv]

τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]

The Greek for "hear" assumes "understanding". Those who had "shut out" the "gospel" now "meekly" "hear" and "listen" and are "called" to "inherit" the "kingdom" in the "new" "heaven" and "new" "earth".

5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι πραεις οτι αυτοι κληρονομησουσιν την γην [gnt]

The "meek" "hear" with "understanding" and "think about" what they "hear" and, as appropriate, "change" their "behavior" to go along with their "changed" "thinking".

The Greek word for "inherit" is made up of the words for "called" and "custom" or "law". One cannot "inherit" if one does not recognize the "call" of the "customs" or "law" of God.

More: Matthew 5:5 Grounds for meekly inheriting humble pie

More: Think after what you heard and repent

Matthew 11:5 … the lepers are cleansed, … [kjv]

τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]

Those "unclean" from the "guilt" and "shame" of the ways of the world, who have "hungered" and "thirsted" for "righteousness", are now "cleansed" as in "made pure", and "washed" in the "blood" and ready to be "satisfied" in their "walk" in "righteousness".

5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι πεινωντες και διψωντες την δικαιοσυνην οτι αυτοι χορτασθησονται [gnt]

This appears to be the idea of "prevenient" "grace" in action (previous steps) leading to this step of "ask". This is the "ask" part of the "ask" "seek" "knock" sequence.

More: Matthew 5:6 The righteous type of appetite with which to be gardenized

More: Wesley's front porch analogy of grace

Matthew 11:5 … and the lame walk, … [kjv]

τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]

Those who were "lame" or "not doing anything important" and waiting for "mercy" in the form of "alms" now "walk" in "righteousness" having received the "alms" or "mercy" of the "Good News" and can now provide "mercy" to others.

5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι ελεημονες οτι αυτοι ελεηθησονται [gnt]

The "lame" go from "alms" or "mercy" taker to "alms" or "mercy" giver. This is the "seek" part of the "ask" "seek" "knock" sequence.

More: Matthew 5:7 Mercy me, full of mercy, mercy me

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, … [kjv]

τυφλοι αναβλεπουσιν και χωλοι περιπατουσιν λεπροι καθαριζονται και κωφοι ακουουσιν και νεκροι εγειρονται και πτωχοι ευαγγελιζονται [gnt]

That is, those who were "blind", having gone through the previous steps, are "pure" in "heart", with no ulterior motives, not deceiving or oppressing others, and now "look up" and "see" God and others. This is the "knock" part of the "ask" "seek" "knock" sequence.

5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι καθαροι τη καρδια οτι αυτοι τον θεον οψονται [gnt]

The "lepers" were made "clean" or "pure" on the outside to get ready for their "walk".
Those "lepers" are now "clean" or "pure" on the inside and ready to "see" God.
In terms of a "cup", Jesus says to make "pure" the "inside" and the "outside" will be "pure".

More: Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart

More: Matthew 23:26 Cleaning the cup and bowl

More: Overly burdened in the cares and concerns of evil

More: Evil training is toilsome work: no pain no gain

The parts of Matthew 11:5 were presented by Jesus in a top-down manner. They make more sense to most people in a bottom-up manner (i.e., reverse order of the ideas presented).

The Greek words often have other meanings than in the translation of the KJV (King James Version). Adjusting for this helps in understanding and seeing the bigger picture.

Once the first six Beatitudes (in order) and the six parts of Matthew 11-5 (in reverse order) are connected, the next Beatitude and Matthew 11:7 connect in an interesting way.

Jesus then says that "happy" is he who does not "misinterpret" or "entrap themselves" in what Jesus says.

Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]

και μακαριος εστιν ος αν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι [gnt]

Those who "appease" the "world" or "compromise" with the "world" in order to "make peace" are "called" "children of God" by the "world" and are "happy" with themselves. They appear to have "misinterpreted" or "entrapped themselves" with what Jesus is saying and may end up not being "happy".

5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι ειρηνοποιοι οτι αυτοι υιοι θεου κληθησονται [gnt]

Eadige … sibsume… genemnde. [wes]

Selig … Friedfertigen… heißen. [lu]

More: Matthew 5:9 Making and appeasing peaceful peacemakers

Here is a summary table of the comparison of the parts of Matthew 11:5 (reverse order) and Matthew 11:6 and the Beatitudes.

*	Beatitudes	Matthew 11:5‑6		ASK
1	Poor in Spirit	6. Gospel preached	receive Good News
2	They that mourn	5. dead woken up	receive comfort
3.	Meek inherit	4. deaf hear	listen and called to inherit	grace
4.	Hunger and thirst	3. lepers cleansed	outside pure and satisfied	ask
5.	Merciful and alms	2. lame walk	alms taker to alms giver	seek
6.	Pure in heart	1. blind see	inside pure and satisfied	knock
7.	Peacemakers	7. misinterpret	danger of self‑deception

The rest of the Sermon on the Mount (102 verses) fills out these details. Much of this has to do with what to do, what not to do, and deceptions or traps to avoid.