阅读经文 

登山宝训以一系列“祝福”语开始。这些通常被称为“八福”。每句话都以希腊语macarios开头，可译为“有福”或“幸福”。

今天我们中的一些人可能会因为得到一笔奖金，或在上班的路上没有遇到红灯，而说自己是有福的。但是，蒙福不仅仅是感觉良好，或在我们的银行账户上有收入。真正的祝福是按照神的旨意生活，就是我们被造所应当有的生活方式。在《圣经》中，蒙福的人被描述为通过与神的亲密关系而变得完全和满足。与神合拍，或与圣灵同步，可能不会给我们带来更多的金钱或更轻松的生活，但它会使我们在与神同行时获得平安和满足。

在接下来的几天里，当我们默想“八福”时，必须牢记这一点。耶稣在这里做出了一些令人费解的、挑战性的声明，我们可能并不总是对遵行祂的命令感到“幸福”。即便如此，登山宝训一开始就描绘了与神关系的富足意味着什么。当我们活出这些八福精神时，我们就进入了我们本应有的生活方式，我们会体验到一种在其他地方找不到的平安和满足的感觉。

The Sermon on the Mount begins with a series of “blessing” statements. These are often called the Beatitudes. Each statement begins with the Greek word macarios, which can be translated as “blessed” or “happy.”

Some of us today might say we are #blessed because we got a bonus or we didn’t have to stop for a red light on the way to work. But being macarios is about more than just feeling good or making a gain on our bank account. True blessing is about living in line with God’s will, the way we are created to live. In the Bible, one who is blessed is described as whole and flourishing through a strong connection with God. Living in tune with God, or in step with the Spirit, may not bring us more money or an easier life, but it will lead to peace and wholeness as we walk with God.

This is important to keep in mind as we reflect on the Beatitudes over the next several days. Jesus makes some puzzling, provocative statements here, and we may not always feel so “happy” about putting his commands into practice. Even so, the Sermon on the Mount begins with a picture of what it means to flourish in relationship with God. When we live out these Beatitudes, we step into the kind of life we are intended to live, and we experience a kind of settledness and wholeness that can’t be found anywhere else.