誰是有福的人？ Who are the blessed ?

(English at the bottom)
新年，中國人彼此送上祝福，於是思考：

怎樣才是真正「有福」的人？

要具備甚麼特質才是有福的人？
究竟要追求「世間標準」的福，抑或天國的福？
天國的「有福」，主要與人的素質、性情、品格有關 ─

心靈貧窮(虛心)、

哀慟、

謙和(温柔)、

愛慕公義(飢渴慕義)、

心存憐憫的人(憐恤人的)、

心靈純潔(清心)、

使人和睦、

為義受迫害(逼)

以上是根據聖經馬太福音5 章3-10節主耶穌親自解釋的「天國八福」。

由於對和合本有些用詞的意思不大清楚明白，

於是以下引用CCBT版譯文，括號內用詞是和合本譯法：

『心靈貧窮(虛心)的人有福了，因為天國是他們的。

哀慟的人有福了，因為他們必得安慰。

謙和(温柔)的人有福了，因為他們必承受土地。

愛慕公義(飢渴慕義)如饑似渴的人有福了，因為他們必得飽足。

心存憐憫的人(憐恤人的)有福了，因為他們必蒙上帝的憐憫(因為他們必蒙憐恤)。

心靈純潔(清心)的人有福了，因為他們必看見上帝(必得見神)。

使人和睦的人有福了，因為他們必被稱為上帝的兒女(必稱為神的兒子)。

為義受迫害(逼)的人有福了，因為天國是他們的。』

這八福中所提及的種種素質、性情、品格，

其實難以靠一己之力達至，

須要倚靠主幫助；

也並非一時三刻，

是行走天路一生的歷程！

Who are the blessed? 

In the Chinese New Year, people bless each other with good wishes.

So a question came into my mind,

"Who are the blessed?",

"What qualities do people who are blessed have?"

Are we searching for the worldly standard of blessings, or the blessings from the standard of God? The people who are blessed, according to the explanations by our Lord, are those:

- poor in spirit;

- those who mourn;

- the meek;

- those who hunger and thirst for righteousness;

- the merciful;

- pure in heart;

- the peacemakers;

- persecuted because of righteousness.

The above are according to Matthew Chapter 5:3-10, (NIV):

The Beatitudes

He (Jesus) said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

These 8 types of blessed people, or qualities of people who are blessed, cannot be achieved by ourselves according to our human nature. We need to seek help from God.

It could not be achieved within a short period of time, but rather a life-long journey of faith.