Shedding New Light

Generally, I am not a huge fan of The Message translation.  Maybe I am just a ceature of habit, but I never have been able to get used to reading it and noticing such marked differences between its paraphrases and the words of the NIV translation that I grew up memorizing. 

Some such words are those found in Matthew chapter five.  AKA:  The Beattitudes.  This is a very popular passage of scripture and one that I grew up hearing over and over again.  I love the passage, and I think it is both a wonderful encouragement and a challenge to Christians.  But after hearing it so many times through the years, I guess the words lost some of their weight.  They became simply that: words. 

A few months ago, our pastor gave a sermon during which he read the NIV Beattitudes, but he also read The Message version on the passage as well.  This is how Matthew 5 is presented there:

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.


"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

For me, this passage brought new life into words that had become a bit stale.  We are blessed when we are at the end of our ropes.  We are blessed when we care.  We are blessed when our hunger for God is insatiable.  We are blessed when we get our inside worlds put right.  For me, those things hit so close to home.  Those are the things that I need to work on.  After reading this paraphrase of the Beattitudes, I went back and re-read the NIV translation, which now holds seems so much more powerful and personal: 

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "