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Who is Jesus Calling Us to Be?

Andrew Stucker

The Beatitudes are more than just a list of blessings; they are a roadmap to understanding the kind of people God is shaping. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presents three triads that define His followers. The first describes those whom God seeks, the second describes the kind of people God is forming, and the third describes those who advance His kingdom. In this post, we’ll explore the second triad: righteousness, mercy, and purity of heart.


Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness

Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Hunger and thirst are not mild sensations—they are deep cravings that drive us. Jesus is not speaking of a passing desire but of an intense longing for righteousness, a craving that shapes our every action and thought.


But what is righteousness? Many of us associate righteousness with holiness or moral purity before God. However, in biblical context, righteousness often has more to do with right relationships—how we treat others. Scripture paints a picture of righteousness as an active pursuit of justice, care for the oppressed, and fairness in relationships.


Take, for example, David’s encounter with Saul. When David had the opportunity to kill Saul but chose not to, Saul declared, “You are more righteous than I; you have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.” (1 Samuel 24:17). Here,




If we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we long for right relationships. We ache when we see injustice. We crave a world where the oppressed are lifted up, where fairness reigns, and where love defines our interactions. This is the righteousness Jesus calls us to pursue.

Sunlit serene lake with trees in silhouette. Text reads: Righteousness is about treating others with integrity and kindness. Ducks on water.

Blessed are the Merciful

Mercy is more than just forgiveness. The word Jesus uses here is khesed, a Hebrew term that means steadfast love, loyalty, and generous kindness. It is the kind of love that endures even when it is not reciprocated. It is the love God shows to His people throughout Scripture.


A powerful example of khesed is found in the story of Ruth. She chooses to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi, even when she has nothing to gain. Her loyalty and kindness are not out of obligation but out of deep personal care. This is the kind of mercy Jesus calls His followers to show—not just to those who deserve it, but to everyone.


Jesus Himself demonstrated this radical mercy. In Matthew’s gospel, a Canaanite woman—an outsider, an enemy of Israel—approaches Jesus and asks for mercy, not in the sense of forgiveness, but in the sense of khesed. She asks Jesus to extend the kind of love and care He would show to His own people. And He does. This kind of mercy is not just about forgiving wrongs; it’s about loving others with an enduring, generous, and loyal love.


The Pure in Heart

Finally, Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Purity in heart refers to two things: moral purity and purity of purpose.


Moral purity means being wholly devoted to God. Throughout Scripture, encountering God’s presence is dangerous for those who are not pure. Moses is told he cannot see God’s face and live. Isaiah, upon seeing a vision of God, cries out in despair at his own impurity. To be pure in heart is to be wholly devoted to God, untainted by sin.


But purity of heart also means an undivided heart—a heart fully set on God. Psalm 24 asks, “Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.” A pure heart is not just about avoiding sin but about having a singular focus: to know and love God above all else.

This can feel overwhelming—who among us can claim to be pure in heart? But Psalm 24 ends with a powerful image: “Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” Jesus is that King of Glory. He is the only one who is truly pure in heart, and because of Him, we can be made pure.


Becoming the People God is Forming

Living out these Beatitudes means actively reorienting our hearts and actions toward God's kingdom. Living righteously means living in a way that reflects the coming kingdom of God, which Jesus says He was bring with Him, and means engaging in justice, reconciliation, and faithfulness in everyday relationships. Instead of seeing righteousness as mere personal piety, we should work toward a world where relationships—both with God and with others—are restored. This might look like seeking reconciliation with those we've wronged, advocating for justice in our communities, or being peacemakers in difficult situations.


Biblical mercy is about embodying God's loyal love. This means showing mercy not just as a one-time action but as a lifestyle of grace. Instead of withholding love when it is undeserved, we reflect God’s heart by extending kindness even to those who have hurt us. This means mercy is costly—it requires laying down our pride, resources, and time for the sake of others. This could mean forgiving someone who has deeply wounded us, serving those in need without expecting anything in return, or choosing patience in difficult relationships.


Purity of heart, as Jesus describes it, is about singular devotion to God. Purity of heart is not just about moral cleanliness but about a focused, undistracted pursuit of God's presence. This means identifying the idols in our lives—whether success, approval, or comfort—and surrendering them so that our hearts are fully devoted to God. It also means cultivating a life of worship and spiritual discipline, where prayer, scripture, and community shape us into people who genuinely see and experience God in our lives.


By intentionally living out these values—seeking right relationships, practicing costly mercy, and cultivating an undivided heart—we become the kind of people Jesus describes in the Beatitudes. Transformation happens not by mere effort but by immersing ourselves in the grace of Christ, allowing Him to shape us into reflections of His righteousness, mercy, and purity.

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ABOUT US

Redemption Orlando is a community reaching all people, with all of Jesus, with all of life. We hope to be a people who embrace the way of Jesus by loving others without fear, offering a compelling vision of life with Him, and recognizing and allowing everyone to be in a different place in their journey. Redemption Orlando is a 501c3 nonprofit, registered in the US, registration number 88-0669672.

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