The Eight Beatitudes of Matthew 5 & the Eight Woes of Matthew 23

The Word Beatitude Mean's  ( be-at' i-tud )  A Prefect Blessedness , To Be Blessed , Supreme Blessed

The Word Woe  Means( 3759 ) ( ouai )  Exclamation Of Grief , Misery, Affliction ,Deep Sorrow, Calamity

The Eight Beatitudes of Matt 5: 3-12 are best understood and interpreted by the eight contrasts, or "Woes" of 23: 13-33.

The comparison shows that 5:10-12 form one (the eigth) Beatitude, having one subject (persecution) corresponding with the eighth "Woe" of 23:29-33.

The 8 Beatitudes of Matthew 5:3-12 
Matthew 5:3   The kingdom opened to the poor.
Matthew 5:4   Comfort mourners. 
Matthew 5:5   The meek inheriting the earth.
Matthew 5:6   True righteousness sought by true desire. 
Matthew 5:7   The merciful obtain mercy.
Matthew 5.8   Purity within, and the vision of God hereafter.
Matthew 5:9   Peacemakers, the sons of God.

The persecuted Matthew 5:10,12
Matthew 5:10  Persecuted for righteousness.
Matthew 5:12  Reward In heaven

The 8 Woe's of Matthew 23:13-33
Matthew 23:13         The kingdom shut.
Matthew 23:14         Mourners distressed.
Matthew 23:15-22     Fanatics compassing the earth.
Matthew 23:23         False righteousness sought by casuistry.
Matthew 23:24         Mercy "omitted" and "left undone"
Matthew 23:25-26     Purity without, uncleanness within. "Blindness"
Matthew 23:27-28     Hypocrites, and lawless.
Matthew 23:29-33     The persecutors.    

Besides these eight contrasts there is an internal correspondence of the principal thoughts, suggested by the combined series, and formatting the

Structure given in Matthew 5:3,4
Matthew 5:3  Poor In spirit
Matthew 5:4  Shall be comforted

These Beatitudes rest on special passages in the Psalms: [here they are placed together for comparison.

These are placed here for your reference                                                                                                      

Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Psalms 40:17 " But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."

Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."
Psalms 119:136 "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law."

Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
Psalms 37:11 "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."

Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
Psalms 42:1-2 "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?"

Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."
Psalms 41:1 "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble."

Matthew 5:8 " Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Psalms 24:4 "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."                                                                                                                                                                    Psalms 73:1 "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart."

Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Psalms 133:1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! "
Matthew 5:10 " Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Psalms. 37; 39,40
Psalms 37:39  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psalms 37:40  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Psalms 37:1-40
Psalms 37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Psalms 37:2  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Psalms 37:3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psalms 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalms 37:6  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Psalms 37:7  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalms 37:8  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Psalms 37:9  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Psalms 37:10  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
Psalms 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psalms 37:12  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
Psalms 37:13  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
Psalms 37:14  The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Psalms 37:15  Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Psalms 37:16  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psalms 37:17  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
Psalms 37:18  The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Psalms 37:19  They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
Psalms 37:20  But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
Psalms 37:21  The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous
sheweth mercy, and giveth.
Psalms 37:22  For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be  cut off.
Psalms 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psalms 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Psalms 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Psalms 37:26  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Psalms 37:27  Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Psalms 37:28  For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psalms 37:29  The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
Psalms 37:30  The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
Psalms 37:31  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Psalms 37:32  The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
Psalms 37:33  The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
Psalms 37:34  Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psalms 37:35  I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Psalms 37:36  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Psalms 37:37  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Psalms 37:38  But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psalms 37:39  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psalms 37:40  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Psalms 39:1-12
Psalms 39:1  I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
Psalms 39:2  I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
Psalms 39:3  My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
Psalms 39:4  LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
Psalms 39:5  Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
Psalms 39:6  Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Psalms 39:7  And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
Psalms 39:8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
Psalms 39:9  I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
Psalms 39:10  Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
Psalms 39:11  When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest
his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
Psalms 39:12  Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy
peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers

Psalms 40:1-17
Psalms 40:1  I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psalms 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psalms 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Psalms 40:4  Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such    as turn aside to lies.
Psalms 40:5  Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Psalms 40:6  Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Psalms 40:7  Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Psalms 40:8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psalms 40:9  I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
Psalms 40:10  I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
Psalms 40:11  Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy
lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Psalms 40:12  For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
Psalms 40:13  Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
Psalms 40:14  Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
Psalms 40:15  Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
Psalms 40:16  Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
Psalms 40:17  But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my

I hope this study helped you understand the comparisons of the Beatitudes and the Woes!

Rodofiron <> Bible Studys