Question: What is the term used to refer to the collection of statements which Jesus began with the words, “Blessed are...”
Answer: The Beatitudes.
Comments: The beatitudes appear at the outset of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12). The name comes from Latin beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy". In each beattitude, Jesus sets out a condition that is typically undesired and then states a favorable result of that condition. These statements were to demonstrate the radical nature of the kingdom of heaven and likely shocked the original audience. As an example:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3, NASB)
Most scholars count eight Beatitudes in Matthew. Four of the eight appear in Luke 6:20-26.
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