# Blessed ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible *Blessed* ([[matthew-05#^matthew-05-3|Mt 5:3-10]]) – *Makarios* (Gk.): An adjective meaning \"fortunate\" or \"blessed\". It is found 13 times in Matthew and 37 times elsewhere in the NT. The term is not used as an invocation of God\'s blessing but as a declaration that a person has either received a blessing from God ([[matthew-16#^matthew-16-17|Mt 16:17]]; [[romans-04#^romans-04-7|Rom 4:7]]) or can expect to receive his blessing in the future ([[james-01#^james-01-12|Jas 1:12]]; [[revelation-14#^revelation-14-13|Rev 14:13]]; [[revelation-22#^revelation-22-14|22:14]]). This distinction ha). This distinction ha). This distinction has its roots in the OT, where *wisdom* beatitudes congratulate those who enjoy divine benefits and favorable circumstances in the present ([[job-05#^job-05-17|Job 5:17]]; [[proverbs-03#^proverbs-03-13|Prov 3:13]]; [[sirach-25#^sirach-25-8|Sir 25:8-9]]) and *eschatological* beatitudes promise the rewards and consolations of God in the future ([[psalm-01#^psalm-01-1|Ps 1:1-6]]; [[isaiah-30#^isaiah-30-18|Is 30:18]]; [[daniel-12#^daniel-12-12|Dan 12:12]]). The beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount are of the latter type, for they announce that the blessings of the New Covenant will be fully realized in heaven. Some do promise blessings that are partly enjoyed in this life, but all of them look beyond the struggles and hardships of this life to the eternal blessedness of the life to come ([[matthew-05#^matthew-05-11|Mt 5:11-12]]). ### Source [[matthews-infancy-narrative-historical#^pfo21q|Blessed — word study]]