For your consideration, i would like to propose a view that the beatitudes are a means of measuring spiritual growth.
First for your understanding one view of the phrase kingdom of heaven is the dwelling place of the spirit of God, unhindered.
Matthew 5:3-12 (NASB)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
First we see those without the Spirit, and in their new birth the inherit it.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Next is the realization of the life we have and the sin nature we have lived in and still struggle against. In this though we are comforted by the fact of the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Gentle is also meek, but the best way to put the context of this word is great power under authority. And this is what it is, the believe obedient to Christ will walk in all the fullness of life that there is to offer.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
This is that yearning for the presence of God, ever growing in our life, that He satisfies alone.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Mercy the best definition i see for this is covenant faithfulness. That is when we are faithful to the covenant, when we love God and love people, follow His commands and commision, He is faithful and just in His promises.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
This is that childlike heart we are meant to have, in it we see the world as God made it, and we see Him.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
This is one of the final things we see in the christian life, but it is also one of the first things we start doing. It is the mission work, our testimony, our voice. Peace is the tying together and completion of a soul, the peacemaker is the one who aims to tie the lost back into the Lord.
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
In the last two verses we see the response from the world of walking in the spirit. We see how we are to face it, and how God has promised to see us through it. It is again by the work of the comforter
