First we come to the beatitudes. At the end of Chapter 4 it says that Jesus proclaimed the kingdom and taught. The beatitudes can be looked at as a proclamation of the good news of the kingdom.
The normal human response is that all the things listed in the beatitudes are actually bad news. It is bad to be poor in spirit. Things are going badly if we are mourning, hungry or thirsty. Things like meekness and mercy are viewed as weakness by the world. To be pure in heart is thought to be simple or naive. The peacemakers just get trouble and little thanks, and the persecuted are, well, persecuted.
The kingdom of heaven comes to such as these. We need to remind ourselves that kingdom of heaven, means the kingdom of God's rule, it is not referring to where we go when after we die.
The kingdom was made for the poor in spirit. The world, and religions, say "you have to be like this". The kingdom says "I will make you like this". The kingdom is about overcoming and healing our sins and weaknesses.
The kingdom brings comfort to those who mourn. Right at the end, as it says in Revelation, every tear will be wiped away, but even now we can experience the comfort of God.
Meekness is seen as weakness by the world, but it means trusting in God, and so adopting a gentle attitude instead of an aggressive one. It is the meek who will inherit the earth, not the forceful and boastful. How can this be? Because it is God who makes the final judgement.
Those who seek to show mercy in this world can be taken advantage of, but we all need mercy, and God will show mercy to the merciful. The peacemakers will be called children of God.
The final three verses make it clear that Jesus is not promising an easy life in this world, but when the world rejects us it is only because God accepts us. So we should rejoice.
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