Chapter five of Saint Matthew’s Gospel can be divided into two parts: the Beatitudes, coupled with the similes of salt and light (Mt 5:1-16) and a second part that focuses on the teaching on the Law with six examples of Christian conduct (Mt 5:17-48). Do you desire these good fruits? These rewards of the Beatitudes? The Beatitudes and the fruit of the Spirit are two very substantial teachings for how to live the Christ-like life and, so, there must be some link between them. Since the apostle Paul is sometimes considered an expositor or someone trying to clarify the teachings of Jesus, Paul’s Letter to the Galatians is a place to look in regard to the fruit of the Spirit, “….the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).
It is usually a good spiritual practice to start with the reward or the effect of something and, then, to let the desire for that reward grow. Ironically, the same is true of sin. Thus, it is a good practice, especially when struggling with habitual sin, to start with the effect of that sin or its negative effect and, then, ask yourself whether or not you desire it. The Beatitudes are to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be merciful, to be clean of heart, to be a peacemaker, to accept persecution for the sake of righteousness, and to be insulted and persecuted and to have every kind of evil uttered about you falsely because of Jesus, Some of those attributes seem desirous while others appear burdensome. Yet, if those Beatitudes are properly understood within the context of their fruit or the blessings they produce, then the desire for the means to that good fruit (the Beatitude) should grow as well.
The Beatitudes serve as the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount and they embody character quality. Yet, in desiring to acquire such an attitude, there might be something more that we can expect to be blessed with than just what is mentioned in that particular Beatitude. For example, if someone mourns, then they will be comforted. The “Beatitudes” have to do with the qualities of the heart, whereas the fruit of the Spirit deals with the actions that you need to do when being guided by the Holy Spirit to do so. In order to be pure in heart, love is necessary. By being poor in spirit, its by-product is joy. For those who mourn, such an attribute requires that peace be sought. The persecuted require patience in the midst of what is happening to them. The merciful are meant to exhibit great kindness. The righteous embody authentic goodness. Every peacemaker demands faithfulness to whatever avenue leads to peace. The meek have to be gentle of heart and those insulted must exhibit self-control. Let’s say it once again: the Beatitudes have to do with the qualities of the heart, whereas the fruit (or fruits) of the Spirit deals with the corresponding actions that are meant to be done by everyone whose lives are guided by the activity of the Holy Spirit.
Nature and dignity 