Short Course: 2 x 1.5 hrs. One of the most striking examples of Jesus’ teaching is the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel. The Beatitudes are the foundation on which that sermon is built. They are also one of the most beautiful statements of Christian ethics. Yet at the same time, they are also some of the trickiest verses in the Bible to interpret. In this subject, we’ll examine the meaning of the blessings in the context of the gospels, the Hebrew Bible, and wider Jewish literature, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. We’ll consider how the Beatitudes contribute to our understanding of Jesus’ teaching and mission. And finally, we’ll think about how the Beatitudes still matter today.