Written and compiled by Gary Kukis

Preface:   The growing believer will always be blessed by God. This does not mean that you will be blessed with a $10 million mansion and a car that makes all of your neighbors jealous, but you will be blessed.

The ESV; capitalized will be used, unless otherwise noted. Most of this material comes from the New Testament.

1.     Blessing, the vocabulary. Some form of the word blessing occurs over 120 times in the New Testament. Since this doctrine is primarily about Church Age believers, we will focus on the 7 Greek words, which are often translated, to bless, blessed, blessings.

        1)     Verb makarizô (μακαρί́ζω) [pronounced mahk-ahr-IHD-zoh], which means, to pronounce [one] [as] blessed; to recognize as blessed. Thayer definitions only. Strong’s #3106.

        2)     Adjective: makarios (μακάριος) [pronounced mahk-AHR-ee-oss], which means, blessed, happy; one possessing the favor (grace) of God. This is often applied to believers in this world. Thayer and Zodhiates definitions only. This word is most famously found in the first 10 verses of the Sermon on the Mount. Strong’s #3107.

        3)     Noun masculine makarismos (μακαρισμός) [pronounced mahk-ahr-ihs-MOSS], which means, declaration of blessedness [or, happiness]; to utter a declaration of blessedness upon one; to pronounce one blessed; considering one being blessed [happy]. Thayer and Zodhiates definitions only. Strong’s #3108.

        4)     Verb: eulogeô (εὐλογέω) [pronounced you-lohg-EH-oh], which means, 1) to praise, celebrate with praises; to speak well of; 2) to invoke blessings; 3) to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers; 3a) to ask God’s blessing on a thing; 3b) pray God to bless it to one’s use; 3c) pronounce a consecratory blessing on; 4) of God; 4a) to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings on; 4b) favoured of God, blessed. Thanksgiving might be a part of recognizing that a person is blessed. This word can be used when praying for the divine welfare of a person. This is the word used for blessing the food that we eat, essentially asking God that the food that we consume be of benefit to us. Thayer and Zodhiates definitions only. Strong’s #2127.

        5)     Adjective: eulogêtos (εὐλογητός) [pronounced yoo-log-ay-TOSS], which means, blessed, happy; praised; well-spoken of, [inherently] worthy of praise. Thayer and Zodhiates definitions only. Strong’s #2128.

        6)     Feminine_noun: eulogia (εὐλογία) [pronounced yoo-log-EE-ah], which means, 1) praise, commendation, laudation, panegyric: of Christ or God; 2) fine discourse, polished language; 2a) in a bad sense, language artfully adapted to captivate the hearer: fair speaking, fine speeches; 3) an invocation of blessing, benediction; 4) consecration; 5) a (concrete) blessing, benefit; a gift, a present, a bounty. Thayer and Zodhiates definitions only. Strong’s #2129.

        7)     Verb eneulogeô (ἐνευλογέω) [pronounced ehn-yoo-log-EH-oh], which means, to confer benefits on, to bless; to bless in or through someone. Thayer and Zodhiates definitions only. Strong’s #1757.

2.     Jesus, as the Messiah, offers blessings to the Jews who desire the kingdom and look to Him to restore it:

        1)     Jesus promises happiness and blessings to those who prepared themselves, mentally and spiritually, for the kingdom of God. Strictly speaking, these were promises made to the disciples by their Messiah, offering them the kingdom promised them by God. Matt. 5:3–11 Luke 6:20–22

        2)     Jesus promises happiness to John the Baptizer for correctly identifying Him as the Messiah, and holding to that truth. Matt. 11:6

        3)     Those who have a place in the Kingdom will be blessed. Luke 14:15

3.     God blessed Israel in the past and will bless Israel in the future because of the conditional covenant with Moses (Mosaic law, Deuteronomy 28) and unconditional covenants for Israel (Abrahamic, Genesis 12.1-3, Palestinian, Deuteronomy 30.1-10, Davidic, 2 Samuel 7.14-16, and New, Jeremiah 31.31-34). So, despite the change of dispensation, God has not set the Jews aside permanently, nor will He renege on His promises to them.

4.     Jesus promises special blessing and happiness to His disciples:

        1)     Jesus, when speaking to the disciples, said that they were blessed because they could see and hear what others were refusing to see and here. Matt. 13:16

        2)     Peter recognizes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, and Jesus tells him that he will be blessed for that. Matt. 16:13–17

5.     Blessing directed toward God or toward His Messiah is equivalent to recognizing and praising God and His plan.

        1)     When Jesus came into Jerusalem as Messiah, He was recognized as the Messiah and people blessed Him (they were quoting Scripture). Matt. 21:9 Mark 11:7–10

        2)     Jesus requires the people of Jerusalem to recognize Him, and that He would not return until they recognize Him as Savior, and say, “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Matt. 23:39; Psalm 118:26) Also found in Luke 13:35.

        3)     When He returns, His servants will be blessed (happy) if they are doing His will upon His return (Matt. 24:46 Luke 12:37–38, 43). Jesus gives specific examples of this in Matt. 25:31–46.

        4)     Simeon, a righteous man, saw the Messiah before he died, and blessed God for that. Luke 2:25–30

        5)     See also Luke 1:64, 68

6.     We are blessed for playing a part in God’s plan during any dispensation.

        1)     Simeon blesses Mary for having the Lord Jesus. Luke 2:33–35

        2)     The disciples were blessed for being able to see the Lord on this earth, something prophets had looked forward to, and many Christians have looked back to. Luke 10:23–24

7.     Jesus blesses the children, because their childlike faith is illustrative of how we ought to respond to Jesus Christ. Mark 10:13–16

8.     Jesus says of the Word of God: But He said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Luke 11:28)

9.     What is true throughout all dispensations:

        1)     God blesses some with great prosperity. We have the examples of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and David and Solomon. At no time did God go to any of these men and tell them, “You really need to start spreading your wealth around.”

        2)     However, at the same time, it is clear that this is not the blessing for all believers. We have the examples of Paul and John, as well as the traditions of the other Apostles, that some believers will live lives apart from great material prosperity. In fact, many are blessed despite enduring difficult circumstances. Paul writes: I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philip. 4:10–13)

10.   God promises blessing to all growing and Church Age believers.

        1)     Jesus blessed His disciples before ascending into heaven. Luke 24:50–51

        2)     Those who do not see Jesus physically but have faith in Him will be greatly blessed. John 20:28–29

        3)     People who simply believe in Jesus Christ are blessed, even apart from works. Rom. 4:5–8

        4)     We are blessed by God because we are in the Beloved (that is, Jesus Christ). Eph. 1:6

        5)     Sharing the gospel is sharing blessings. 1Cor. 9:23

        6)     As gentiles in the Church Age, we share in the blessings God had intended for the Jews. Rom. 15:27 Gal. 3:8–9

        7)     God has blessed every church age believer with positional blessings-the same blessings for all believers-simply because we are believers in Christ (Ephesians 1.3; Romans 4.6-9; Galatians 3.14).

        8)     He also blesses individual believers with experiential blessings-individualized blessings for those who practice accurately the Christian life (Acts 20.35; Romans 15.29; Galatians 4.15; Hebrews 6.7; 1 Peter 3.14; 4.14; Revelation 22.7).

        9)     We are blessed in our trials and tribulations. James 1:12 1Peter 3:14 4:14

        10)   Salvation is an eternal blessing from God. 2Cor. 11:31

        11)   We have the greatest blessings awaiting us in eternity. Eph. 1:3

11.   Believers are to show grace toward all people, including those who are our personal enemies. Rom. 12:14 1Cor. 4:12 1Peter 3:9

12.   Jesus Christ continues to be blessed (praised) in this new dispensation. Rom. 9:5