On a hillside, Jesus taught his disciples and others what kind of people God esteems.

Matthew 5:1-12

5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a hillside. He sat down in order to teach his disciples. They came near to him to listen to him. 2 Then he began to teach them by saying,

3 God is pleased with people who recognize that they have a spiritual need;

he will allow them to be the people whose lives he rules over.

4 God is pleased with people who mourn because they have sinned;

they will be encouraged {he will encourage them.}

5 God is pleased with people who are meek;

they will inherit the earth that God will recreate.

6 God is pleased with people who sincerely desire to live righteously just like they desire to eat and drink [MET];

they will be enabled {he will enable them} to do all that he desires [MET].

7 God is pleased with people who act mercifully;

he will act mercifully to them.

8 God is pleased with people who think only about that which pleases him;

some day they will be where God is and will see him.

9 God is pleased with people who help other people to live peacefully;

they will be considered to be {he will consider that they are} his children [MET].

10 God is pleased with people to whom evil things are done {to whom other people do evil things} because they conducted themselves righteously;

he will allow them to be where he rules over people.

11 God is pleased with you when other people insult you, when other people do evil things to you and when other people say falsely that you are evil because you believe in me. 12 When that happens, rejoice and be glad [DOU], because God will give you a great reward in heaven. God will think highly of you, just like he thought highly of the prophets whom your ancestors persecuted long ago.