Reference

Matthew 5:1-16

The beatitudes aren't just good sounding statements that sound nice.  Jesus is trying to show us that life in the Kingdom is supposed to look completely opposite and different from the way we live now.  The things that matter there are totally different to what we care about.  But when we embrace it, we will be transformed in to the image of Jesus, and we will be salt and light to a world that needs to see this new life.