The Beautiful Beatitudes -the magna charta

I am reading a book called "The Life Of Christ" by Ralph M. Riggs. Here's an excerpt from it:

'First came the beautiful beatitudes which are considered the magna charta of the kingdom of God. These foundational utterances of the New Testament doctrine correspond to the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament. How different, however, from the "Thou shalt" and "Thou shalt not" of the former convenant. Here are the keys into the blessed realm where men reach the ultimate in righteousness and heart satisfaction and arrive at the place where God's blessing rests upon them. The qualities cited here are the very antithesis of what are generally considered desirable and legitimate pursuits in life. As Jesus declared later, "that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15). Fundamentally also, "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). Humility, meekness, mercifulness, purity of heart, loving and making peace, and being willing to be persecuted for righteousness' sake--these are listed by Christ as the highest objectives for human living.'

And there has not been a better example of these characteristics being lived out in human life than what we observe having been lived out in Christ's life!