It is part of Jesus' teaching of the ''gospel of the Kingdom''. (4:17,23)
How are we to regard these words of Jesus, today?
There are extremes of view within christendom:
It is all I need- Some view the Sermon on the Mt. as a complete definition of right religion.
It does not apply to me- Some view the Sermon on the Mt. as applying only to the Jews in the time of Christ's future earthly kingdom.
Neither extreme is a right view:
This sermon cannot save us-
It shows us how far short we fall of meeting God's standard of Holiness. Here, Jesus raises the standard above the external demands of the OT Law.
It provides no means of fulfilling this standard.
It provides no remedy for our unholiness. Only the blood of Christ can take away our sin. But it is not mentioned here.
This sermon does set the tone of Christ's kingdom- It may rightly be regarded as the constitution of the coming earthly kingdom. Today's believer is in Christ's spiritual kingdom-
We need to know the mind of the King. This passage shows us the holiness to which we are called.
We have the indwelling Holy Spirit who would fulfill this holiness within us.
Today's unbeliever, through the Sermon on the Mt.-
may be convicted of sin.
may see his or her need for the Savior.
5:1. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain:
and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Each of the 9 beatitudes presents a heart attitude and a corresponding reward or blessing.
However, this is not a grocery list, from which I may choose a reward and then match my behavior to obtain it. In fact, to the natural man, the points are:
unmatchable- The concepts are often contradictory. eg., poor...rich; hunger...filled.
unattainable- eg., cp. v.6 with Rom 3:11,12 These are not ''things to do'' (ie., to fulfill religious duty), but rather the ''state of being'' (of those who possess true godliness).
The Beatitudes are not empty platitudes (nice sounding but meaningless religious phrases).
The basis of these declarations (the thing that makes them true) is the presence of the King.
The King's character and future glories shine through these points.
(cp. Psalm 1- The One who best fits the description of the ''blessed man'' is the Lord Jesus Christ.)
The things that belong to Him apply also to those who are joined to Him -
His Holy Spirit produces His character within us. (Gal 5:22-24) Without Him, we cannot truly be: poor in spirit... meek... pure in heart... etc.
His promises will be realized when we are in His presence. (Joh 17:24; 1Joh 3:1-3) Without Him, we will not: enter the kingdom... inherit the earth... see God... etc.
The 'heart attitude' and the 'reward' of His own are brought together by His Person. They hinge around the words ''...for my sake...'' (v.11) The ''blessed'' are those who have entrusted their present and future to Him. Note that these words are not addressed to the 'multitudes' but to His 'disciples' (v.1,2).
Each of the beatitudes has specific application to -
the Redeemed from among all men (both Jew & Gentile),
the Remnant of Israel (the believing Jews who enter the earthly Kingdom),
the source of blessing: Christ, whose character is pictured here, and by whom the others are brought into the promised blessings. (These points are intermingled in many of the scripture references selected below.)
5:3 Blessed {ie., favored, happy} [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
poor- ie., destitute. Spiritual bankruptcy is answered by the wealth of Heaven.
5:5 Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
The 'meek' submit to God, trusting Him, even when circumstances are contrary.
When suffering injustices, they look to God, rather than taking justice into their own hands. Until Christ's kingdom is established, the meek will suffer loss to men of this world.
the meekness of the Remnant - Psa 37:10-11 {lit., will inherit ''the land''}
made heirs through Christ- Isa 11:1-4; 29:19; Mat 11:29; 21:5 - - He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Php 2:8). - - The Psalm of His crucifixion declares the outcome: Psa 22:26-28
5:6 Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled.
The natural man does not desire righteousness. Eph 2:3
made holy by Christ- - - He alone was worthy to approach God. Psa 24:3-5; Heb 7:26 - - He has obtained salvation for those who trust in Him. Heb 9:14; 1Joh 1:5-7
5:9 Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
enter the Kingdom through Christ's sorrows- Heb 12:2,3
If the Sermon on the Mount is the constitution of the Kingdom, Why is persecution a factor?
Because sin will still exist during Christ's earthly Kingdom. Only after the final rebellion led by Satan, will sin and godlessness be totally eradicated (Rev 20:7-9).
5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you],
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
The price paid, by those who stand for the Lord Jesus Christ, will be repaid.
{The references for the three points under v.10 apply here also.}
5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth:
but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?
it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;
and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
5:16 Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Those who belong to Christ's Kingdom are salt and light in the world.
Salt and light are both purifying agents.
Salt - hinders the advance of corruption. Luk 14:34,35; Col 4:5,6
-- lost its savour- GK= moraino, to be foolish, to make flat and tasteless.
A believer's life is an influence for good to the extent that he lives according to God's wisdom.
Light - shows the way of righteousness, points the way to God. Christ Himself is the light of the world (Joh 8:12). He shines through His people.
-- a candle- lit., an oil lamp. A candle will burn out because it is self-fueled. An oil lamp can produce no light without oil. Yet, its flame is as endless as the supply of oil. If the Lord is to shine through us, we must receive from Him a continual supply of His Holy Spirit. Eph 5:8-14
-- not under a bushel {container}- Even a small light shines like a beacon in a dark world, unless it is hidden (due to shame or fear).
5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven:
but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
5:20 For I say unto you,
That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees,
ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
the law and the prophets - ie., the OT Scriptures.
The Law includes the Ten Commandments and much more.
Jesus did not come to make the OT obsolete.
He strongly affirms ('verily'-GK= 'amen', surely, truly, of a truth) that even the smallest Hebrew letter ('jot') and the smallest ornament over a Hebrew letter ('tittle') will not be forgotten. All that is commanded and foretold will be completed.
How did (does) Jesus fulfill the law and the prophets?
By His sacrifice which- - - fulfilled the OT ''types''. Heb 9:11-28 - - took away the curse of the Law. Gal 3:10-14
By His Spirit within the believer, enabling us to live according to the standards which we could not keep in our fleshly state. Rom 8:1-4
Has the Law gone out of date? Can I disregard it?
No! God's standard of righteousness has not changed. v.18,19
The Law shows me that -
I do not measure up to God's standard. Rom 3:20
The Pharisees' external Law keeping did not make them righteous before God. v.20; 23:27,28; Rom 9:31,32; 10:3,4
There is only One who can fulfill the Law's demands. v.17 The Law leads me to Him. Joh 3:14-16
In the remainder of ch. 5, Jesus -
extends the external demands of the Law to test inward righteousness.
'Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.' 1Sam 16:7
He shows us that God's standard of righteousness is far beyond our reach.
God does not grade on a curve. His standard is 100% perfection (v.48). cp. v.17
supersedes the authority of Moses and other teachers with His own authority.
''Ye have heard that it hath been said... But I say...''
This pattern (repeated 6x) is underlined in the Bible text below.
Moses, the priests, and prophets were charged with communicating the Law given by God.
Jesus, as God the Son, is both the Lawgiver and the final Interpreter of the Law.
5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill;
and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
5:22 But I say unto you,
That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:
and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca {ie., empty, or 'air head'}, shall be in danger of the council:
but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar,
and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought {anything} against thee;
5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;
first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him;
lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge,
and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
5:26 Verily I say unto thee,
Thou shalt by no means come out thence,
till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. {a farthing= a small coin worth less than a penny}
God knows when a man's anger is equivalent to murder. v.21-22
Therefore, deal with anger before you are called to account for it. v.23-26
5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her
hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee {cause thee to stumble}, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee:
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish,
and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell. {cp. Mark 9:43,44}
5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee:
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish,
and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Before God, every man is guilty of adultery in this sense. v.27,28
Radical surgery is required to avoid His severe judgment. v.29,30
The literal removal of body parts is not intended here. The problem is not with my peripheral members, but with my sinful fleshly nature. My own nature will bring my destruction, unless I surrender it to death on the cross of Christ. Rom 7:24; 6:3-6
5:31 It hath been said,
Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife,
saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery:
and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Divorce for any cause is commonplace. Jesus calls it adultery.
He mentions one acceptable reason for divorce. He did not require divorce even in such a case. (See 19:3-12 for more.)
5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time,
Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all;
neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool:
neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head,
because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay:
for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
If a man is not truthful in heart, even his oath will be a lie.
5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:
but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat,
let him have [thy] cloke also.
5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
5:42 Give to him that asketh thee,
and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
The principles of v.38-47 cannot replace the rule of governmental law today, because sinful man is in charge. These principles will be fully implemented, during Christ's Kingdom, when He will deal swiftly with sin and injustice.
However, on a personal level, these verses reveal the tension in our own hearts between 'love of self' and 'love of others'. Our Lord has displayed selfless love toward us.
5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?
do not even the publicans the same?
5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]?
do not even the publicans so?
5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
God's standard for His people is 'perfection'. cp. Lev 19:2
Everyman, except Jesus, has fallen short of this standard. Rom 3:23; 7:7-10
Only in Him will we become what God desires us to be. 1Pet 1:3-5,13-16
children of your Father...- His desire for us is perfection, ie., to be like Him in our hearts.
The word for 'perfect' - ''implies full development, growth into maturity of godliness...'' [ScofRB] cp. Eph 4:12,13
The Father is perfect in righteousness. He is also perfect in love and mercy (cp. v.42-45; Luk 6:35,36).
It may be righteous for me to sue an enemy, but is it also gracious? (cp. Mat 18:23-35)