FRAMEWORKS:
Matthew, chapter 5
v.1,2
Jesus settles down to teach
v.3-12
The Beatitudes
v.13-16
Salt and Light
v.17-20
The Fulfillment of the Law
v.21-26
Murder
v.27-30
Adultery
v.31-32
Divorce
v.33-37
Oaths
v.38-42
Eye for Eye
v.43-48
Love for Enemies
[Note:
Commentators observe that there are six ‘discourse' (addresses)
in Matthew. Chapters 5 to 7 comprise what is referred to as the
Sermon on the Mount, the first of these addresses. A similar text
appears in Luke but on a plain and it is probable that Jesus repeated
the various things in these chapters numerous times at different
places. It is suggested, therefore, that Matthew simply collected
a number of these together here, or maybe this was one specific
time when Jesus addressed the subjects covered here. For the other
discourses see the bottom of the page]
v.1,2
Jesus settles down to teach
v.1,2
(teachers taught sitting
down, a mountainside meant many could hear) Now
when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat
down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
v.3-12
The Beatitudes (short
sayings that encapsulate how to receive the goodness of God)
He
said:
v.3
(there is a need
to recognise spiritual poverty before being able to receive from
God) “Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
v.4 (if
you grieve over your spiritual poverty, God will comfort you)
Blessed are
those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
v.5 (gentleness
of spirit is a prerequisite for receiving all God has for us)
Blessed are
the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
v.6 (a
yearning to be living aright will mean receiving from God)
Blessed are
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
will be filled.
v.7 (having
a right heart towards others will open the door to receiving God's
unmerited acceptance ) Blessed
are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
v.8 (purity
of heart is for those who would know God) Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
v.9 (God's
family are peacemakers) Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
v.10 (opposition comes when you are good
for God) Blessed are those who
are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
v.11
(God will bless
you when you suffer like this) “Blessed
are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say
all kinds of evil against you because of me.
v.12
(you'll get your
reward in heaven for taking opposition now) Rejoice
and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the
same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
v.13-16
Salt and Light
v.13
(our lives are to bring
purity to the world) “You
are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness,
how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything,
except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
v.14
(our lives are
to bring revelation to the world) “You
are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
v.15
(we are called
to be seen) Neither
do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put
it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
v.16
(so be bold in
your goodness) In
the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may
see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
v.17-20
The Fulfillment of the Law
v.17
(these lives fulfil the
Law) “Do
not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
v.18
(nothing that God has
said will ever be lost) For
truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest
letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear
from the Law until everything is accomplished.
v.19
(rejecting these things
mans trouble with God, accepting them means blessing from God)
Therefore anyone
who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches
others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven,
but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called
great in the kingdom of heaven.
v.20
(this faith righteousness
has got to be better than the false self-righteousness of the
Pharisees) For
I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not
enter the kingdom of heaven.
v.21-26
Anger & Murder (the
first of the ways we are to righteously live out our lives)
v.21
(the Law speaks against
murder) “You
have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall
not murder, [Exodus 20:13]
and anyone who murders will be subject
to judgment.'
v.22
(but unrighteous anger
& abuse is as bad) But
I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will
be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or
sister, ‘Raca,' [An Aramaic term
of contempt] is answerable to
the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!' will be in danger
of the fire of hell.
v.23,24
(don't be religious
but ensure you put right bad relationships) “Therefore,
if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember
that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your
gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to
them; then come and offer your gift.
v.25
(don't end up with court
cases, reconcile outside court) “Settle
matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court.
Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary
may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over
to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
v.26
(if you don't it can
go seriously bad) Truly
I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last
penny.
v.27-30
Lust & Adultery (the
second of the ways we are to righteously live out our lives)
v.27
(so the Law condemns
adultery) “You
have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.'
[Exo 20:14]
v.28
(but wrongly looking
at a woman lustfully is just as bad) But
I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.
v.29,30
(take whatever steps
are necessary to avoid sinning and cope with the consequences
that follow) If
your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it
away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than
for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right
hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is
better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole
body to go into hell.
v.31-32
Divorce (the third of
the ways we are to righteously live out our lives)
v.31
(the Law allowed divorce
after a certificate is issued) “It
has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate
of divorce.' [Deut. 24:1]
v.32
(but unless the cause
is adulty you only create more sin) But
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual
immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries
a divorced woman commits adultery.
v.33-37
Oaths (the fourth of
the ways we are to righteously live out our lives)
v.33
(the Law said don't break
oaths) “Again,
you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not
break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.'
v.34-36
(but trying to make the
oath more important by invoking a name or place is meaningless
and wrong) But
I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for
it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool;
or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do
not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white
or black.
v.
37 ( be simple
with yes or no and stick to it) All
you need to say is simply ‘Yes' or ‘No'; anything beyond this
comes from the evil one.
v.38-42
Eye for Eye (the fifth
of the ways we are to righteously live out our lives)
v.38
(the Law required equal
retribution) “You
have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.
'[Exo 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut.
19:21]
v.39
(but I say just turn
the other cheek) But
I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you
on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
v.40
(if some takes action
for your shirt give them your coat as well) And
if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your
coat as well.
v.41
(if they demand a mile,
go two) If
anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles .
v.42
(give when asked)
Give to the
one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants
to borrow from you.
v.43-48
Love for Enemies
v.43
(it was said hate your
enemy) “You
have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.'
v.44,45
(but I say love them
and pray for them, they are all under God's watchful eye and provision)
But I tell
you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that
you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun
to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous
and the unrighteous.
v.46
(loving those who love
you costs nothing) If
you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not
even the tax collectors doing that?
v.47
(if you greet only friends,
don't unbelievers do that) And
if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than
others? Do not even pagans do that?
v.48
(be whole, complete,
like God is) Be
perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
[Note:
The Discourses of Matthew: