The Sermon on the Mount, Part 1
Introduction
Matthew places the Sermon on the Mount front and center in his record of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. He spends more time on this teaching of Jesus than any of the other gospel writers.
Remembering that the original writings were not divided by chapter and verse, let us go back and take a look at the end of Matthew chapter four to get the full context of what is happening as Jesus begins to teach.
“And when Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” (Matthew 4:23—5:1, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that Jesus needs to lead His disciples away from the crowds of people following Him so that He can teach them. Matthew is clear in chapter five, verse one that the Sermon on the Mount is a teaching to the disciples. Because the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to include this teaching in his gospel, we know that it is a teaching to us as well because if you are a follower of Christ, you are also His disciple.
The Sermon on the Mount takes place about one year into Jesus’ three-year ministry and contains some of His most well-known teachings. Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount are foundational for all of His disciples.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lays out how His followers are to live for Him in a fallen world. Jesus presents the ideals of the Christian life.
“The Sermon on the Mount is by far Jesus’ longest explanation of what it looks like to live as His follower and to serve as a member of God’s Kingdom.”
O’Neal, Sam. “The Sermon on the Mount: A Brief Overview.” www.learningreligiouns.com/overview-the-sermon-on-the-mount-363237, accessed 4/22/21.
The Beatitudes
The Sermon on the Mount begins with eight statements of blessing called The Beatitudes. They declare blessings to those who belong to the Kingdom of God/Heaven. [See the lesson on Matthew 4:12-25 for the teaching on the Kingdom.]
Remember that the Beatitudes are NOT a way to work our way to Heaven. We do not receive salvation by following the Beatitudes any more than we do by following the Old Testament law. Both of these may be admirable goals for our conduct, but we are fallen and cannot follow either perfectly. The Bible is clear that salvation comes through Christ alone. Jesus states in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (NKJV). The Word of God also states, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6, NLT).
By following Jesus, we become blessed members of the kingdom community, even though our character is not yet formed in God’s likeness. Individually, we fail to fulfill the characteristics of some or all of the blessings. But we are blessed nonetheless by the character of the entire community around us. Citizenship in God’s kingdom begins now. The character of the kingdom community is perfected when Jesus returns, “coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
“The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12.” https://www.theologyofwork.org/new-testament/matthew/the-kingdom-of-heaven-at-work-in-us-matthew-5-7/the-beatitudes-matthew-51-12, accessed 5/12/21.
Each of the eight Beatitudes begins with the word, “Blessed.” The Greek word here is makarias. It is an adjective that means “happy.” The word makarias (blessed) is used in a number of other New Testament verses.
- 1 Timothy 1:11
- 1 Timothy 6:15
- Revelation 1:3
- Revelation 14:13
- Revelation 16:15
- Revelation 19:9
- Revelation 20:6
- Revelation 22:7, 14
The Poor in Spirit
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3, ESV)
The first Beatitude is a blessing to “the poor in spirit.” To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge our need for God. It is acknowledging that we can do nothing to reconcile ourselves to Him.
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? (James 2:5, ESV).
All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word (Isaiah 66:2, ESV).
Luke renders this as simply “poor” in Luke 6:20. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, “poor” is used metaphorically. Jesus is using poverty to symbolize our spiritual condition; He is not speaking about physical poverty here.
In spite of our spiritual poverty, we can be part of God’s Kingdom.
Those Who Mourn
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4, ESV).
The second Beatitude is a blessing to “those who mourn.” The Greek word here is pentheo, and it refers to sorrow. We have all experienced sorrow, and we will experience more before God calls us Home. Sorrow and mourning exist because of the spiritual poverty Jesus speaks about in the first Beatitude. It is BECAUSE of sin that we experience sorrow.
I [Jesus] have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (John 16:33, NLT, emphasis added).
However, in the midst of the sorrow that will surely come, we will experience comfort. Jesus promised to send the Comforter (Holy Spirit).
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you. (John 14:16-17, Amplified Bible, emphasis added)
The Old Testament also gives us the promise of comfort in the midst of our sorrow.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2, ESV, emphasis added).
The Meek
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5, ESV).
The word translated as “meek” is the Greek advective praus. It refers to a gentleness of spirit. The New Living Translation renders it this way: “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.”
Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines “meek” this way: “Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend against injustice.”
Once again, Jesus is stating an Old Testament principle. Psalm 37:11 states, “But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace” (ESV).
Paul also writes about the correlation between meekness, gentleness, and humility in 2 Corinthians 10:1. “I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!” (ESV, emphasis added).
How will we “inherit the earth?” This is a promise that God will restore the earth to its sinless state. “This earth is not the earth that God created. This earth has been spoiled by rebellion against God, but God is going to restore this earth to His original divine intention. Wars are going to cease. Man is going to dwell together in righteousness, in true justice, in peace. And God’s kingdom will come to earth and those who are the children of God will inherit the earth.”
Smith, Chuck. “Verse by Verse Study of Matthew 5.” https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/smith_chuck/c2000_Mat/Mat_005.cfm?a=934008, Accessed June 2, 2021.
Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6, ESV).
We all know what it is like to be hungry and thirsty although most of us have not experienced the kind of hunger and thirst that Jesus’ first-century audience had probably experienced. However, if you have ever fasted for any length of time, you know what it is like to experience the strong desire for food. What if you longed for what is right the way you long for food when you are hungry or for water when you are thirsty?
The Amplified Bible renders verse six this way: “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.”
Charles Spurgeon made this observation about a “hunger and thirst for righteousness: “He hungers and thirsts after righteousness. He does not hunger and thirst that his own political party may get into power, but he does hunger and thirst that righteousness may be done in the land. He does not hunger and thirst that his own opinions may come to the front, and that his own sect or denomination may increase in numbers and influence, but he does desire that righteousness may come to the fore.”
The Merciful
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7, ESV)
People often confuse “grace” and “mercy.” Grace is to receive something we DO NOT deserve. Mercy is NOT to receive something we DO deserve. God gives us both grace and mercy.
“Mercy is the act of withholding deserved punishment, while grace is the act of endowing unmerited favor. In His mercy, God does not give us punishment we deserve, namely hell; while in His grace, God gives us the gift we do not deserve, namely heaven.”
Wijaya, Philip. “What is the Difference Between Grace and Mercy?” https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-the-difference-between-grace-and-mercy.html. Accessed June 2, 2021.
Because God has been merciful to us, we are to extend mercy to others. Jesus gives an example of this principle in His parable of the Unmerciful/Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:21-35. In the Old Testament, Joseph exemplifies mercy in his forgiveness of his brothers when they came to Egypt 20 years after selling him into slavery (Genesis 45:4-5).
The Pure in Heart
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8, ESV).
The phrase “pure in heart” comes from the Greek word katharos which can refer to either physical or ethical purity. The phrase “in heart” comes from the Greek word kardia. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, kardia “denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life.”
The Amplified Bible defines “pure in heart” as “those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character.”
Purity (cleanliness) of heart is definitely about our character!
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. (Psalm 24:3-4, NLT, emphasis added)
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to the upright in heart. (Psalm 36:9-10, NKJV, emphasis added)
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22, ESV, emphasis added)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8, ESV, emphasis added)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8, ESV, emphasis added)
This Beatitude ends with a promise that the those with a pure/clean heart/character “will see God.”
The Old Testament states that Jacob (Genesis 32:30), Moses (Exodus 33:11), and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1) all “saw God.” However, Colossians 1:15a states that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God” (ESV, emphasis added). Jacob, Moses, and Isaiah all saw a physical representation of God, but because God is a spirit and “invisible,” they did not see Him with their human eyes.
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18 ESV, emphasis added)
However, the Bible gives us a future promise that we will one day see God.
No longer will there be anything accursed but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (Revelation 22:3-4, ESV, emphasis added)
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2, ESV, emphasis added)
This is one of those promised difficult to understand because God is a spirit, yet the Bible promised that one day we will see Him. I think these verses are saying that we will understand and comprehend God’s essence in a way that we are unable to now.
The Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9, KJV)
The Amplified Bible defines “peacemakers” as “the makers and maintainers of peace.” The word “peacemakers” is from the Greek word eirēnopoios which means “signifying peace making” according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary. Although we often think of diplomacy between nations when we think of peace making, this verse is probably referring more to conflict resolution. While most of us will not be involved in resolving international conflicts, we all face conflicts daily with our families, friend, co-workies, and even total strangers. We are not to cause conflicts with others; we are to resolve conflicts.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:18, ESV)
This characteristic of conflict resolution is to be a characteristic of those who follow Christ, for if we seek to make peace, we will show the world that we are indeed “children of God.” We will be more like our Savior, the Prince of Peace.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6, ESV, emphasis added).
Those Who Are Persecuted
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on m account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12, ESV).
Jesus concludes this teaching with an explanation of what His followers who demonstrate the characteristic described in verses 5-9 can expect from the world. In short, we will be persecuted for doing what is right.
This is not the only place in Scripture where Jesus tells us what to expect for doing what is right.
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (John 15:19, ESV).
Jesus’ followers in the first century certainly saw these words come to pass in their lives.
Early Christians heard many enemies say all kinds of evil against them falsely for Jesus’ sake. Christians were accused of:
· Cannibalism, because of gross and deliberate misrepresentation of the practice of the Lord’s Supper.
· Immorality, because of gross deliberate misrepresentation of weekly “Love Feast” and their private meetings.
· Revolutionary fanaticism, because they believed that Jesus would return and bring an apocalyptic end to history.
· Splitting families, because when one marriage partner or parent became a Christian there was often change and division in the family.
· Treason, because they would not honor the Roman gods and participate in emperor worship.
Guzik, David. “Study Guide for Matthew 5.” https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Mat/Mat-5.cfm?a=934012. Accessed June 4, 2021.
Righteousness is doing what is right. It is being obedient to God’s Word. Psalm 119:172 gives us the definition of “righteousness.” “My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.” (NKJV)
God’s Word tells us how to behave in our relationships with other people and in our relationship with Him.
God’s commands thus describe how to live correctly. They teach us how to conduct relationships with Him and fellow man. This beatitude is written about those who are truly doing this. They will receive persecution because they are living correctly.
https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/741/Beatitudes-The.htm, Accessed June 4, 2021.
When we do what is right, we will be blessed. We will be happy even when we face ridicule and even persecution from the world. Jesus said that we are to “rejoice and be glad” in the midst of persecution keeping our eyes on the reward that awaits us.
Luke records this teaching in Luke 6:22-23: “What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man [Jesus]. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way” (NLT, emphasis and brackets added).
Notice how the traits Jesus describes in the Beatitude line up with the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (ESV)
The fruit of the Spirit as well as the traits Jesus describes in the Beatitudes are an outgrown of our faith. We will not be able to do them perfectly; however, with the help of the Spirit, we should strive to live them every day.
Word of Truth Blog 