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Matthew5

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

2He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.

14You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.

15Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.

16Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.

18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

19Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

21“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

22But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

23“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.

26Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’

28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

30If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

31“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’

32but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

33“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’

34but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

36Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.

37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

39But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.

41Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

42Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

45that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Matthew 5.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Christ's sermon on the mount. (1, 2). Who are blessed. (3–12). Exhortations and warnings. (13–16). Christ came to confirm the law. (17–20). The sixth commandment. (21–26). The seventh commandment. (27–32). The third commandment. (33–37). The law of retaliation. (38–42). The law of love explained. (43–48).

vv1-2

None will find happiness in this world or the next, who do not seek it from Christ by the rule of his word. He taught them what was the evil they should abhor, and what the good they should seek and abound in.

vv3-12

Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian. 1. The poor in spirit are happy. These bring their minds to their condition, when it is a low condition. They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer. The kingdom of grace is of such; the kingdom of glory is for them. 2. Those that mourn are happy. That godly sorrow which worketh true repentance, watchfulness, a humble mind, and continual dependence for acceptance on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, with constant seeking the Holy Spirit, to cleanse away the remaining evil, seems here to be intended. Heaven is the joy of our Lord; a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears. Such mourners shall be comforted by their God. 3. The meek are happy. The meek are those who quietly submit to God; who can bear insult; are silent, or return a soft answer; who, in their patience, keep possession of their own souls, when they can scarcely keep possession of anything else. These meek ones are happy, even in this world. Meekness promotes wealth, comfort, and safety, even in this world. 4. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are happy. Righteousness is here put for all spiritual blessings. These are purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ, confirmed by the faithfulness of God. Our desires of spiritual blessings must be earnest. Though all desires for grace are not grace, yet such a desire as this, is a desire of God's own raising, and he will not forsake the work of his own hands. 5. The merciful are happy. We must not only bear our own afflictions patiently, but we must do all we can to help those who are in misery. We must have compassion on the souls of others, and help them; pity those who are in sin, and seek to snatch them as brands out of the burning. 6. The pure in heart are happy; for they shall see God. Here holiness and happiness are fully described and put together. The heart must be purified by faith, and kept for God. Create in me such a clean heart, O God. None but the pure are capable of seeing God, nor would heaven be happiness to the impure. As God cannot endure to look upon their iniquity, so they cannot look upon his purity. 7. The peace-makers are happy. They love, and desire, and delight in peace; and study to be quiet. They keep the peace that it be not broken, and recover it when it is broken. If the peace-makers are blessed, woe to the peace-breakers! 8. Those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are happy. This saying is peculiar to Christianity; and it is more largely insisted upon than any of the rest. Yet there is nothing in our sufferings that can merit of God; but God will provide that those who lose for him, though life itself, shall not lose by him in the end. Blessed Jesus! how different are thy maxims from those of men of this world! They call the proud happy, and admire the gay, the rich, the powerful, and the victorious. May we find mercy from the Lord; may we be owned as his children, and inherit his kingdom. With these enjoyments and hopes, we may cheerfully welcome low or painful circumstances.

vv13-16

Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If they are not such as they should be, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If a man can take up the profession of Christ, and yet remain graceless, no other doctrine, no other means, can make him profitable. Our light must shine, by doing such good works as men may see. What is between God and our souls, must be kept to ourselves; but that which is of itself open to the sight of men, we must study to make suitable to our profession, and praiseworthy. We must aim at the glory of God.

Cross References

Matthew 5
v3Luke 6:20-26thematic

The parallel discourse in Luke's Gospel containing the corresponding Beatitudes and woes.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v5Psalms 37:11quotation

Direct verbal quotation: "the meek shall inherit the earth."

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21Exodus 20:13quotation

The sixth commandment quoted by Jesus to begin His exposition of heart-murder.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v27Exodus 20:14quotation

The seventh commandment quoted as the basis of Jesus' teaching on mental adultery.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v43Leviticus 19:18allusion

The original OT commandment ('love thy neighbour') which the scribes corrupted by adding 'hate thine enemy'.

Supported by John Calvin, Matthew Poole

v44Luke 6:27thematic

Parallel account in the Luke sermon commanding love for enemies and doing good to haters.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v3Isaiah 61:1thematic

Messianic prophecy of preaching good tidings to the poor in spirit/meek.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v3Isaiah 66:2thematic

God looks to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v34James 5:12allusion

James echoes Jesus' prohibition of swearing by heaven, earth, or other oaths.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v38Exodus 21:24quotation

The lex talionis (law of retaliation) cited by Jesus to teach non-resistance.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v45Luke 6:35thematic

Parallel instruction on acting as children of the Highest by showing mercy to the unthankful.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v48Luke 6:36thematic

The parallel version of the perfection command: 'Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is merciful.'

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v3Psalms 51:17thematic

A broken and contrite heart defines the "poor in spirit" accepted by God.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v4Isaiah 61:3thematic

Prophecy of giving beauty for ashes and comfort to those who mourn.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v4John 16:20-22thematic

Christ promises that his disciples' sorrow will be turned into joy.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v17Romans 10:4thematic

Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, fulfilling it.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v18Luke 16:17thematic

Parallel statement on the permanent authority of the law's smallest details.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v29Mark 9:43-48thematic

Parallel exhortation to sever causing-to-sin limbs (eye, hand, foot) to escape hell.

Supported by Matthew Henry

The Old Testament civil permission for a bill of divorcement which Jesus curtails.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v34Isaiah 66:1allusion

Identifies heaven as God's throne and the earth as His footstool, justifying Jesus' restriction.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v44Proverbs 25:21thematic

OT proverb instructing to give bread and water to a hungry or thirsty enemy.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v44Romans 12:20thematic

Paul's application of the enemy-love principle, citing Proverbs regarding feeding and watering enemies.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v44Romans 12:21thematic

Apostolic summary of enemy love: overcoming evil with good instead of being overcome.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v48Leviticus 19:2allusion

OT holiness code foundation: 'Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.'

Supported by John Calvin

v1Luke 4:20allusion

Custom of Jewish teachers sitting down to teach, as Christ did.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1John 8:2allusion

Another example of Jesus sitting down to teach the people.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Contrasts the Pharisees' outward cleanliness with the internal purity of heart Christ demands.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v8Psalms 24:4thematic

He who has clean hands and a pure heart will ascend God's hill.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v13Mark 9:50thematic

Parallel teaching on disciples being salt and keeping their savour.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15Luke 11:33thematic

Parallel saying regarding not putting a lighted candle under a bushel.

Supported by JFB

v161 Peter 2:12thematic

Exhortation to good works so that Gentiles may glorify God.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v17Romans 3:31thematic

Paul argues that faith does not make void but establishes the law.

Supported by John Calvin

v25Luke 12:58thematic

Parallel instruction to reconcile quickly with an adversary while on the way to court.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v33Leviticus 19:12allusion

The Levitical basis for not swearing falsely and performing oaths to the Lord.

Supported by John Calvin

v35Psalms 48:2allusion

Sion/Jerusalem explicitly defined in the Psalm as 'the city of the great King'.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v39Luke 6:29thematic

Luke's direct parallel to turning the other cheek and offering your cloak.

Supported by JFB