V1-12
This whole section (chapters 5-7) is called the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus took his disciples up onto a mountainside to teach them.
The first part of Matthew chapter 5 is referred to as the Beatitudes. Jesus taught his disciples how to live if they want to be blessed by God.
The Greek word for blessed in verse 3 is Μακάριοι (Makarioi) from the adjective, μακάριος (makarios), meaning happy, blessed, to be envied.
he went up on a mountainside (v1)
Jesus saw that huge crowds were gathering, so he climbed a mountain. Those who were committed to him followed him.
The crowds gathered to see Jesus perform miracles (Matthew 4:23-25), but his disciples followed him up the mountainside.
Do you want to be a part of the crowd who follow Jesus only when things are easy and fun, or do you want to be his disciple?
If you want to stay close to Jesus, you will have to be prepared to take the more challenging road.
he began to teach them (v2)
Matthew shows that Jesus is not just a miracle worker but a great teacher. God has many things to teach you. Come to him for guidance and training on how to live.
God values the things that this world thinks are worthless: humility, meekness, purity, a hunger for righteousness, peacefulness. He is close to those who others reject, those who mourn, need mercy or are persecuted.
hunger and thirst for righteousness (v6)
In your study of the Bible, don’t just hunger for knowledge or information. Instead, hunger and thirst for righteousness. Desire to know more about God, but also learn how to love him in your daily life. Look for ways to put love into practice.
for they will be filled (v6)
It is in the empty seasons of life that you are blessed. When you are hungry and thirsty, you can have faith that God will fill you. I often find that I seek God more desperately when I’m waiting for him to fulfil his promises. Because of this, my relationship with him is strengthened.
Blessed are you when people … persecute you (v11)
So far, Jesus hadn’t faced persecution. He was known as a wonder-working celebrity. Jesus needed to warn his disciples that it wouldn’t always be that way.
In this world, people think you are blessed if you are famous and successful, but Jesus turned this idea on its head. He said that we are blessed if we are insulted, persecuted or if people lie about us. This statement is countercultural in society today.
Don’t fear rejection because of Jesus – rejoice in it! You will be blessed when you receive your reward in Heaven. I’m talking to myself as much as anyone else because rejection feels horrible, and it takes faith to see beyond it.
Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus endured the cross by focusing on the joy set before him. He focused on the rewards that he would gain on the other side of his suffering. We can follow his example when we face persecution.
V13-16
In this passage, Jesus gave two illustrations. Firstly, he said we are like salt that must remain salty and secondly, we are like light that needs to shine brightly for the world to see.
The Greek word for shine in verse 16 is λαμψάτω (lampsatō) from the verb λάμπω (lampó), which means to shine, give light, to flash, to beam, to radiate brilliancy.
if the salt loses its saltiness (v13)
Keep tasty! Don’t compromise your faith, or you won’t be good for anything. Salt can bring flavour to any food, but salt without flavour is just grit.
God has called us to stay distinctive followers of Christ. The people around us should notice the positive difference we make when we are in the room.
let your light shine before others (v16)
Take the light that Christ has given you and let it shine out to others in the words that you speak and the things that you do.
Lord, make me salt and light wherever I go.
V17-20
In this passage, Jesus told his disciples that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it. Jesus also said that to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, you need to have a righteousness greater than that of the Pharisees.
The Greek word used in verse 17 for fulfil is πληρῶσαι (plērōsai) from the verb πληρόω (pléroó), which means: to fill, to make full, fill up, to pervade, to influence fully, possess fully, to complete, perfect, to bring to an end, to perform fully, discharge, to consummate, to realise, accomplish, fulfil, to set forth fully, to be fulfilled, come to an end, be fully arrived, to receive fulfilment.
I have come… to fulfil them (v17)
Jesus fulfilled the law. He kept it perfectly.
whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great (v19)
Jesus taught us that it is not enough to know God’s commands — you have to practice them. To be great in the Kingdom of Heaven, you have to put what you know into practice.
unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees (v20)
If you want to become righteous, it is not enough to keep to the human standards of right and wrong. We need the perfect righteousness of God.
People will never accept Jesus as their Saviour if they still think they are good enough to earn eternal life by their own merits. This revelation was the stumbling block the Pharisees tripped over.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says that we have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He took our sins and gave us his perfect righteousness.
Romans 3:22 says that this righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. All of us have fallen short of the glory of God. But we all have the opportunity to be justified freely by his grace.
I seek to be more like God every day, not to gain eternal life, but because he has freely given me life through Jesus. I want to thank him for saving me by living a godly life for him.
V21-26
In these verses, Jesus reminded his disciples of the commandment: do not murder. He added that even if they speak nastily to their brother, they deserve judgement. Jesus encouraged them to make up with each other quickly after an argument, especially if they were in the wrong.
The Greek word for angry in verse 22 is ὀργιζόμενος (orgizomenos) from the verb ὀργίζω (orgizó), which means to make angry or irritate, provoke, enrage.
anyone who is angry with a brother (v22)
It is not wise to hold a grudge towards another person. Hatred is like a fire, and the person who tries to hold onto it will get burnt.
anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell (v22)
If we want to earn eternal life through our own righteousness, we must live a perfect life. Even one stray word will put us in danger of Hell.
Romans 3:23-24 says that we all fall short of the glory of God, and we all need to receive his grace through Jesus.
The standard for getting to Heaven on your own merit is so strict that even the most religious, most pious, most humble person you know cannot achieve it. We all need Jesus, and we all need grace.
First go and be reconciled (v24)
God cares about our human relationships just as much as he cares about our relationship with him. That is why it is not necessarily enough to repent privately before God. We have to apologise to the people we have hurt.
V27-32
In this passage, Jesus taught his disciples about lust, adultery and divorce.
The Greek word for lust in verse 28 is ἐπιθυμῆσαι (epithumēsai) from the verb ἐπιθυμέω (epithumeó), which means to desire, lust after, long for, covet or set your heart upon.
anyone who looks at a woman lustfully (v28)
Jesus said we should not lust but keep all our thoughts pure and holy. Temptation can come in the form of a fleeting thought of attraction, but lust is the daydream you allow to play out in your mind.
There is a quote attributed to Martin Luther that says, “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from making a nest in your hair.”
Lust allows the attraction to make a home in your mind. It will either lead you to commit sin or to live in constant frustration.
cut it off and throw it away (v30)
Get rid of the source of the problem. Obviously, Jesus does not want us to mutilate our own bodies but rather to cut ourselves off from the things that cause us to lust.
anyone who divorces (v31)
Jesus said that divorce should not occur unless one partner has been unfaithful. That is why it is important to be sure that we wed the person God wants us to marry.
V33-37
Jesus told his disciples not to make oaths or swear by things. He told them to have integrity in what they say and to keep their promises to others.
The Greek word for oath used in verse 33 is ὅρκους (horkous) from the noun ὅρκος (horkos), which means oath or vow, that which is solemnly promised.
say … simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ (v37)
You should not have to use an oath to prove your word is true. No one will doubt your integrity if you always do what you say and always tell the truth.
V38-48
In this passage, Jesus reminded his disciples of the Old Testament rule an eye for an eye. God gave them this law to ensure that the punishment fit the crime. Jesus told his disciples not to hate their enemies but rather to love them.
The Greek word for love used here in verse 44 is ἀγαπᾶτε (agapate) from the verb ἀγαπάω (agapaó), which means to love, value, esteem, feel or manifest generous concern for, be faithful towards, to delight in.
turn to them the other cheek also (v39)
Do not retaliate or seek revenge. You will earn a reward if you love those who do not love you, those who hate you and those who persecute you.
love your enemies (v44)
Jesus said that we should look after our enemies. Instead of taking revenge on them, we take care of them. This kind of love costs so much more than the world’s view of love, and we need God’s help to put it into practice.
that you may be children of your Father in heaven (v45)
The more we spend time with God, the more we take on his nature. He is our Father.
1 John 4:8 says that God is love. As we receive God’s love, we are enabled to give that love to those around us, even those who have hurt us.
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