aWhen Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on bthe mountain; and when He was seated, His 1disciples came to Him.A disciple was a “learner” who may have been curious or convinced or committed.Matt ch 5-7; Luke 6:20-49Mark 3:13; Luke 6:17; 9:28; John 6:3, 15 2 Then aHe began to teach them, saying,Matt 13:35; Acts 8:35; 10:34; 18:14
3 “aBlessed spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired are the poor in spirit those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant, for btheirs is the kingdom of heaven both now and forever. Luke 6:20-23Matt 5:3-12: <IT>Luke 6:20-23</IT>Matt 5:10; 19:14; 25:34; Mark 10:14; Luke 6:20; 22:29f
4 “Blessed forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace are athose who mourn over their sins and repent, for they will be comforted when the burden of sin is lifted. Is 61:2Is 61:2; John 16:20; Rev 7:17
5 “Blessed inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect are athe 1gentle the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled, for they will inherit the earth. Ps 37:11Or humble, meek.Ps 37:11
6 “Blessed joyful, nourished by God’s goodness are athose who hunger and thirst for righteousness those who actively seek right standing with God, for they will be completely satisfied. Is 55:1, 2Is 55:1, 2; John 4:14; 6:48ff; 7:37
7 “Blessed content, sheltered by God’s promises are athe merciful, for they will receive mercy.Prov 11:17; Matt 6:14, 15; 18:33-35
8 “Blessed anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature are athe pure in heart those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character, for bthey will see God. Ps 24:3, 4Ps 24:4Heb 12:14; 1 John 3:2; Rev 22:4
9 “Blessed spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor are the makers and maintainers of peace, for athey will express His character and be called the sons of God. Heb 12:14Matt 5:45; Luke 6:35; Rom 8:14
10 “Blessed comforted by inner peace and God’s love are those who are apersecuted for 1doing that which is morally right, for btheirs is the kingdom of heaven both now and forever.Lit the sake of righteousness.1 Pet 3:14Matt 5:3; 19:14; 25:34; Mark 10:14; Luke 6:20; 22:29f
11 “Blessed morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness are you when people ainsult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of your association with Me.1 Pet 4:14 12 Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great absolutely inexhaustible; for ain this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 2+@Chr 36:162 Chr 36:16; Matt 23:37; Acts 7:52; 1 Thess 2:15; Heb 11:33ff; James 5:10
13 “You are the 1salt of the earth; but aif the salt has 2lost its taste , how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people when the walkways are wet and slippery.In ancient times salt was often used as a preservative. Similarly, followers of Christ are to preserve both the gospel message and Christian values in the secular world.The salt from the Dead Sea contains impurities that affect its qualities as a seasoning and as a preservative.Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34f
14 “You are athe light of Christ to the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;Prov 4:18; John 8:12; 9:5; 12:36 15 anor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; 11:33Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; 11:33; Phil 2:15 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may asee your good deeds and moral excellence, and recognize and honor and bglorify your Father who is in heaven.1 Pet 2:12Matt 9:8
17 “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the 1aLaw of Moses or the writings of the Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.I.e. the Pentateuch.Matt 7:12 18 For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, auntil heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of the pen will pass from the Law until all things which it foreshadows are accomplished.Matt 24:35; Luke 16:17 19 So whoever breaks one of the least important of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least important ain the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.Matt 11:11
20 “For I say to you that unless your arighteousness is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.Luke 18:11, 12
21 “aYou have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘bYOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever murders shall be 1guilty before cthe court.’ Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17; 16:18Or liable to.Matt 5:27, 33, 38, 43Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17Deut 16:18; 2 Chr 19:5f 22 But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice against him shall be guilty before athe court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother,1 ‘Raca !’ shall be guilty before bthe supreme court ; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the 2fiery chell.A severe Aramaic insult.Gr Gehenna, a Greek version of the Hebrew for Valley of Hinnom, a ravine where garbage was burned continuously, located just south of Jerusalem. Often regarded in ancient times as symbolic of hell (the lake of fire), a realm reserved for the wicked. Mentioned in Matt 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6.Deut 16:18; 2 Chr 19:5fMatt 10:17; 26:59; Mark 13:9; 14:55; 15:1; Luke 22:66; John 11:47; Acts 4:15; 5:21; 6:12; 22:30; 23:1; 24:20Matt 5:29f; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43ff; Luke 12:5; James 3:6 23 So if you are apresenting your offering at the altar, and while there you remember that your brother has something such as a grievance or legitimate complaint against you,Matt 5:24 24 leave your offering there at the altar and go. First amake peace with your brother, and then come and present your offering.Rom 12:17, 18 25 aCome to terms quickly at the earliest opportunity with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way to court, so that your opponent does not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you are thrown into prison. Luke 12:58, 59Prov 25:8f; Luke 12:58 26 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, ayou will not come out of there until you have paid the last 1cent.Gr kodrantes, from the Lat quadrans, which was the smallest Roman bronze coin.Luke 12:59
27 “aYou have heard that it was said, ‘bYOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; Ex 20:14; Deut 5:18Matt 5:21, 33, 38, 43Ex 20:14; Deut 5:18 28 but I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman awith lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.2 Sam 11:2-5; Job 31:1; Matt 15:19; James 1:14, 15 29 aIf your right eye makes you stumble and leads you to sin, tear it out and throw it away that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into bhell.Matt 18:9; Mark 9:47Matt 5:22 30 aIf your right hand makes you stumble and leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into bhell.Matt 18:8; Mark 9:43Matt 5:22
31 “It has also been said, ‘aWHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE IS TO GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;Deut 24:1, 3; Jer 3:1; Matt 19:7; Mark 10:4 32 abut I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on grounds of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery. Deut 24:1-4; Luke 16:18Matt 19:9; Mark 10:11f; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor 7:11f
33 “Again, ayou have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘bYOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT YOU SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD as a religious duty.’Matt 5:21, 27, 38, 43; 23:16ffLev 19:12; Num 30:2; Deut 23:21, 23 34 But I say to you, ado not make an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is bthe throne of God;James 5:12Is 66:1; Matt 23:22 35 or by the earth, for it is the afootstool of His feet; or by Jerusalem, for it is bTHE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Ps 48:2; Is 66:1Is 66:1; Acts 7:49Ps 48:2 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ a firm yes or no; anything more than that comes from the aevil one. Lev 19:12; Num 30:2; Deut 23:21Matt 6:13; 13:19, 38; John 17:15; 2 Thess 3:3; 1 John 2:13f; 3:12; 5:18f
38 “aYou have heard that it was said, ‘bAN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH punishment that fits the offense.’ Ex 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21Matt 5:21, 27, 33, 43Ex 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person who insults you or violates your rights; but awhoever 1slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other toward him also simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity, your self-respect, your poise. Luke 6:29, 30; Rom 12:17-21In this context the “slap” is not an act of violence, but more likely an insult or violation of one’s rights.Matt 5:39-42: <IT>Luke 6:29, 30; </IT> 1 Cor 6:7 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, 1let him have your coat also for the Lord repays the offender.Probably a prohibition against frivolous legal action. 41 And whoever 1forces you to go one mile, go with him two.Roman soldiers were allowed to force civilian bystanders to carry their gear one mile for them. 42 aGive to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. Deut 15:8; Prov 24:29Deut 15:7-11; Luke 6:34f; 1 Tim 6:18
43 “aYou have heard that it was said, ‘bYOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR cand hate your enemy.’ Lev 19:18; Ps 139:21, 22Matt 5:21, 27, 33, 38Lev 19:18Deut 23:3-6 44 But I say to you, 1alove that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Prov 25:21, 22The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.Luke 6:27f; 23:34; Acts 7:60; Rom 12:20 45 so that you may show yourselves to be the achildren of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous those who are morally upright and the unrighteous the unrepentant, those who oppose Him.Matt 5:9; Luke 6:35; Acts 14:17 46 For aif you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?Luke 6:32 47 And if you greet only your brothers wishing them God’s blessing and peace, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles who do not know the Lord do that? 48 aYou, therefore, will be perfect growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Lev 19:2Lev 19:2; Deut 18:13; 2 Cor 7:1; Phil 3:12-15