Bible Studies for Life
Associate Professor of Religion, Samford University
DISTINCTIVE IN MY CHARACTER
Matthew 5:1–12
Today we begin a six-lesson series on the first part of the Sermon on the Mount (compare it with the “Sermon on the Plain” in Luke 6). These lessons present readers with notes similar to what they can find in a study Bible.
This “sermon” is the first of five large collections of Jesus’ teachings in the Gospel of Matthew, perhaps meant to mimic the five books of Moses (5:1–7:28; 10:5–11:1; 13:1–53; 18:1–19:1; 24:3–26:1). The last verse of each collection begins with the phrase “when Jesus finished.”
The “sermon” begins with what Christians call the “Beatitudes,” so-named for the first word in the Latin translation. Luke gives a shorter list in 6:20–23. Many beatitudes appear in the Old Testament and other Jewish writings (Gen. 30:3; Job 5:17; Dan. 12:12). “Blessed are” translates a word that also can mean “happy are” or “fortunate are.” In Matthew, however, Jesus isn’t talking about a feeling of being happy or about luck. Rather it is God who blesses people who have these distinctive qualities.
God blesses our dependence upon Him. (1–6)
Matthew presents Jesus delivering His commandments (28:20) on a mountain to the 12 disciples similarly to how Moses received God’s commandments on Mount Sinai and delivered them to the 12 tribes.
Compare Luke’s “Blessed are you who are poor” and “Blessed are you who are hungry now.” While Jesus talks about the plight of the destitute in Luke, in Matthew He talks about a person’s spiritual character and the rewards God will give in the next life.
“The poor in spirit” refers to those who are humble. “Those who mourn” probably means those who suffer because of their righteousness, a common idea in the Bible. Jesus will say it more clearly in verses 10–12. By saying “heaven,” Jesus, a pious Jew, avoids saying God’s name. It is characteristic of Jesus’ speech in Matthew.
“Meek” refers to those who relinquish power, relying on God rather than on themselves. Jesus is the prime example (Phil. 2:5–11). Jesus may rely on Psalm 37:11. The same word can be translated as both “righteousness” and “justice.” Justice and mercy (5:7) are two important aspects of God’s character. “Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” seek God’s justice over human laws or attitudes.
God blesses our actions toward others. (7–9)
“Mercy” is the counterpart to justice. God judges mercifully, not punishing in the way humans sometimes do. To be “pure in heart” means to be pure in one’s intentions. The “heart” is the seat of the mind. In another famous passage in the sermon, Jesus will say that what one intends is as important as what one does (5:21–48; we’ll deal with it in future lessons).
In Isaiah 9:6, “Prince of Peace” refers to the end of warfare. By contrast, here “peace” refers to a person’s well-being. “Peacemakers” are those who look after the well-being of others.
God blesses our joy in the face of persecution. (10–12)
This last section offers an antidote to any prosperity gospel. Jesus seems to expect that, despite their attitudes toward God and how they deal with others (or maybe because of these things), His followers will face persecution (1 Thess. 2:2, 14–15; 1 Pet. 3:14; 4:14; 5:8). He is not talking about persecution for crimes or for legal yet bad behavior, but for obeying God as the prophets did. The reward for such faithfulness happens, not in this lifetime, but in the next.
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