Matthew 5

Summary. In Chapter 4, we saw how large crowds followed the Lord Jesus after He taught in the synagogues and healed all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. Here in Chapter 5, the Lord Jesus sees the multitudes of people and goes upon a mountain to teach them. He taught all those whose hearts were open to listen to Him. His sermon on the mountain covers four major topics. 1) Blessings of the kingdom of heaven and the rewards that follow in heaven. 2) Christians are the spiritual light of the world and are responsible for witnessing the Lord Jesus in this world. 3) The Lord Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. 4) How to behave, as Christians should, emphasizing the following personal relationships: anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and love for our enemies.

[1] Then seeing the multitudes, He ascended on the mountain; and when He had sat down, His disciples draw near to Him,

[2] and opening His mouth, He was teaching them, saying,

Comments Matthew 5:2 The Lord Jesus spoke softly, and the air carried His voice miraculously further and further, so everybody in the crowds could hear His voice at the same time while He was speaking.

[3] Blessed are the poor in the spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

Comments Matthew 5:3 Poor in the spirit refers to a humble soul seeking the Lord. The humble soul is the one that is hungry for the Lord; it seeks first to please the Lord, not themselves; it lives just for the Lord.

[4] Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Comments Matthew 5:4 Those who mourn are the ones that grieve for those who do not seek the Lord. They mourn for the lost, for those who do not have a portion in the Lord’s kingdom.

[5] Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Comments Matthew 5:5 The meek (quiet, gentle, obedient) are the ones that keep the Word of God in them at all times.
“... inherit the earth.” Here the earth refers to the new earth (not the earth we are on now) that has been prepared for the elect. Only the chosen ones will be there, and they shall reap their reward on the new earth.

[6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Comments Matthew 5:6 This righteousness is the righteousness of following the Bible’s teaching, which means to follow the Word, obey the Word, and do what the Word is telling you. The Lord Jesus is our example of righteous living. He does not live by His own will but by the will of the Father. We can only be righteous in the Lord Jesus.
“Filled” (satisfied) is not about the body but about the soul. The soul is satisfied and full of joy when it feels near the Father. This can happen only when we come to the Father through the Lord Jesus. There is no other way to come close to the Father, only through the Lord Jesus.

[7] Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Comments Matthew 5:7 The merciful are those that have mercy on lost souls and pray to the Father to have mercy on them and take them in. Be merciful to the ones you most dislike and pray for them.

[8] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Comments Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart.” The pure in heart are the ones that do not have any negative or bad thinking towards believers and non-believers alike. If you see someone doing something wrong, pray for that person, and do not judge them. Always think well about others and have mercy, as the Lord died for them too.
“for they will see God.” This refers only to the believers who seek the Lord. If your heart is pure, you will see the light of the Lord on another believer who is pure in heart. How do you see God on this earth? You don’t see God Himself, but you can see His love in the ones that love the Lord. The light in this place is not the light you use for seeing things but the light of a clean heart. By conversing with a person, we can tell the difference of the light; their mouth will speak words that will never be against the Bible.

[9] Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Comments Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers.” The peacemakers are the ones that try to make peace between humans and God. Our first peacemaker is the Lord Jesus. No other peacemaker can be like Him. The Father’s anger subsides with the Lord’s tears when He cries for humans.
“for they will be called sons of God.” When you accept the Lord Jesus, invite Him into your heart, and He will dwell in your heart, and at the same time, you dwell in Him, and you become a child of God.

[10] Blessed are those who have been persecuted on account of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

Comments Matthew 5:10 “Blessed … on account of righteousness.” These are the ones that, when they see someone else being treated unfairly, for the name of the Lord, will join for their cause; not for building their name up, but for serving the Lord.
“for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.” Then the Lord will use you and let the name of the Lord be your reward. Your name will be written in the Book of Life, and you will be part of the new earth that is coming.

[11] Blessed are you when they shall insult and persecute you, and shall say all kinds of bad against you speaking falsely, on account of Me.

[12] Rejoice and exult for your great reward in the heavens, for so they persecuted the prophets before you.

Comments Matthew 5:12 “… great reward in the heavens.” Serving closer to the Lord in some manner is a part of the reward.

[13] You are the salt of the earth; however, if the salt becomes tainted, in what will it be salted? For it has no power any longer, except to be cast out and trampled upon by people.

Comments Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth” refers to the ones that call themselves Christians.
“if the salt becomes tainted.” When believers behave worse than non-believers, they lose their Christian testimony and make the Lord’s death and suffering lose their meaning.
“in what will it be salted?” The testimony lost its own meaning. Therefore, how can you make people understand the way of the Lord when your behavior is not worthy?
“For ... trampled upon by people.” Your testimony has no value; you make the Lord’s crucifixion become nothing for people.

[14] You are the light of the world. A city set on a hilltop cannot be hidden.

Comments Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world." The ones that are true Christians are those who truly believe in their heart in the Lord Jesus. The true Christians are the salt and the light of the world.
“A city set on a hilltop cannot be hidden.” The city here represents the church. The church must be widely known as a church and be open to all people.

[15] Neither do they light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but upon the lampstand; and it gives light to all that are in the house.

Comments Matthew 5:15 Pray without shame. Be proud to pray and be proud to show others that you are a child of God.

[16] Thus let your light shine before people; so that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.

Comments Matthew 5:16 Show people that you are a Christian by giving the Lord glory in your conversations and by telling people to bring their problems to the Lord.

[17] Do not consider that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to complete.

Comments Matthew 5:17 The Lord Jesus says He completed the Law, in the sense that He is the end of the Law. Now, we only need to obey His Law.

[18] For truly I say to you, Until heaven and earth pass away, one iota or one dot will not pass away from the Law, until all things be accomplished.

[19] If therefore, whoever may break one of the least of these commandments, and may teach others so, will be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever may keep and teach them, will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.

Comments Matthew 5:19 “…least in the kingdom of the heavens.” Those who interpret the Law and try to interpret it to fit their own convenience are wrong.

[20] For I say to you, that unless your righteousness shall exceed above that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

Comments Matthew 5:20 “… unless your righteousness shall exceed …” Our righteousness is in Christ; without faith in Christ, we can never enter the kingdom of the heavens.

[21] You have heard that it was said to the ancients, You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill will be liable to the judgment.

[22] However, I say to you, that everyone being angry with his brother will be liable to the judgment; and whoever will say to his brother, Raca, will be liable to the council; and whoever will say, Fool, will be liable to the hell of fire.

Comments Matthew 5:22 “… everyone being angry with his brother will be liable to the judgment.” The brother here refers to those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. When brothers are angry with each other, the anger of the Father comes upon them. The Father expects us to forgive and love each other (See Matthew 6:14).
“… Raca, will be liable to the council.” “Raca” means doing bad things to your brother or sister; it is more than just wishing bad. For example, it includes thoughts and speech; when you say bad things to someone, you hurt that person.

[23] If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

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

Comments Matthew 5:24 “first be reconciled to your brother …” Humble yourself and say sorry; there is no need to fight between brothers. Seek peace first, and don’t try to look at who is right or wrong.

[25] Agree with your accuser quickly while you are with him on the way; lest ever the accuser delivers you to the judge, and the judge to the servant, and you will be cast into prison.

Comments Matthew 5:25 “lest ever the accuser delivers you to the judge …” Between the believers, the fight should be judged by the believers. Do not take your brother to the outside courts. (See also 1 Corinthians 6:1-8).

[26] Truly I say to you, you shall by no means come out, until you have paid the last quadrans (the smallest Roman copper coin).

[27] You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery;

[28] however, I say to you, that everyone looking at a woman to desire her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Comments Matthew 5:28 “… that everyone looking at a woman to desire her …” Do not look at their body; look into their eyes. The eye is the window of their soul. Looking at the body creates lust; only look into their eyes.

[29] And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and throw it from you; for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not your whole body be cast into hell.

Comments Matthew 5:29 See Matthew Comments 18:9.

[30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not your whole body go into hell.

Comments Matthew 5:30 See Matthew Comments 18:8.

[31] It was said also, Whoever shall divorce his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce;

Comments Matthew 5:31 See Matthew Comments 19:7-10.

[32] however, I say to you, that everyone divorcing his wife, except on account of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; also, if whoever shall marry a divorced one commits adultery.

Comments Matthew 5:32 A true Christian man is free to divorce a wife and remarry if his wife has committed adultery. A true Christian man cannot marry a divorced woman in any scenario, but he can marry a widow. The Lord created man and woman, but the woman committed the first sin. A woman cannot remarry as long as her husband is alive. The only way for a woman is to reconcile with her husband.

[33] Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, You shall not swear falsely, but you shall keep to the Lord your oaths;

[34] however, I say to you, do not swear at all; neither by the heaven, because it is the throne of God;

[35] nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.

Comments Matthew 5:34-35 “however, I say to you, do not swear at all.” If you do not want to do something, do not make any promises. As the Bible says, let your yes be yes and your no be no (See Matthew 5:37); more than this is sin.
The Lord Jesus loves Jerusalem.

[36] Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

[37] However, let your word be, Yes, yes; No, no; and anything more than these is out of the evil.

Comments Matthew 5:37 “However, let your word be, Yes, yes; No, no.” If you make a promise, you must keep it. If you promise to serve the Lord, you must keep it.
“anything more than these is out of the evil.” When you try to give a reason not to do what you promise, that comes out of the evil.

[38] You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth;

[39] however, I say to you, do not resist the evil; instead, whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Comments Matthew 5:39 “however, I say to you, do not resist the evil.” You cannot fight the evil by yourself. Follow the Lord’s example. At that time (see Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13), the Lord Jesus did not physically fight the evil; instead, He prayed to the Father. Therefore, rely on the Lord Jesus and pray, bring your troubles to Him, and let the Lord Jesus fight for you.
See also Comments Luke 6:29.

[40] And to the one willing to sue you, and take your tunic, yield to him the cloak also.

[41] And whoever shall compel you to go one mile, go with him two.

[42] Give to the one asking of you, and from the one that would borrow from you, turn not away.

Comments Matthew 5:42 See Comments Luke 6:30.

[43] You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor, and shall hate your enemy;

[44] however, I say to you, Love your enemies, and pray for those that persecute you;

Comments Matthew 5:44 See Comments Luke 6:27,28.

[45] so that you may be sons of your Father in the heavens; for He makes His sunlight to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Comments Matthew 5:45 See Comments Luke 6:31-36.

[46] For if you love those that love you, what reward do you have? Do not also the tax collectors do the same?

[47] And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more abundantly? Do not also the Gentiles do the same?

[48] You therefore be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Comments Matthew 5:48 “You therefore be perfect …” The perfect love is to love your enemy. Love your enemy as the Father loved the enemies of His Son, even those that crucified the Lord Jesus. He didn’t strike them down when they were born, even though He knew what they would do to His Son. He let them live and enjoy His creation.

Life and Faith Applications. 1) There are many kinds of blessings and rewards waiting for us in heaven. 2) The Lord Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. 3) As children of God, we are the light of the world, and we are expected to maintain high moral standards.