Matthew 5: Jesus said …

Although we’ve come to what has been labeled as the end of a Chapter, it is not the end of the Torah/Teaching Jesus is giving. We can’t set everything he’s said to this point aside just because we are moving into Chapter 6.

Let’s keep these things in mind:

• He is still speaking to his disciples. These are not random people, they have committed their lives to following Jesus. Some may believe he is the Messiah but most believe he is a Rabbi, some a Prophet.
• It is most likely the bulk of these disciples were of the Jewish faith. This doesn’t mean they are Jews, but it’s highly likely a lot were Jews. Some followed the written Torah/Law – what we find in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers. Some additionally followed the oral traditions. And some were gentiles.
• Jesus is telling his disciples what living as his disciple would look like. What he expects of his followers.
• Jesus has specifically stated he did not come to abolish the Law of Moses/Torah or the Prophets.
• Jesus has specifically stated not one little mark would pass from the Law until heaven and earth pass away and until all is accomplished. Those listening would have distinguished between the Law of Moses which was written and the oral law. Jesus is not saying he didn’t come to abolish the oral law – only the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
• Jesus has specifically stated anyone who relaxes the least of the Law of Moses/Torah or teaches to, will be least in the Kingdom of Heaven/Where God Reigns.
• Jesus has specifically stated anyone who keeps and teaches the Law of Moses/Torah, will be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven/Where God Reigns.
• Jesus started off by confronting the teachings from 150 years before. A Jewish Teacher, Ben-Sirah Jesus had written a “blessed is” statement which was probably very familiar to many in the crowd. It fully immersed it’s self in the value of the world with status, admiration, etc. It was a culture where status was important.  Jesus has totally dismantled these teachings with what we today call “The Beatitudes.”
• Jesus finished off “Chapter 5,” with bringing the true meaning back to the written commandment’s. He is restoring to a previous condition or refurbishing the Law and the Prophets. He has taken what they had seen as physical sins and turned them into heart sins. Simply not doing something doesn’t cut it with Jesus. He wants his disciples to change their heart so as not to get to the point of having to try not to do something.

Quick Note: Matthew 5 Beatitudes and Sermon on the Mount

Generally the Beatitudes are separated from the rest of Matthew 5, as well as Chapters 6 and 7 of Matthew containing the Sermon on the Mount. However, just as when we attend classes or lectures, everything builds upon each other.

As we continue on, keep in mind the torah/teaching Jesus has just given in verses 1-12. Use them to inform your understanding of what comes after them.

Those disciples who are humble in their life principles and their way of life; who are urging, imploring, exhorting, weeping; who rest in obedience to YHWH/God’s ways; who are hungry and thirsty and seeking after justice, fairness, and not sinning (being in right relationship with YHWH and others); who are merciful; who walk through life with a mind and thoughts which are clean and pure and see YHWH/God wherever they look; who as a peacemaker, reflect the image of YHWH/God striving to bring peace between man and YHWH/God and between men; who are cursed, persecuted, lied about, and all kinds of evil things said against them because of speaking YHWH/God’s truth, doing the right thing in YHWH/God’s eyes …

They are blessed/happy because they walk where God reigns/in the Kingdom of Heaven, are comforted, find kindness, see YHWH/God, are called a Son of God, know YHWH/God is pleased with them, and bring where God is/heaven to earth.

With all that in mind, let’s continue …

Matthew 5:10-12 Persecuted for Righteousness

It is hard for us to envision persecution with being blessed/happy. We tend to see these as being on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Let’s break this one down.

What is righteousness? Earlier in Matthew 5, we were told those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are filled/satisfied. The Greek word implies justice and fairness. The Hebrew word is centered in being in right relationship both with YHWH/God and with others. By default, if we are not in right relationship with others, then we are not in right relationship with YHWH/God. It was a simple concept for the Jewish disciples listening to Jesus’s torah/teaching.

Being made free of sin, we became the servants of righteousness (Romans 6). Sin is the opposite of righteousness.

Now we can see a clearer picture of who these persecuted ones are. These are not people being persecuted for something they believe in. They are specifically, those who are persecuted for striving to be in right relationship with YHWH/God and others, seeking justice and fairness, they are blessed/happy because they are living where God reigns/the reign of the heavens. Sounds a lot like the peacemakers doesn’t it?

Jesus continues on about persecuted ones. He says, these persecuted ones, who are cursed, persecuted, lied about, and all kinds of evil things said against them, should shout for joy? Why?

Rewards in heaven? The Hebrew thought here in regards to rewards is similar to wages – your wages are great where God is/in heaven. The Greek thought is your rewards will be not necessarily more in number, but stronger, more intense.

These persecuted ones are just like the prophets who came before. They were willing to speak truth when the truth was unpopular. But they didn’t just speak THEIR truth, they were striving to be in right relationship with YHWH/God and bring others into right relationship with YHWH/God. Many of them were imprisoned or literally killed. Think of Daniel in the lions den. Think of Elijah fleeing and hiding. Think Moses leading the exodus from Egypt.

Persecuted for doing the right thing in YHWH/God’s eyes, not in man’s eyes. Think Jesus on the cross.

All blessed/happy because they knew YHWH/God was pleased with them because they were steadfast in walking where God reigns/in the reign of heaven.

Jewish flashback: 2 Chronicles 36:16

Matthew 5:9 Peacemaker

This is one of the most straight forward beatitudes. Peacemaker is someone who makes peace. Boom, nice and simple. But is it?

YHWH/God’s peace is wholeness, completeness, it is shalom/total or complete well being personally and communally. That isn’t something easy to achieve in one’s self, let alone trying to bring it to others.

As a peacemaker, when you see conflict within yourself between what YHWH/God desires and what your flesh desires, you die to your flesh. Being a peacemaker to oneself is dying to self, taking off the old and putting on the new.

As a peacemaker, when you see two people in conflict, you love them both, and you will insert yourself into that conflict and reconcile them together. Trying to bring righteousness. That isn’t always a simple task. And it most certainly isn’t a task without risk.

Where God Reigns/In the Kingdom of Heaven, reconciliation is one of the highest values. YHWH/God and Jesus made sacrifices in order to bring reconciliation. Jesus embodies everything a peacemaker should be. He died to himself, walked fully in the ways of YHWH/God and paid with his life in order to put an end to the conflict between man and YHWH/God.

And yet, this is the only time in the Biblical Cannon this complete phrase is used.

If we are a peacemaker, we are blessed/happy to be called Sons of God. In Hebrew, sons can include daughters, but daughters excludes sons.

Sons of God is a ranking term associated with the royal court. In the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament this term is only used in reference to spiritual beings where God is/in heaven. These Sons of God were second after YHWH/God, above the messengers/angels.

Because of how a peacemaker reflects the image of YHWH/God and the association with Jesus, -The Anointed One/Christ – the Son of God- the ultimate peacemaker – peacemakers will be called Sons of God.

Not so simple now, is it?

Jewish flashbacks: Isaiah 27:5; Isaiah 60:17

Matthew 5:8 Pure at Heart

Pure, clean, unstained. Most instances refer to spiritual cleanliness.

At heart … Does this mean we should be eating healthy so our heart can be pure, and clean? No, when we see heart in Jewish literature it typically refers to a person’s mind and thoughts.

Psalm 199 says, “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!”

Many do not believe we can be pure, unstained, blameless. We are all sinners, we can not live without sin, right?

Then why would Jesus say those who are clean and pure in their mind and thoughts/heart see YHWH/God?

Didn’t we just talk about the mercy Jesus has offered? If you didn’t see that one, it’s the post just before this one.

Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to YHWH/God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Didn’t we talk about those who hunger and thirst to be in right relationship with YHWH/God and other’s being filled/satisfied?

This isn’t about physically seeing YHWH. It isn’t about “going to heaven” and seeing YHWH/God. This is about what do you see in others?

If you walk through life with your mind and thoughts clean, pure, and unstained, no matter where you look or who/what you look at, you will see YHWH/God. He is the creator of everything. He’s in each and every human being. He’s in each and every animal. He’s everywhere you see nature.

If you don’t see YHWH/God all around you, maybe it’s because your mind and thought isn’t so pure?

Flash back the Jewish disciples would have seen: Psalm 1, Psalm 24:3-4; Proverbs 22:11; Psalms 73:1; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 51:6

Matthew 5:7 Merciful

Someone who is merciful is compassionate, showing pity or mercy towards others, gracious, giving charity, giving generously (alms).

This particular verse can seem a bit odd because literally it would read, ‘The merciful obtain mercy.” It’s the same word in a different form.

I’m sure many would scoff at such a thought. Especially if you are someone who has shown compassion or mercy to someone else, only to get your nose bitten off. The real question is, why do you expect your mercy to come from man? Jesus will address this very thought later in Matthew, until then let’s see what is really meant here.

Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to YHWH/God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2

Anyone who accepts what Jesus has to offer and chooses to be his disciple/follower has received mercy. This is all the mercy you will ever need.

There’s no question about receiving mercy – it’s already been given, there for the taking. The first question is, have you accepted the mercy set before you? The second question is, are you showing mercy?

Happy/Blessed are the merciful for they know they have already obtain mercy.

Jewish flashbacks: Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 11:17

Matthew 5:6 Hunger and Thirst

Hunger and Thirst are shown together in several scriptures, I’ve listed many at the bottom of this post. But there is also a writing outside our current Cannon of scripture which Jesus and the disciples, and even Paul would have considered important and most likely studied as part of their up bringing. This saying is from the book of Jasher. Jasher was referred to in Joshua and 2 Samuel.

And any man who had hunger and came to Abraham’s house, Abraham would give him bread that he might eat and drink and be satisfied, and any one that came naked to his house he would clothe with garments as he might choose, and give him silver and gold and make known to him the Lord who had created him in the earth; this did Abraham all his life.

Jasher 22

This is an interesting peek inside what happened in Abraham’s household. This would have certainly been something brought to mind in the Jewish disciples Jesus was giving this torah/teaching to. They my have thought to themselves, “Oh, I see, someone came to Abraham, they were filled, taken care of, and given what they needed.” Do you think your household resembles Abraham’s?

Hunger and thirsting are not pleasant feelings. Most of the world today has not actually experienced what true hunger and thirst feels like, even so, we know it isn’t something most would chose to happen to them. It isn’t a state typically sought after.

Righteousness – righteousness isn’t just being in right standing with YHWH/God, it is also being in right relationship with other’s as well. When one of YHWH/God’s people offended or transgressed someone, YHWH/God required not only a sacrifice to atone for the unrighteous act, but also a sacrifice to be given to the person who was transgressed against – in a double portion! If you stole a goat, you had to bring a goat to sacrifice as atonement, and two goats to give to the person you stole the goat from.

When we are not being active about this, we notice all is not well in YHWH/Gods world and we know YHWH/God is going to do something about it. This is not a place you want to be, so you will be actively seeking righteousness, keeping right relationship with both YHWH/God and others.

Righteous is about justice and fairness. When we seek to be righteous, we become the servants of righteousness (Romans 6). Job (29) put on righteousness and it clothed him as a robe and turbine. Later in Matthew, Jesus will say his disciples righteousness must exceed the religious leaders of that time.

The opposite of righteousness is sin.

Those hungry and thirsty and seeking after justice, fairness, and not sinning (being in right relationship with YHWH and others) are filled/satisfied. Are you filled and satisfied? Or do you find yourself asking for more and more? Unsatisfied with life? Maybe it’s time to figure out what being in right relationship with YHWH/God and other’s is as defined by YHWH/God – not man – and not you.

The Jewish flashbacks would include: Psalms 107:9; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 55:1-2

Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament

1. Deuteronomy 28:48 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2028%3A48&version=YLT) thou hast served thine enemies, whom Jehovah sendeth against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in lack of all things; and he hath put a yoke of iron on thy neck, till He hath destroyed thee.
2. Nehemiah 9:15 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%209%3A15&version=YLT) and bread from the heavens Thou hast given to them for their hunger, and water from a rock hast brought out to them for their thirst, and dost say to them to go in to possess the land that Thou hast lifted up Thy hand to give to them.
3. Proverbs 25:21 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2025%3A21&version=YLT) If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
4. Isaiah 49:10 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2049%3A10&version=YLT) They do not hunger, nor thirst, Nor smite them doth mirage and sun, For He who is pitying them doth lead them, And by fountains of waters doth tend them.
5. Isaiah 65:13 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2065%3A13&version=YLT) Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, My servants do eat, and ye do hunger, Lo, My servants do drink, and ye do thirst, Lo, My servants rejoice, and ye are ashamed,

Second Writings/New Testament

6. Matthew 5:6 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A6&version=YLT) `Happy those hungering and thirsting for righteousness — because they shall be filled.
7. Matthew 25:35 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A35&version=YLT) for I did hunger, and ye gave me to eat; I did thirst, and ye gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and ye received me;
8. Matthew 25:37 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A37&version=YLT) `Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, and we nourished? or thirsting, and we gave to drink?
9. Matthew 25:42 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A42&version=YLT) for I did hunger, and ye gave me not to eat; I did thirst, and ye gave me not to drink;
10. Matthew 25:44 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A44&version=YLT) `Then shall they answer, they also, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or infirm, or in prison, and we did not minister to thee?
11. John 6:35 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206%3A35&version=YLT) And Jesus said to them, `I am the bread of the life; he who is coming unto me may not hunger, and he who is believing in me may not thirst — at any time;
12. 1 Corinthians 4:11 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%204%3A11&version=YLT) unto the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and wander about,
13. 2 Corinthians 11:27 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2011%3A27&version=YLT) in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;

Matthew 5:5 The Resting Ones

The meek, we have a vision of what meek means today, but it doesn’t necessarily paint the picture of what meek meant at the time Jesus was giving this torah/teaching.

This word carries with it the idea of someone who is gentle, humble, but it doesn’t mean someone who is timid, or someone others “walk all over”.

This same word is translated as righteous, the righteous inherit eternal life. The meek consider themselves as unimportant.

Jesus said he was meek. Matthew writes that the Messiah comes as meek.

The best way to overcome all our preconceived idea’s of meek would be to think of these people as those who rest in obedience to YHWH/God’s ways. It is someone who has a controlled spirit, a spirit controlled by YHWH/God’s Ruach/Breath (Holy Spirit).

Those who rest in obedience to YHWH/God’s ways are happy/blessed because they know they will inherit the earth.

If you know you are walking in YHWH/God’s ways, what is there to be concerned about? What is there to be upset about? It aligns with the saying, we read the end, we already know who wins. And those walking in YHWH/God’s ways will be greatest when YHWH/God finally reigns here on earth. So what of this world should be of greater concern than resting in YHWH/God’s ways?

The Jewish listeners would have had flashbacks to Flashback – Psalm 37:11; Psalm 2:8; Numbers 12:3; Psalms 37:9; Psalms 37:34; Isaiah 30:15, Jeremiah 6:16

Matthew 5:4 The Weeping

Mourning isn’t about sorrow because you’ve lost someone or something. The literal translation of the Hebrew is “Blessed are the weeping ones.”

Mourn is present tense, it isn’t always about being sad. This same exact word in Matthew 2 is translated as comforted. This same word is also translated in the text of Matthew as 8:5 (imploring), 31 (begging), 34 (begging); 14:36 (begging); Matthew 18:29 (begged), 32 (begged); 26:53 (call upon), as you can see, this word is most often translated to beg or begging in Matthew, not mourn.

It means to urge, implore, exhort, call to, appeal. Strong’s Concordance indicates “to refresh, cheer.” The Greek authors very rarely think of ‘mourn’ as something needing consoling.

Mourning isn’t always about what we experience, it’s also about what other’s experience and how we react to them and what they are going through.

Those who are urging, imploring, exhorting, weeping, are blessed because they are comforted in the moment.

Is that something you can accept? Can you believe when you are crying out you are blessed in the moment? Jesus said you are.

Some flashback moments for the Jewish disciples: Psalm 37:11; Psalm 2:8; Numbers 12:3; Psalms 37:9; Psalms 37:34; Isaiah 30:15, Jeremiah 6:16

Video teaching: https://youtu.be/7KSO-jJ7T4Q

Matthew 5:3 Humble of Spirit

Poor in spirit is the most common translation of this verse. But what does that really mean? Let’s find out.

In today’s culture, poor is strongly related to a financial position. But this poor is more closely related to one who is humble. The humble at that time are the people who no one admires or looks at. Often they were also poor financially. They would have been in a lowly, insignificant position, which was a favorable position to be in. These people were most open to what Jesus had to say, they had less to loose if they followed Jesus. When Jesus came along, he’s teachings were in direct contrast to what most holy teachers were teaching.

Spirit – the word here means the life principle, the breath within a person, the life, soul.

Take notice of the next word here – BECAUSE or FOR – this is telling us, listen up, what comes next is the WHY for what we just read. Remember present tense here – not something coming, something that is right now. Why are the humble in spirit happy/blessed?

Because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

Time out – we have to adjust what we think of when we read kingdom of heaven. It is not a future state or place, it is a current state experienced right here, right now, on earth. The kingdom of heaven exists when we have given complete authority, through Jesus Christ, to YHWH/God. A better way to think of this is Where God Reigns. It will help us adjust how we’ve been defining heaven and the kingdom of heaven. Heaven is where YHWH/God is – not up there, but anywhere YHWH/God is. And the Kingdom of Heaven is where YHWH/God is King – where he reigns – not up there, but anywhere YHWH/God is in charge, where he reigns.

Later in Mathew, Jesus is going to refer to the least and the greatest in the reign of heaven. This alone would imply the kingdom of heaven is not exclusively belonging to the humble in spirit. The humble in spirit will be a part of where God reigns/kingdom of heaven.

Happy are the humble in their life principles, their way of life, because they are where YHWH/God reigns.

That sure takes on a different meaning than what most of us are used to.

Some flashbacks which the Jewish people hearing this torah/teaching would be to Proverbs 29:23, Psalms 34:18, Isaiah 51:11-12, Isaiah 57:15, Proverbs 16:19.

Video teaching: https://youtu.be/jECh7DGmhdk

Matthew 5:1-2 Beatitudes from Sermon on the Mount

Jesus has left the multitudes, went up to the mount, and sat down. His disciples have come to join him.

The Sermon on the Mount as it has come to be called has been portrayed as Jesus speaking to a large group of people. What hasn’t been portrayed is the fact they were his disciples. We don’t know how large the group was, but Matthew was specific in saying Jesus saw the multitudes and went up the mountain and sat down. And he was specific in saying his (Jesus’s) disciples came to him, and Jesus taught them, the disciples. This isn’t a mixed multitude of people, these are those who had chosen to follow Jesus. Luke in 6:10 makes this point even clearer when he says Jesus was looking at his disciples when he began to speak.

Jesus is showing us what discipling a disciple looks like. In Matthew 28, the verb form of disciple is used, we aren’t told to make a disciple because you can’t make a verb. We are told to disciple. Here, in Matthew 5, the noun form is used. A disciple is one who follows a teacher and wants to be their follower. To be a successful disciple, the goal is to be a replica of the teacher you have chosen to follow. Not wavering to the left or the right.

The broad expression “make disciples” can easily be misunderstood. Therefore, when we use or explain these words, we always need to make sure that we clearly distinguish our part in carrying out Jesus’ command from God’s part. Only God the Holy Spirit can turn people from unbelief to faith and constantly increase that faith. Only God the Holy Spirit can create a living faith that clings to and willingly does all that Christ commands. But we also have a part in this work because God has chosen to use us as his agents to proclaim the Word through which the Spirit does his work. Therefore, God does speak of human beings having a part in bringing people to faith (for example., Acts 26:17 where Paul is described as opening people’s eyes and turning people from darkness to light, from Satan to God). But whenever we cite such passages we need to speak carefully so that the part we have in this action, what we do, is never confused with the Spirit’s work, with what he does.

Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly – David Kuske

Most of these disciples at this time were Jewish. They had most likely been trained in the Torah since birth. They had been fully immersed in the Jewish way of life, the Jewish traditions, and many in the oral laws.

Went up to the mount and sat down ... This is a verbatim quote from Exodus 19:3. Matthew is pointing back to Moses and connecting Jesus as the new Moses. He’s connecting the Law of the Torah with the Law of the New Covenant. Remember, at this time, the general public didn’t have the scrolls to carry home and read. They had to memorize everything. When a Jewish teacher makes a direct quote, he is telling his students to gather as much as you can from where the quote took place. Not just a few lines above and a few lines below, but as many lines above and below as you can recall. He’s telling them, in recalling those, pay close attention to what I’m about to say and make as many connections as you can.

Matthew wants you to think back to Moses and when he received the Law.

What we see translated as ‘teaching; them is actually the word torah, ‘gave them this torah’. Torah can refer to either the first five books of our Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Numbers), or it can mean a teaching or instruction. In this instance, it means giving them a teaching or instruction.

Happy or Blessed – what does this actually mean? The word used here DOES NOT carry with it a FUTURE event. It doesn’t mean, if you do this or are this, then you will be blessed or happy. It was a state of being in the moment. It isn’t a reward to be given at a later time because of your current actions. It is connected to your experience during the action. It doesn’t say, blessed/happy will be, it says blessed/happy ARE. Right now, in the moment, they are blessed/happy.

One hundred and fifty years before Jesus, a Jewish Teacher, Ben-Sirah Jesus wrote a blessed is statement. It fully immersed it’s self in the value of the world with status, admiration, etc. It was a culture where status was important. This is the reality of the world Jesus Christ is now teaching in. When they heard Jesus say, “blessed” they thought they knew what he was going to say, but he said almost the opposite. Can you imagine what it was like? You’d here him say Blessed is … and you’d be like yea, I know all about .. wait .! What! That isn’t what I’ve heard, that’s not what my teacher said, that’s now what the Rabbi is teaching.

Get ready, because as we move down through the things Jesus is about to say and what they really mean, you will have the exact same feeling at some point.

Welcome to the journey of the disciples, who were sitting on the mount, listening to Jesus teach.

Video teaching: https://youtu.be/fmzqB6lBVJM