Matthew 5

Sermon on the Mount is the title given for the longest discourse of Jesus found in Matt. 5-7. It is considered as the greatest ethical teachings,
the bedrock of the church, the Bible within the Bible. Jesus used the O.T. and repeating the phrase to clarify and expound O.T. teaching (“you
have heard it was said…but I tell you”).

The Beatitudes (5:1-12)

A. The traditional site of the mountain were Jesus delivered His sermon is near the Sea of Galilee and is now called “the Mount of Beatitudes.”
B. Beatitudes is from the Lat. “beatus” which means “blessed.” Blessed means happy as some contemporary translations designate. It
contains the attitudes and the promises for the citizens of the Messiah’s kingdom.
1. Poor in spirit means that one recognizes his spiritual poverty and is longing for a better spiritual state. Naturally these people would
enter God’s kingdom for they will seek it.
2. Those who mourn do not refer to all who weep for every reason, but the blessing is only extended for those who mourn for their sins.
They will be comforted for God will forgive them if they will obey the gospel.
3. The meek are those who are mild, gentle. Meekness is strength under control, which will not render evil for evil. They will inherit the
earth in the sense that they will enjoy the temporal blessings more than others.
4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness have the intense desire to do always what is right.
5. The merciful shall obtain mercy because those who forgive will be forgiven.
6. The pure in heart are those who are free from evil desires and wicked schemes. They indeed shall see God face to face in heaven (1
John 3:2).
7. The peacemakers are those who make peace (1) with all men, (2) between men, and (3) between God and men. They shall be called
the children of God because their Father is the God of peace (Luke 2:14).
8. The persecuted for righteousness’ sake are those who are doing good and are being done with evil. They are told to rejoice because
their reward is in heaven, and they shall be in company of the heroic prophets.

Believers are Salt and Light (5:13-16)

A. Salt can be used as flavor enhancer, preservative, and fertilizer to plants. Primarily Jesus used salt because it enhances flavor and His
disciples should enhance the people’s quality of life.
1. Technically, salt cannot lose its saltiness except when it is polluted with impurities. Christians who are polluted by sin would naturally
lose their influence.
B. Light in the Bible represents the true knowledge of God (Ps 36:9) and darkness represents ignorance. The disciples should dispel the
darkness or ignorance of the world by preaching the truth from the Bible that people may see the way to life.

Christ Fulfills the Law (5:17-20)

A. The expression the Law and the prophets refers to the O.T.
1. Jesus came not to disobey the O.T. but to obey it. How?
a. By becoming the antitype of all its types.
b. By fulfilling their prophecies.
c. By obeying all its commandments.
2. Jesus testified that the O.T. cannot be undone until everything in it would be done. Even a “jot” and a “tittle” cannot be removed from
it unless fulfilled. The O.T. would be in effect until the coming of the N.T.
B. Least and great of the commandments.
1. The Bible does not teach that there are small commands and big commands from it. Every commandments are big or important (Jas.
2:10). Who are those who made this distinction?
a. The Pharisees who regarded the greater as important and the lesser as trivial (e.g. Exo. 20; Deut. 22:6).
b. The Roman Catholic Church who classified sins into venial and mortal.
c. The Protestants who disregarded doctrines and focused on morality alone.

Murder Begins in the Heart (5:21:26)

A. Jesus intensified the command “Do not murder” by prohibiting murderous thoughts. He showed that those who have murderous thoughts
are as guilty as those who committed an actual murder.
1. Those who are angry will be liable to judgment. The judgment here refers to
the lower tribunals in towns.
2. Those who say raca (“empty,” an Aramean insult) will be liable to the council.
The council refers to the Sanhedrin.
3. Those who say fool would taste hell.
a. The Gk word of hell is  (gehenna). It refers to the Hinnom Valley, a
place where people once gathered to offer sacrifices to god Molech
(Moloch). The worship was entirely destroyed by king Josiah and has been
turned to be a dump site.
b. It served as a fitting symbol of future punishment because there where
continual burnings at the site.
B. Jesus added that before one will worship he must first make reconciliation toward his conflicting brother (vs.23-24). The obvious reason is
God will not accept one’s worship unless one will have a right relationship with his brother.
C. The meaning of vs.25-26 is that one must be reconciled to his brother before it is too late.

Adultery in the Heart (5:27-30)

A. Jesus intensified adultery by prohibiting lustful thoughts.
1. Adultery refers to illicit relations involving a married person.
2. Jesus used a hyperbolic expression to remove one’s eye or even his own hands. Naturally those who have no eyes or hands cannot
lust. But the basic meaning is that one must remove anything which causes him to sin.

Marriage is Sacred and Binding (5:31-32)

A. The Jews were divided on the matter of divorcement whether it is alright to put away one’s spouse for any reason or for only one reason.
Jesus clearly stated the only acceptable ground of divorce—fornication.
1. Fornication () is a general term for marriage unfaithfulness.
2. The question of divorce would be discussed again in Matt. 19.

Jesus Forbids Oaths (5:33-37)

A. The Jews taught that if they swore to anything except to God, they do not have to fulfill their oath. Jesus forbids not all oaths but only the
false oaths (perjury)—oaths that will not be fulfilled.
1. Jesus limits us to “yes” or “no” in order to convince a person and not to make unnecessary oaths. Be man-of-words.
2. Another lesson is that one must not use the sacred things of the Bible in vain (Exo. 20:7).

Go to the Second Mile (5:38-42)

A. Jesus forbids retaliation or personal vengeance. We must not render evil for evil (Rom. 12:17).
1. If a person slapped you, turn the other cheek. If a person took you tunic give away your cloak also.If a person forced to carry his bag
for one mile, make it two!

Love Your Enemies (5:43-48)