Scripture Study: Matthew 5:1-16

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The ministry and miracles of the Lord had attracted the multitude. He took an elevated place and sat down and taught His disciples in the hearing of the multitude. As the prophet, He tells them the character that suited His kingdom. It is His own character that comes out in it all.
The believing remnant of the Jews, the disciples in that day, were brought into the church at Pentecost. The believing remnant of the tribulation period will share the kingdom in the millennial age. Believers now are a heavenly people. We are children of the Father; members of the body of Christ; temples of the Holy Spirit. The principles contained in the sermon on the mount apply to us also, but we need to notice the above distinction from those who had an earthly calling.
Matthew 5:17-4817Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:17‑48) is the connection between the principles of the kingdom and the law.
Let us look at them a little in detail.
Matthew 5:33Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3), “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This is accepting a despised place; it is not seeking great things for self in a scene that is contrary to God—these possess the kingdom.
Christ’s character is seen in all these as the example for us. What He taught is what He is (John 8:2525Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. (John 8:25); see new translation.)
Matthew 5:55Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5). “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Meekness does not maintain its own rights; it does not retaliate, it rather suffers wrong; but God defends the meek. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Matt. 11:2929Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29); Psa. 22:26; 25:9; 37:1126The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. (Psalm 22:26)
9The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. (Psalm 25:9)
11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psalm 37:11)). “They shall inherit the earth” applies specially to the earthly calling; but we who are heavenly should receive all things from our God and Father in the same way. We should not be conformed to the world’s ways, and should be done with selfishness. He will “supply all your need” (Phil. 4:1919But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)).
Matthew 5:88Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8). “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” We get here the pure motive that keeps God in view. The pure in heart see God’s ways in everything.
Matthew 5:99Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9). “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” This is indeed the activity of the divine nature; God’s character among men, carrying peace with them, their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:1515And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15)). Thus they would win the title, “sons of God.”
Matthew 5:1010Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10). “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Here we have the treatment from others of those who do the will of God, and walk in practical righteousness before Him. The soul that walks with God cannot do what it knows is wrong. It thus brings persecution upon itself from those affected by its integrity (Psa. 25:19-2119Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. (Psalm 25:19‑21)). Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:11-1211Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11‑12). “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Notice the change to “ye.” It is suffering for Christ; it is precious to Him. He sees it all, and encourages the sufferer with His promise, “great is your reward in heaven.” To do well and suffer for it, is indeed acceptable with God, and brings the soul its sure reward (1 Peter 3:14-1714But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. (1 Peter 3:14‑17)), but to suffer for Christ’s sake is still more precious (1 Peter 4:12-1612Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (1 Peter 4:12‑16)); “the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you”; “on your part He is glorified.” Thus we are encouraged to bear testimony and to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Matthew 5:1313Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Matthew 5:13). “Ye are the salt of the earth.” As the salt, the believer strengthens and upholds all that God has instituted; it is preserving what is good. If the believer goes with the evil, his influence is lost, and his own communion is marred. It is not a question of losing eternal life — that could not be. It is our influence, as walking in the fear of God.
This is the first mention of the Father’s name, “which is in heaven,” as suited to an earthly people. In John 20, when the Lord rose from the dead, He could say, “My God and your God,” “My Father and your Father.”
(To be Continued).