So when jesus teaches, he is not just advocating rules or giving advice. Some what similar list is also mentioned in luke 6. Matthew s reporting of the sermon begins with a list of sentences called the beatitudes. It is found in the 5th chapter of the gospel of matthew and it occurs fairly early in jesus ministry. The word beatitude means supreme blessedness or happiness b. It comes from the latin word beatus, which means happy or blessed. We have enlisted hundreds of friends biblical scholars, theologians, homileticians and pastors dedicated to the craft of biblical preaching to provide you timely, compelling and trustworthy content. Christ has come to give eternal life to those who believe in him. The sayings in this subdivision are called beatitudes from the word beati meaning blessed, with which they begin in the. The working preacher team believes that god uses good biblical preaching to change lives.
Needful, because the prospect of persecution is far from awakening joy. The phrase blessed are the poor in spirit comes from the beatitudes of jesus. In the beatitudes, jesus stands our world on its head. Now viewing scripture range from the book of matthew chapter 5. Jesus here is talking to real people with real problems and he is saying blessed are you for simply showing up. Matthew 5 bible commentary matthew henry concise christianity.
The greek word translated blessed means happy, blissful or. Happy are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. May 14, 2015 beatitudes is a instruction manual for a christian. Blessed are the poor in spirit the word, here rendered blessed, properly means happy, and it may be better to translate it so, because our lord seems to intimate by it, not only that the dispositions here recommended are the way to future blessedness, but that they immediately confer the truest and most noble felicity. In these six sections, jesus invites his listeners to go beyond an attitude that righteousness is something that we can do if we try hard enough. Portions are similar to the sermon on the plain in luke 6, but much of the material is found only in matthew. That opens the possibility that this is a wordforword transcription of jesus sermon. It delineates the outward manifestations of character and conduct of true believers and genuine disciples. Verses 312 matthew henrys commentary bible gateway. Matthew 5 is the fifth chapter of the gospel of matthew in the new testament. They do not show how one enters into a relationship with god, but describe the characteristics manifested by one who is born anew. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
It is not merely making sure you do the right things or even say the right things. The preaching of this sermon may have come a little later in the chronology of the life of christ. He opened his mouth and began to teach them, saying, o the mountain and the multitude. The word beatitudes in not found in the english bible. In this he uses the imagery of harvesting wheat to describe gods judgement. According to matthew, these beatitudes are nine in numberand seven in character, for the last two, which concern persecution, donot relate to traits of character, but to certain externalcircumstances. Shadrach, meshach and abednego watched as the soldiers who had brought them to this place fell over dead due to the overwhelming heat. It is interesting and noteworthy that god places the sermon on the mount near the beginning of the very first book in the new testament, immediately after jesus begins to preach the gospel of the kingdom of god. The sermon on the mount opens with the beatitudeseight statements. All christians are meant to manifest all of these characteristics. Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. This first beatitude verse 3 is the foundational key to all of gods other blessings. Even if matthew compiled this from jesus later repetitions, the words are still surprising, even confusing, and challenging matthew 5. The opening verses of the sermon on the mount indicate that this message deals with the inner state of mind and heart that is the indispensable absolute of true christian discipleship. Jan 30, 2011 working preacher is a ministry brought to you by luther seminary. Happy are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Study matthew 5 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse. Blessed are those in a desperate situation, spiritually. Test yourself at this moment what is your heart set on as vital for your life and character. It is impossible for us to achieve this on our own. During his earthly lifetime, jesus demonstrated these qualities in his own person, and he expects us to do likewise. The advancement of true peace among men is the job of jesus peacemakers. Just leave a comment that the questioner should ask about a particular verse.
An exhortation based on the declaration of blessedness in matthew 5. Blessed are the poor in spirit not the poor in purse, or who are so with respect to things temporal. But john and jesus were close in age, and would be close friends. He taught them what was the evil they should abhor, and what the good they should seek and abound in.
As you remember from the previous study, this is the beginning of a long section of teaching by jesus. A kingdom has a king, subjects, a place, and the ways of the king and his kingdom. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. The reason both for rejoicing and for the blessedness. Those who have chosen to reject his offer of forgiveness will be separated on judgement day and sent to hell, a place of unquenchable fire. An old testament lesson of what jesus teaches in his sermon on the mount in matthew 5. He was a kinsman of jesusa cousin, perhapsor an uncle luke 1. The humor in this line is in the first two words instead of the end, as is more common for jesuss punchlines. It is debated as to exactly how many beatitudes there are. What jesus has just presented in the eight beatitudes mt 5. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The beatitudes were statements of characteristics and blessing that are part of the sermon on the mount that jesus spoke and is recorded in matthew. There is a poorspiritedness that is so far from making men blessed that it is a sin and a snarecowardice and base fear. The word blessed does not mean holy, and neither does it mean happy in the sense of being in a good mood.
Matthew 5 niv introduction to the sermon on the mount. These descriptions do not refer to natural tendencies, and. Matthew 5 commentary william barclays daily study bible. This does not mean that there are not risks and conflicts. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of me. Blessed are poor in spirit 8 part series this bible study lesson is an eight part series of the beatitudes mentioned in matthew 5.
He is poised and in control, but he refuses to make claims for himself or to mount a defense. Jesus sermon on the mount begins by talking about the kingdom of heaven. What did jesus mean by saying blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. A key principle of embracing this life is blessedness. You will discover what is meant by a winnowing fork and how the passage applies to us. With less of you there is more of god and his rule. Beatitudes is a instruction manual for a christian. It contains the first portion of the sermon on the mount, which will also take up chapters 6 and 7.
Faq about an explaination of the beatitudes, matthew, ch. What is the meaning of poor in spirit in matthew 5. They are focused positively on what we should be like rather than on what we should not do. Matthew 5 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, as set of 17 volumes on the new testament, the result of barclays dedicated work. As we begin to take a closer look at the sermon on the mount, we notice first that section known as the beatitudes mt 5. We find jesus discussing the blessedness of those who possess certain qualities 2. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a redeemer. Jesus models praus at his trial, where he refuses to defend himself. These bring their minds to their condition, when it is a low condition. If moses and jesus are models of anawim and praus, their behavior suggests the true meaning of these words. When i read the question and the passage, i thought, this covers too much ground. The beatitudes god blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew describes jesus as a king, praus, and mounted on a donkey 21.
This title comes from the latin word beatus, which means blessed or happy. The verse occurs in the section relating the preachings of john the baptist. Some speak of seven, nine, or ten beatitudes, but the number appears to be eight verses 1012 of matthew 5 being one beatitude. The pure in heart those whose hearts are purified by faith. The relation that they ought to hold towards the religion of the day, of which the law was the accepted standard matthew 5. Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. This first part covers the meaning and context of beatitudes. Make a list and then compare it with the list jesus unfolds in matthew 5. This is a refrain that runs throughout verses 5 10. What things do you most want to see developed in your life this day, this month, this year. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. With regard to whether matthew has made an addition or not, the form is only found in matthew 5.