Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
MATTHEW 5
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 I n the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Application Notes
5:1-7:29 Matthew 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount because Jesus gave it on a hillside near Capernaum. This "sermon" probably covered several days of preaching. In it, Jesus taught people what God's kingdom is meant to be. Position, authority, and money are not important in his kingdom—what matters is faithful obedience to God from the heart, which leads to genuine love for God and others and transforms lives, communities, and nations. The Sermon on the Mount challenged the proud and legalistic religious leaders of the day. It called them back to the messages of the Old Testament prophets, who, like Jesus, taught that heartfelt devotion to God and loving service to others matter more than religious observance.
5:1-2 Enormous crowds were following Jesus—he was the talk of the town, and everyone wanted to see and hear him. The disciples, who were the closest associates of this popular man, were certainly tempted to feel important, proud, and possessive. Being with Jesus gave them not only prestige but also opportunity for receiving money and power.
The crowds were gathering once again. But before speaking to them, Jesus pulled his disciples aside and warned them about the temptations they would face as his associates. He defined his new kingdom community. Don't seek or expect fame and fortune, Jesus was saying, and don't be surprised by mourning, hunger, and persecution. Jesus' teachings were radically different than the teachings coming from most leaders in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, Jesus assured his disciples that God would reward them, though perhaps not in this life. There may be times when following Jesus will bring us great popularity, but also expect ridicule, scorn, and even persecution because the gospel of Jesus can be offensive to people in this world. If we don't live by Jesus' words in this sermon, we will find ourselves using God's message only to promote our personal interests.
5:3-12 This section of Jesus' teaching is often referred to as the Beatitudes. These verses can be understood in at least four ways: (1) They are a code of ethics and a standard of conduct for all believers. (2) They contrast kingdom values (what is eternal) with worldly values (what is temporary). (3} They contrast the superficial “faith” of the Pharisees with the real faith that Jesus demands. (4) They show how Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new kingdom. The Beatitudes are not multiple choice, as if you could pick what you like and leave the rest. They must be taken as a whole. Jesus perfectly exemplified them, and we must aim to live as he did.
5:3-12 Each beatitude tells how to be blessed by God. Being blessed means more than being happy. It describes the fortunate or privileged position of those who belong to God's kingdom. The Beatitudes don't promise pleasure or earthly prosperity. Being blessed by God means experiencing hope and joy, independent of the outward circumstances. To open the door to such hope and joy, which leads to the deepest form of happiness, we must walk across the threshold of suffering, sacrifice, and transformation.
5:3-12 With Jesus' announcement that the kingdom was near (4:17), people were naturally asking, “How do I qualify to be in God's kingdom?” Jesus said that God's kingdom is organized differently from worldly kingdoms. In the kingdom of heaven, wealth and power and authority are unimportant. The first and primary quality needed is humility, recognizing your need for God. Kingdom people seek different blessings and benefits than people of the world, and they also have different attitudes. Do your attitudes reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus, your king?
5:3-5 Jesus began his sermon with words that seem to contradict each other. But God's way of living usually contradicts the world's. Jesus' life certainly contradicted the status quo and normal way of living in the first century. If you want to live for God, you must be ready to say and do what seems strange to the world, what other people may not understand or accept. You must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse. By setting aside your own rights in order to serve others, you will one day receive everything God has in store for you.
5:11-12 Jesus said to rejoice when we're persecuted for our faith. Persecution can be good because it (1) takes our eyes off earthly rewards, (2) strips away superficial belief, (3) strengthens our faith if we endure, and (4) serves as an example to others who follow as they see the way we live while going through it. We can be comforted knowing that God's greatest prophets were persecuted (including Elijah, Jeremiah, and Daniel). The fact that Christians in many times and places around the world have been persecuted is evidence of faithfulness; faithless people would be unnoticed. In the future God will reward the faithful by receiving them into his eternal kingdom, where no one will face persecution.
5:13 If a seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little value in representing God's presence in this world. If we are too much like the world, we won't be able to help or change it; as seasoning, we will be worthless. Christians should not blend in with everyone else. If we isolate ourselves from non—Christians, however, we will lose the ability to reach them. Instead, we should influence others positively, just as seasoning brings out the best flavor in food.
5:14-16 Can you hide a city that is sitting on top of a hill? Its light at night can be seen for miles. If we live for Jesus, we will glow like lights, shining brightly with his love. Many who are living in spiritual darkness will be attracted by our light and want to step into it. Jesus' light always reveals truth. We hide our light by (1) being quiet when we should speak, (2) going along with the crowd, (3) denying God's truth, (4) letting sin dim our light, (5) not explaining our light to others, or (6) ignoring the needs of others. Be a beacon of truth—don’t shut your light off from the rest of the world.
5:17-20 If Jesus did not come to abolish the law, does that mean all the Old Testament laws still apply to us today? In the Old Testament, there were three categories of law: ceremonial, civil, and moral.
(1) The ceremonial law related specifically to Israel's worship (see Leviticus 1:2-3, for example). Its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ; these laws, therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus' death and resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial law, the principles behind them—to worship and love the holy God—still apply. The Pharisees often accused Jesus of violating ceremonial law.
(2) The civil law applied to daily living in Israel (see Deuteronomy 24:10-11, for example). Because modern society and culture are so radically different from that time and setting; all of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct. Jesus demonstrated these principles by example.
(3) The moral law (such as the Ten Commandments) is the direct command of God, and it requires strict obedience (see Exodus 20:13, for example). The moral law reveals God's nature and will for how we should relate to him and to other people, and it still applies today. Jesus obeyed the moral law completely.
5:17 God gave his moral and ceremonial laws to help people love him with all their hearts and minds and to love others. Throughout Israel's history, however, these laws had often been misquoted and misapplied. By Jesus· time, religious leaders had turned the laws into a confusing mass of rules that only burdened people. When Jesus talked about a new way to understand God's law, he was actually trying to bring people back to its original purpose. Jesus did not speak against the law itself but against the abuses and excesses to which it had been subjected (see John 1:17).
5:19 Some of the people in the crowd were experts at telling others what to do, but they missed the central point of God's law. Jesus made it clear that obeying God's law means more than just explaining it. Studying God's law and telling others to obey it is much easier than putting it into practice. How are you doing at obeying God yourself?
5:20 Righteousness means having a right love for God leading to a right relationship with him and others, producing right actions. The Pharisees were exacting and scrupulous in their attempts to follow their laws. They thought that was what they needed to do to please God. So how could Jesus reasonably call us to greater righteousness than theirs? The Pharisees' weakness was that they were content to obey the laws outwardly without allowing God to change their hearts (or attitudes). They looked good and acted piously, but they were far from the kingdom of heaven. God is concerned about our hearts as well as our deeds, because our hearts show where our real allegiance lies.
Jesus was saying that his listeners needed a different kind of righteousness altogether (out of love for God), not just a more intense version of the Pharisees' obedience (which was mere legal compliance). Our righteousness must (1) come from what God does in us, not what we can do by ourselves; (2) be God-centered, not self-centered; (3) be based on reverence for God, not approval from people; and (4) go beyond keeping the law to living by the principles behind the law. We should be just as concerned about our attitudes that people don't see as about our actions that are seen by all.
5:21-22 When Jesus said, “But I tell you” he was not doing away with the law or adding his own beliefs. He was revealing God's truth, giving a fuller understanding of why God made a certain law in the first place. Jesus, not the Pharisees, knew what the Old Testament really meant. For example, Moses said, "You shall not murder ( (Exodus 20:13); Jesus taught that we should not even become angry enough to murder, for then we have already committed murder in our hearts. The Pharisees read this law and, not having literally murdered anyone, felt that they had obeyed it. Yet they were angry enough with Jesus that they would soon plot his death, though they would not do the dirty work themselves. We miss the intent of God's Word when we read his rules for living without trying to understand why he made them. Far more than getting us to keep dos and don'ts, God wants to transform our hearts.
5:21-22 Killing is a terrible sin, but much of our anger is a great sin, too, because it also ignores God's command to love. Anger in this case refers to a seething, brooding bitterness against someone. It is a dangerous emotion that always threatens to leap out of control, leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress, and spiritual damage. Anger keeps us from developing a spirit that pleases God. Have you ever been proud that you didn't strike out and say what was really on your mind? Self-control is good, but Jesus wants us to practice control of our thoughts as well. Jesus said that we will be held accountable even for our thoughts and attitudes.
5:23-24 Broken relationships can hinder a person's relationship with God. If we have a problem or grievance with a friend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. If we have offended someone, our worship is hindered—we worship halfheartedly if we do so knowing we have offended another person. Our attitudes toward others reflect our attitudes about our relationship with God (1 John 4:20).
5:25-26 In Jesus' day, someone who couldn't pay a debt would be thrown into prison until the debt was paid. Unless someone came to pay the debt for the prisoner, he or she would probably die there. It is practical advice to resolve our differences with our adversaries before their anger causes more trouble (Proverbs 25:8-10). You may never get into a disagreement that takes you to court, but even small conflicts mend more easily when you try to make peace right away. In a broader sense, these verses advise us to get our words and actions right with our brothers and sisters before we have to stand before God.
5:27-28 The Old Testament law declares that it is wrong for a person to have sex with someone other than his or her spouse (Exodus 20:14). This commandment was given to protect the essential God-given value of men and women and to guard the whole family from destructive forces. Here Jesus said that even a lustful desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse violates the integrity of your relationships with your spouse and the other person, and thus is sin. Jesus emphasized that if the act is wrong, then so is the intention. To be faithful to your spouse with your body but not your mind is to break the trust so vital to a strong marriage. Abstaining from extramarital sex solves half the problem; Jesus wants our hearts and minds transformed as well so that our thoughts have integrity in concert with our actions. Jesus is not condemning natural interest in the opposite sex or even healthy sexual desire, but he does warn against the deliberate, repeated filling of one's mind with fantasies that would be sinful and harmful to others if acted out.
5:27-28 Some think that if lustful thoughts are sinful, why not go ahead and carry out the lustful actions, too? Acting out sinful desires is harmful in several ways: (1) It causes people to excuse sin rather than to stop sinning; (2) it destroys marriages and families; (3) it is deliberate rebellion against God's Word; and (4) it always hurts someone else in addition to the sinner. Sinful actions are more dangerous than sinful desires, and that is why desires should not be acted out. Jesus wants us to guard our hearts and minds and to have proper attitudes toward the opposite sex. If you are consumed by selfish desire for someone who is not your spouse, you may need to seek help. Ask God to guard your heart and mind and help you to see that person also as his beloved child.
5:29-30 When Jesus said to get rid of your hand or your eye, he was speaking figuratively. He didn't mean literally to gouge out your eye, because even a blind person can lust. But if that were the only choice, it would be better to go into heaven with one eye or hand than to go to hell with two. We sometimes tolerate sins in our lives that, left unchecked, could eventually destroy us. Experiencing the pain of removal (getting rid of a bad habit or something we treasure, for instance) is better than following the sin to bring judgment and condemnation. Examine your life for anything that causes you to sin, and take every necessary action to remove it.
5:31-32 Divorce is as hurtful and destructive today as it was in Jesus' day. God intends marriage to be a lifetime commitment (Genesis 2:24). When entering into marriage, people should never consider divorce an option for solving problems or a way out of a relationship that seems dead. In these verses, Jesus is also attacking those who purposefully abuse the marriage covenant, using divorce to satisfy their lustful desire to marry someone else. Are your actions today helping your marriage grow stronger, or are you tearing it apart?
5:32 Jesus said that divorce is not permissible except for in cases of sexual immorality. This does not mean that divorce should automatically occur when a spouse commits adultery. The word translated ·sexual immorality· implies a sexually immoral lifestyle, not a confessed and repented act of adultery. Those who discover that their spouse has been unfaithful should first make every effort to forgive them and reconcile and restore the relationship. We are always to look for reasons to restore the marriage relationship rather than excuses to leave it.
5:33-37 Here Jesus was emphasizing the importance of plainly telling the truth. People were breaking vows and using sacred language casually and carelessly. Keeping vows and promises is important; it builds trust and makes committed human relationships possible. The Bible condemns making vows or taking oaths casually, giving your word while knowing that you might not keep it, and swearing falsely in God's name (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:1-2; Deuteronomy 19:16-20). Oaths are needed in certain situations only because we live in a sinful society that breeds distrust.
5:33-37 Oaths, or vows, were common, but Jesus told his followers not to use them-their word alone should be enough (see James 5:12). Are you known as a person of your word? Truthfulness seems so rare that we sometimes feel we must end our statements with "I promise." If we tell the truth all the time, we will have less pressure to back up our words with an oath or promise.
5:38-42 When we are wronged, often our first reaction is to get even. Instead, Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us! Our desire should not be to keep score but to love and forgive. This reverses our natural inclination and requires supernatural help. Only God can give us the strength to love as he does. Instead of planning to get even, pray for those who hurt you.
5:38 God's purpose behind this law regarding fair punishment was an expression of mercy. The law was given to judges and said, in effect, “Make the punishment fit the crime” (see Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19-20; Deuteronomy 19:21). It was not a guide for personal revenge. These laws were given to limit vengeance and help the court administer punishment that was neither too strict nor too lenient. Some people, however, were using this phrase to justify their vendettas against others. People still try to excuse their acts of revenge by reasoning, I was just doing to them what they did to me.
5:39-44 These statements were offensive to the Jews of Jesus' day: Any Messiah who would turn the other cheek was not the military leader they wanted to lead a revolt against Rome. Because they were under Roman oppression, they wanted retaliation against their enemies, whom they hated. But Jesus suggested a new, radical response to injustice: Instead of demanding rights, give them up freely! According to Jesus, showing justice and mercy to others accomplishes more than demanding it for yourself.
5:43-44 By telling us not to retaliate, Jesus is keeping us from taking the law into our own hands. By loving and praying for our enemies, we can overcome evil with good. We need God's supernatural help to love people who commit cruel and evil acts.
The Pharisees interpreted Leviticus 19:18 as teaching that they should love only those who love in return, and Psalms 139:19-22 and 140:9-11 as meaning that they should hate their enemies. But Jesus says we are to love our. enemies. If you act in love for your enemies, treating them well, you will show that Jesus truly rules your life. This becomes possible when we give ourselves fully to Jesus as Lord, because then he can deliver us from our natural self-centeredness. We must trust the Holy Spirit to help us show love to those for whom we may not feel love (Romans 5:5).
5:48 How can we be perfect? (1) In character: In this life we cannot be flawless, but we can be complete in God and aspire to be as much like Jesus as possible. (2) In holiness: Like the Pharisees, we are to separate ourselves from the world's sinful values. But unlike the Pharisees, we are to be devoted to God's desires rather than our own and carry his love and mercy into the world. (3) In maturity: We can't achieve Christlike character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness (Philippians 3:12-16). Just as we expect different behavior from a baby, a child, a teenager, and an adult, God expects different behavior from each of us, depending on our respective stages of spiritual development. (4) In love: We can seek to love others as completely as God loves us. His love gives us the ability to pass it on.
We can be complete in God yet have much room to grow. Our shortcomings must never deter us from striving to be more like Jesus. He wants all his disciples to rise above mediocrity and to mature in every area, becoming more and more like him. Those who strive to become perfect will one day be perfect, even as Christ is perfect (1 John 3:2-3).
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)