Biblical Commentary

The Biblical Commentary provides you with all the background info you need to teach your students, including context, verse-by-verse interpretation, and what the specific application of the passage is.

Investigation The Investigation section of the commentary provides a brief context for the passage of Scripture and often serves as a short summary of the content of the entire passage.

Importance The Importance section of the commentary addresses which of the Eight Essential Truths that a specific passage teaches. The section will note the most primary truth taught, as well as any secondary ones.

Interpretation The Interpretation section of the commentary explores the meaning of the passage in a verse-by-verse manner or a few verses at a time. Background information as well as theological implications are often used to help convey the original meaning of the passage.

Implication The Implication section of the commentary explains why the truth of the passage is important for students to understand. It also addresses how the passage can affect the lives of students and how they can apply these truths to their lives.

Investigation

Matthew devoted three chapters of his gospel (5–7) to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ most famous sermon. This sermon is best understood in the context of the launch of Jesus’ public ministry. During this time, Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt. 4:17). In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described the end result of this Repentance.

Jesus began the sermon with the Beatitudes, a series of eight proclamations that describe the people who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. The Beatitudes also describe the blessings associated with the Kingdom. Jesus’ words sounded radical to those who heard Him preach, and they still sound radical today. Who would be willing to embrace such countercultural teachings? Those who repent of their sins and accept Jesus’ salvation will allow the Spirit to develop these characteristics in their lives. As one writer noted, “The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His way with us” (Chambers, p. 13).

In the Old Testament, God called the children of Israel to be unique. Their lives were to be markedly different than the lives of those who lived in the surrounding culture. In the New Testament, Jesus extended a similar call to Jews and Gentiles when He preached the Sermon on the Mount. A life patterned after the Beatitudes is a consecrated life.

Interpretation

Matthew 5:1–2 Jesus had been preaching the “good news of the kingdom” throughout Galilee (Matt. 4:23). As word spread about His message and miracles, the crowds increased. In a scene reminiscent of Moses’ ascent of Mount Sinai to receive the Law on behalf of the Israelites (Ex. 19:3), Jesus proclaimed a new law from a mountainside. Jesus sat down to teach, the traditional posture of rabbis when they taught.

Matthew 5:3 Jesus focused on the condition of spiritual neediness. Jesus proclaimed that those who humbly recognize their sinful condition would be blessed. Recognizing one’s sinfulness is a necessary first step toward repentance and admittance into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Later in this sermon, Jesus warned His disciples that their righteousness would have to exceed that of the Pharisees if they wanted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 5:20). Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their emphasis on outward appearances (Matt. 23:25–26), and He contrasted their spiritual pride with the humility of a tax collector (Luke 18:10–14).

Matthew 5:4 In light of the context of repentance, Jesus described mourners described who were not grieving over the loss of a loved one, but were instead, grieving over their sins and preparing to repent. Jesus promised that those who grieve over their sins would be comforted by the Lord, echoing the messianic message in Isaiah 61:2.

Throughout the Bible, mourning is connected with the recognition of sin. The writer of Psalm 119 mourned because God’s people failed to obey the Law (Ps. 119:136). Daniel put on sackcloth and ashes (symbols of mourning) and confessed the sins of the exiled Israelites (Dan. 9:3–6).

Matthew 5:5 In this verse, Jesus paraphrased David: “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace” (Ps. 37:11). The Greek word translated as “meek” means “gentle, humble, considerate, courteous” (Stott, 1978).

This humility is evident in the lives of godly people throughout Scripture. Moses was lauded for his humility (Num. 12:3), and Jesus described Himself as gentle and humble (Matt. 11:29). The Apostle Paul painted a perfect picture of meekness when he urged the Philippians to humbly consider others better than themselves by adopting a Christ-like attitude (Phil. 2:3–11).

Matthew 5:6 God promised the exiled Israelites that in the day of salvation, He would restore them, satisfy their hunger, and quench their thirst (Isa. 49:8–10). Jesus extended the same promise to those who craved righteousness. Seek first God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness, Jesus declared later in this sermon, and believers would find fulfillment (Matt. 6:33). Righteousness comes only through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 3:20–24).

Matthew 5:7 To show mercy is to demonstrate compassion toward someone in need. This level of compassion is possibly best illustrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29–37).

Jesus demonstrated this compassion throughout His ministry. He responded to those who approached him with mercy and healing (Matt. 9:27–30, 15:22–28; Mark 10:46–52). Jesus placed a high premium on being merciful, preferring acts of mercy to sacrificial offerings (Matt. 9:13). Since God is rich in mercy, His children should be, too (Eph. 2:4–5). Jesus promised that those who extend mercy would likewise receive it in their time of need.

Matthew 5:8 God has always been concerned with people’s hearts because actions spring from the Heart. For example, God determined to flood the earth, sparing only Noah and his family, after He observed human wickedness and noted, “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (Gen. 6:5). In Proverbs, Solomon urged his son to guard his heart because it was “the wellspring of life” (Prov. 4:23). As Scripture shows, those who suffer from spiritual heart disease are prone to indulge their sinful nature. In one of his psalms, David declared that the only people who can stand before the Lord in His holy place are those who have “clean hands and a pure heart,” adding that they would receive blessing from the Lord (Ps. 24:3–5). God reveals Himself to those who guard the purity of their hearts.

Matthew 5:9 This verse is often cited in discussions of global conflict, but peacemaking happens on many different levels. Most significantly, peacemakers carry out the God-given ministry of reconciliation, leading those who are in need of salvation to be reconciled with Christ (2 Cor. 5:18–19). Although Jesus warned that strife would be a natural result of His coming (Matt. 10:34–36), Christians are instructed to do what they can to live at peace with others (Rom. 12:18). Those who follow David’s admonition to “seek peace and pursue it” (Ps. 34:14) are rightly called “sons of God” because they are clearly led by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:14).

Matthew 5:10 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first,” Jesus advised His disciples (John 15:18). Peacemakers and prophets often encounter resistance (2 Chron. 36:16). In the two verses that follow, Jesus implied that persecution would be par for the course for those who chose to follow Him. He urged the persecuted to “rejoice and be glad” (Matt. 5:11–12). Although it seems odd for Jesus to command His followers to rejoice in the face of persecution, they can be glad for two reasons: 1) they have been obedient to the Lord and will receive a heavenly reward, and 2) those who suffer for doing the right thing in God’s sight will be blessed (1 Pet. 3:14).

Implications

What should be made of Jesus' words, which are at odds with American cultural values? Aren't people supposed to be self-sufficient and proud, doing what it takes to prevail in any conflict? Isn’t that part of being American? Isn't Jesus setting up His followers to be pushovers? Actually, the opposite is true. To exhibit the characteristics Jesus described requires deep inner strength and courage. Being poor in spirit, mourning over sin, demonstrating meekness, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, exercising mercy, pursuing purity in heart, making peace, and enduring persecution all require Christians to abandon natural impulses and humble themselves in the sight of the Lord. To live this way requires extreme personal sacrifice, but results in extravagant rewards. When you consider Jesus' life and ministry, can you see how He lived out His teachings?

How countercultural will Jesus’ words be when your students understand what He is really saying? Can they be convinced to live out God’s norms rather than those of the world? Every day, students are thrust into a “sink-or-swim” environment in their schools. Running counter to youth culture makes students an easy target when they want desperately to fit in. How can you mold students’ characters so they feel confident in living out a Christ-like example? Can you teach this lesson knowing full well that you are providing the example your students need? Do they see in you a person who can live in American culture today and be an example of God’s character? How might your students be changed by the message of the Sermon on the Mount?

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