4 "Blessed are those who mourn , for they shall be comforted . 5 "Blessed are the gentle , for they shall inherit the earth . 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness , for they shall be satisfied . 7 "Blessed are the merciful , for they shall receive mercy . 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart , for they shall see God . 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers , for they shall be called sons of God . 10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness , for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 "Rejoice and be glad , for your reward in heaven is great ; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 "You are the salt of the earth ; but if the salt has become tasteless , how e can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything , except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men .
14 "You are the light of the world . A city set on a hill cannot e be hidden ; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket , but on the lampstand , and it gives light to all who are in the house . 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works , and glorify your Father who is in heaven .
17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets ; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill . 18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away , not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished . 19 "Whoever e then annuls one of the least of these commandments , and teaches others to do the same , shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven ; but whoever e keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven . 20 "For I say to you that unless e your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees , you will not enter the kingdom of heaven .
21 " You have heard that the ancients were told , ' YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER ' and 'Whoever e commits murder shall be liable to the court .' 22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court ; and whoever e says to his brother , 'You good-for-nothing ,' shall be guilty before the supreme court ; and whoever e says , 'You fool ,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell . 23 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar , and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go ; first be reconciled to your brother , and then come and present your offering . 25 " Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way , so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge , and the judge to the officer , and you be thrown into prison . 26 "Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent .
27 " You have heard that it was said , ' YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY '; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart . 29 " If your right eye makes you stumble , tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than e for your whole body to be thrown into hell . 30 " If your right hand makes you stumble , cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than e for your whole body to go into hell .
31 "It was said , ' WHOEVER e SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY , LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE '; 32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife , except for the reason of unchastity , makes her commit adultery ; and whoever e marries a divorced woman commits adultery .
33 "Again , you have heard that the ancients were told , ' YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS , BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE Lord .' 34 "But I say to you, make no oath at all , either by heaven , for it is the throne of God , 35 or by the earth , for it is the footstool of His feet , or by Jerusalem , for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING . 36 "Nor shall you make an oath by your head , for you cannot e make one hair white or black . 37 "But let your statement be, 'Yes , yes ' or 'No , no '; anything beyond these is of evil .
38 " You have heard that it was said , ' AN EYE FOR AN EYE , AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH .' 39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek , turn the other to him also . 40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt , let him have your coat also . 41 "Whoever forces you to go one mile , go with him two . 42 " Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
43 " You have heard that it was said , ' YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy .'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 5:4-43
Commentary on Matthew 5:3-12
(Read Matthew 5:3-12)
Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian. 1. The poor in spirit are happy. These bring their minds to their condition, when it is a low condition. They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer. The kingdom of grace is of such; the kingdom of glory is for them. 2. Those that mourn are happy. That godly sorrow which worketh true repentance, watchfulness, a humble mind, and continual dependence for acceptance on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, with constant seeking the Holy Spirit, to cleanse away the remaining evil, seems here to be intended. Heaven is the joy of our Lord; a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears. Such mourners shall be comforted by their God. 3. The meek are happy. The meek are those who quietly submit to God; who can bear insult; are silent, or return a soft answer; who, in their patience, keep possession of their own souls, when they can scarcely keep possession of anything else. These meek ones are happy, even in this world. Meekness promotes wealth, comfort, and safety, even in this world. 4. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are happy. Righteousness is here put for all spiritual blessings. These are purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ, confirmed by the faithfulness of God. Our desires of spiritual blessings must be earnest. Though all desires for grace are not grace, yet such a desire as this, is a desire of God's own raising, and he will not forsake the work of his own hands. 5. The merciful are happy. We must not only bear our own afflictions patiently, but we must do all we can to help those who are in misery. We must have compassion on the souls of others, and help them; pity those who are in sin, and seek to snatch them as brands out of the burning. 6. The pure in heart are happy; for they shall see God. Here holiness and happiness are fully described and put together. The heart must be purified by faith, and kept for God. Create in me such a clean heart, O God. None but the pure are capable of seeing God, nor would heaven be happiness to the impure. As God cannot endure to look upon their iniquity, so they cannot look upon his purity. 7. The peace-makers are happy. They love, and desire, and delight in peace; and study to be quiet. They keep the peace that it be not broken, and recover it when it is broken. If the peace-makers are blessed, woe to the peace-breakers! 8. Those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are happy. This saying is peculiar to Christianity; and it is more largely insisted upon than any of the rest. Yet there is nothing in our sufferings that can merit of God; but God will provide that those who lose for him, though life itself, shall not lose by him in the end. Blessed Jesus! how different are thy maxims from those of men of this world! They call the proud happy, and admire the gay, the rich, the powerful, and the victorious. May we find mercy from the Lord; may we be owned as his children, and inherit his kingdom. With these enjoyments and hopes, we may cheerfully welcome low or painful circumstances.
Commentary on Matthew 5:13-16
(Read Matthew 5:13-16)
Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If they are not such as they should be, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If a man can take up the profession of Christ, and yet remain graceless, no other doctrine, no other means, can make him profitable. Our light must shine, by doing such good works as men may see. What is between God and our souls, must be kept to ourselves; but that which is of itself open to the sight of men, we must study to make suitable to our profession, and praiseworthy. We must aim at the glory of God.
Commentary on Matthew 5:17-20
(Read Matthew 5:17-20)
Let none suppose that Christ allows his people to trifle with any commands of God's holy law. No sinner partakes of Christ's justifying righteousness, till he repents of his evil deeds. The mercy revealed in the gospel leads the believer to still deeper self-abhorrence. The law is the Christian's rule of duty, and he delights therein. If a man, pretending to be Christ's disciple, encourages himself in any allowed disobedience to the holy law of God, or teaches others to do the same, whatever his station or reputation among men may be, he can be no true disciple. Christ's righteousness, imputed to us by faith alone, is needed by every one that enters the kingdom of grace or of glory; but the new creation of the heart to holiness, produces a thorough change in a man's temper and conduct.
Commentary on Matthew 5:21-26
(Read Matthew 5:21-26)
The Jewish teachers had taught, that nothing except actual murder was forbidden by the sixth commandment. Thus they explained away its spiritual meaning. Christ showed the full meaning of this commandment; according to which we must be judged hereafter, and therefore ought to be ruled now. All rash anger is heart murder. By our brother, here, we are to understand any person, though ever so much below us, for we are all made of one blood. "Raca," is a scornful word, and comes from pride: "Thou fool," is a spiteful word, and comes from hatred. Malicious slanders and censures are poison that kills secretly and slowly. Christ told them that how light soever they made of these sins, they would certainly be called into judgment for them. We ought carefully to preserve Christian love and peace with all our brethren; and if at any time there is a quarrel, we should confess our fault, humble ourselves to our brother, making or offering satisfaction for wrong done in word or deed: and we should do this quickly; because, till this is done, we are unfit for communion with God in holy ordinances. And when we are preparing for any religious exercises, it is good for us to make that an occasion of serious reflection and self-examination. What is here said is very applicable to our being reconciled to God through Christ. While we are alive, we are in the way to his judgement-seat; after death, it will be too late. When we consider the importance of the case, and the uncertainty of life, how needful it is to seek peace with God, without delay!
Commentary on Matthew 5:27-32
(Read Matthew 5:27-32)
Victory over the desires of the heart, must be attended with painful exertions. But it must be done. Every thing is bestowed to save us from our sins, not in them. All our senses and powers must be kept from those things which lead to transgression. Those who lead others into temptation to sin, by dress or in other ways, or leave them in it, or expose them to it, make themselves guilty of their sin, and will be accountable for it. If painful operations are submitted to, that our lives may be saved, what ought our minds to shrink from, when the salvation of our souls is concerned? There is tender mercy under all the Divine requirements, and the grace and consolations of the Spirit will enable us to attend to them.
Commentary on Matthew 5:33-37
(Read Matthew 5:33-37)
There is no reason to consider that solemn oaths in a court of justice, or on other proper occasions, are wrong, provided they are taken with due reverence. But all oaths taken without necessity, or in common conversation, must be sinful, as well as all those expressions which are appeals to God, though persons think thereby to evade the guilt of swearing. The worse men are, the less they are bound by oaths; the better they are, the less there is need for them. Our Lord does not enjoin the precise terms wherein we are to affirm or deny, but such a constant regard to truth as would render oaths unnecessary.
Commentary on Matthew 5:38-42
(Read Matthew 5:38-42)
The plain instruction is, Suffer any injury that can be borne, for the sake of peace, committing your concerns to the Lord's keeping. And the sum of all is, that Christians must avoid disputing and striving. If any say, Flesh and blood cannot pass by such an affront, let them remember, that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God; and those who act upon right principles will have most peace and comfort.
Commentary on Matthew 5:43-48
(Read Matthew 5:43-48)
The Jewish teachers by "neighbour" understood only those who were of their own country, nation, and religion, whom they were pleased to look upon as their friends. The Lord Jesus teaches that we must do all the real kindness we can to all, especially to their souls. We must pray for them. While many will render good for good, we must render good for evil; and this will speak a nobler principle than most men act by. Others salute their brethren, and embrace those of their own party, and way, and opinion, but we must not so confine our respect. It is the duty of Christians to desire, and aim at, and press towards perfection in grace and holiness. And therein we must study to conform ourselves to the example of our heavenly Father, 1 Peter 1:15,16. Surely more is to be expected from the followers of Christ than from others; surely more will be found in them than in others. Let us beg of God to enable us to prove ourselves his children.