Matthew 5:27-30

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Commentary
The Lord Jesus Christ now warns us that God’s commandment not to commit adultery (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18) runs far deeper than abstaining from the physical act; for a person could rightly abstain from that, and yet by harboring all sorts of adulterous thoughts within themselves, and thus they would have only already committed adultery with the woman in their heart, and it is the heart that is deceitful and desperately wicked above all things (Jer. 17:9), where sin is harbored and nurtured and ultimately finds its physical manifestation through. Therefore Jesus’ warning here is not only against the physical act of adultery, but of harboring those thoughts that lead to it, because harboring those thoughts and fueling those desires will mean it’s manifestation in some form, at some time. Therefore as the Lord Jesus Christ’s disciples we are to take sexual sin seriously, because sexual sin (like all sin) is serious, and it carries serious consequences that end in hell for those who live by it, just as Jesus warns us all here in verse 30 (also consider Jude 7). Therefore in light of such things Jesus says that it is more profitable for us to lose one of our physical members (here an eye or a hand) then for our whole body to be thrown into hell, a place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched (Isaiah 66:24, Mark 9:43-48). This then stands as a stark warning to all those who pursue and justify all manner of sexual sins, for such is the corruption that is in the world through lust which is the ruin of it, but which we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have escaped from (2 Peter 1:4). Therefore those who take pleasure in their godlessness and wickedness are only storing up for themselves God's fierce and eternal wrath which He will render and repay to them all who scorned |His redemption and salvation for them (Rev. 21:6-8). Now that's future and that is certain for everyone who does not repent and believe in the Gospel. But there is also a judgment that God renders down here on every individual who refuses and rejects the true knowledge of God for themselves; which is fully capable of both saving and transforming them; and that is God gives them over to a debased mind so as to fill up their persons and lives with all manner of sexual sins and vileness and violence and corruption (see Rom 1:18-32), because that is what they themselves in rejecting God have chosen for themselves. And so even now we can clearly see the world by justifying such depraved and godless things as homosexuality and transgender lies is only preparing the way for the rise of the anti-Christ as transgressors reach their fullness (Daniel 8:23-25). Now when he does arise God will send them all strong delusion who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thess. 2:9-12). And so even now as the social moral “conscience” has so quickly degenerated in these past few years so as to now justify and fiercely defend all manner of homosexual abominations “the mystery of lawlessness” is soon coming to its horrible climax when the antichrist arises in this last and most godless generation, and so he will by their choice rule them all while fiercely persecuting us all who hold fast to God's truth, all which will take place before the Lord Jesus Christ’s return, when the Lamb of God will make war with them and overcome them all before His final judgment on them all before He sets up His Everlasting Kingdom.

Therefore the answer to sin is never its justification, (or normalization), but our own repentance from it, by our turning to God in faith through the Lord Jesus Christ who then freely and completely cleanses us of all our sins and transgressions by His own shed blood on the cross where He made the atoning sacrifice that God required for all our sins and transgressions so that we can now be reconciled back to God. Therefore just as we are washed in Christ's most precious blood the moment we believe so too we are regenerated by His Holy Spirit which also takes place the moment we believe in Him (Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7, vs. 5). And so having been born-again by the Spirit of the Lord we are now united with and reconciled back to God forever. Therefore in accord with our permanently justified and sanctified, and thus redeemed status with God, let us all who believe in Christ now to be about the ongoing renewal of our own minds as we learn God’s perfect and sound ways through His Word (John 17:17), which always lead to a more fruitful, abundant and peaceful life when we follow Him and obey His Word for us all (Rom 12:1-2; also consider Prov. 11:19; Matt. 7:14). For this world will never change for the better, because apart from God it cannot. But we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have already been changed, transformed ,and delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the Kingdom of the Son of God’s love, and thus we are being transformed from one glory (Adam’s) to another (Christ’s) so that we might all be a holy and righteous and just people prepared to spend eternity with God our father forever. Therefore beloved brethren stand fast in the truth and be about living it out day by day, as we long for the Lord’s soon return and His Kingdom being set up, an Everlasting Kingdom in which righteousness will dwell forever (2 Peter 3:10-12). 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Matthew 5:21-26

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. ²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Commentary 
Vs. 21-22 ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

The Lord Jesus Christ now presents to us His Kingdoms law and morality on hate and murder and their intimate connection. Now under the Old Covenant we learn that murder is punishable by death, that the one who lies in wait to kill his neighbor is a murderer, and the murderer was to be put to death by the community, or delivered over to avenger of blood, there was no city of refuge were they were permitted to flee (Exodus 20:13; 21:12-13; Lev. 24:17; Num. 35:9-34; Deut. 19:11-13; 27:24 etc.). Even before the Law had been given, God made it clear that to murder another individual was to be punished with the death of the murderer (Gen. 9:6). Therefore the people were well versed in that reality; they all understood that murder is a most heinous crime to be punished with the death of the offender (to put away the guilt of innocent blood from the people and the land, Deut. 19:11-13; 21:9). And so Jesus here re-affirms the moral position of God on murder and states that …“whoever murders shall be in danger of judgment…” That is be subject to the punishment that God has decreed for such a crime. Now most people have never murdered, and will never murder, and so they can feel quite confident in of themselves by that measure they are basically “good” people, that said Jesus didn’t stop there, He simply used that as a precursor to reveal that though one may not have murdered with their hand, they may very well harbour murderous thoughts about someone within their heart. And it is the heart where the Kingdom of heavens law and morality always seeks to reach and change. And so Jesus now states: “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”
There is then a wrath that originates within the human heart that is not the basis of having been wronged, or of having seen or heard of an injustice or wrong; all which is to be dealt with before it poisons ones whole being with hate or bitterness (consider Matt. 18:15-17; Eph. 4:26-27 etc.). And so there is an anger that originates within, that is often justified within, that hates another without a cause. And so though someone may not have murdered another directly, by having and harboring such anger within themselves reveals that they only have the heart of a murderer (consider 1 John 3:13-15); something which Cain had before he killed his brother Abel (see Gen. 4:1-15). Therefore Jesus says in His Kingdom those who are angry at their brother (i.e. fellow believer) without a cause shall be in the danger of the judgment, because having such evil anger within themselves they are only harboring murder within their hearts, and it is from within the heart where all sins begin, and are worked out from (Jer. 17:9-10; Matt 15:16-20). Now the next thing Jesus says’, which is directly related to His warnings about anger, is: “And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council.” Now this word Raca in Jesus’ day meant “empty head” (NKJV margin) or “empty one” (BBC), it was used as an expression of utter contempt for those whom it was spoken at. Thus from hatred within the heart to now it’s expression through the mouth, we see that by harboring such feelings in their heart, and then speaking such words against them with their mouth, they are only sowing the seeds for justifying their harm, within their own heart, or the hearts of others. Therefore Jesus makes it clear that in His Kingdom those who do so shall be in danger of the council; which in Jesus’ day referred to the Sanhedrin counsel which was made up of the Jews religious rulers who were to render God’s judgment, verdict, and when necessary His punishment on those brought before them.
Therefore in following the Lord Jesus Christ no one is ever to take the utterly arrogant position of asserting and assuming a position of “superiority” over anyone else, and thereby justifying in their own hearts (or the hearts of others) so terribly mistreating and denigrating (and thus harming) their brother with their words; for that is a position that they do not have, nor will they ever have. And as Jesus warns us all here if we do, we will be in danger of facing God’s heavenly council! And I do not think anyone would want to stand before the Lord and try to justify saying such things about their brother in the Lord. Now the next thing that Jesus warns us about in relation to murder; which itself was only a progression in the denigration of that person, is that of calling someone a “fool.” Now what Jesus is referring to here is more than just calling someone a dunce or stupid (which itself is wrong). Rather what Jesus is referring to here is calling someone a moral fool, which in Jesus’ day was an expressing that someone should be dead, and a wish that they were !(BBC). Thus Jesus’ most severe warning He reserves for that, saying those who say to their brother, “‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” Those then who feel it is alright to denigrate another believer with their words because they are not breaking God’s commandment and murdering them with their hand are only deceiving themselves. For if it is wrong to murder a man who has been created in the image of God, it is also wrong to denigrate another person to the point of saying that they have no value in the sight of God, and thus either their persons or their life is “expendable” (consider James 3:8-10, vs. 9).

Vs. 23-24 ²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Having then warned us all about the seriousness of verbal offenses, Jesus now makes it clear when such things occur (such as when one loses their temper and says things they shouldn’t to another) that the offender is to seek reconciliation with the offended. In fact so important is reconciliation in the eyes of God that Jesus says that even before ones brings their offering or gift to God we are to first be reconciled with our offended brother or sister and then come offer our gift to God. God then does let such things just pass by, for when we have offended or deeply hurt others, God wants us to first be reconciled to our brother, and then come and offer our gifts to Him. Therefore we are to shun all natural tendencies of shying away from acknowledging the harm we have caused, and go and seek reconciliation with those brethren we have offended. Because to needlessly delay doing so may mean that God will have to intervene on behalf of the offended.

Vs. 25-26 ²⁵ Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

And so it is that that Jesus leaves no room for denying (or excusing) in anyway, shape, or form, the wrong one has done. For Jesus now states that we will come under God’s judgement if we do, therefore He warns us all: “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Here then Jesus uses the analogy of two persons, the offended taking the offender to court, the offender though has not settled with the one whom they have offended, and is still holding out on repenting and confessing their sin to them. And so now as both parties appear in court the offender quickly finds the judgment (i.e. God’s judgment) that they were trying to avoid by not acknowledging and confessing their trespass to the offended. Therefore the offender is handed over to the officer and sent to prison, (which is analogous with saying that they are now being punished or chastised by God) until justice is served for the offence, until all is paid (even the last penny), and all because they did not properly settle with the one they offended outside of court. Therefore Jesus’ is making it clear that we reconcile with our offended brother (or sister) while we can because to delay doing so may mean that we will pay the very last penny for the offence which we have caused.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted

Vs. 22 moros (Str. 3474), Kittel, Gerhard, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, eds. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.

Matthew 5:17-20

¹⁷ “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. ¹⁹ Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Vs. 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

If Jesus’ disciples (or anyone else) thinks Christ was going to destroy the Law or the Prophets they are totally mistaken. For the Lord Jesus Christ did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Therefore the everlasting morality that is contained within God’s Word does not and will not change, for it will be by God’s Word that the Lord Jesus Christ will judge the world. The question is then what does? In essence our relationship with God does not now come by our keeping the Law, rather by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who has fulfilled the Law for us. Therefore it is only by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect obedience to the Law and all its requirements that we now have a justified standing with God. For no one can keep the Law unto eternal life, (not Moses, not David, no one can, or ever has) and even if they could their own sinful condition (which we all inherit from Adam) would utterly disqualify them from being justified by God by their own persons, works, or righteousness. Therefore through the Law the Scripture clearly reveals the sinful condition of us all, and our own inabilities to keep it, so that we all might come to Christ who by His own sinless Person and Life and then by His own Death on the cross and Resurrection from the grave has not only fulfilled but He has also satisfied all of the judicial requirements of it, having paid the death penalty that the Law requires for all our sins and transgressions against it. Therefore it is only by our placing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Person Crucified and Risen from the dead that we have remission of all our sins and everlasting life (John 3:15-16; Acts 4:12; Rom. 3:19-28; 4:4-5; 5:1; 6:14; 7:1-6; 10:3-4; 9-10, 13; Gal. 2:16, 19-21; 3:10-14, 19-25, 4:21-31, 5:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9 etc.). Therefore it was paramount that the Lord Jesus Christ uphold the Law and not diminish even the tiniest part of it, because it is by His own obedience to the Will of God the Father through the Law and Prophets that we now have His own Righteousness imputed to us the moment we believe and trust in Him, which then also immediately brings our receiving new birth and Spirit life and thus our having a justified standing before God forever (2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:13-14).

Vs. 18 “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

The importance THEN OF EVEN THE SMALLEST STROKE OR THE TINEST MARK OF A LETTER IN THE LAW is not to be lost on anyone. For as Jesus says not one jot or tittle will pass from the law until all is fulfilled. That said the Law does have an end in that our relationship with God is not now through it (Heb. 8:13), but only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our keeping His commandments, which He has given us both directly and through His chosen Biblical Apostles, all which are found in the N.T. and the Old.

Vs. 19 “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Therefore Jesus’ forewarning here is so that His disciples will now take to heart all that He is about to teach us. Now regarding this Jesus says that “…whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so will be least in the Kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

The supreme importance then of our keeping Christ’s commandments and teaching all to do so is an ever present need and reality in every generation, because as societies and cultures degenerate and change their moral values and perspective of God and His Pre-eminence as Creator of all and Lord over all, we must not then let them dictate our moral conscience, or our faith In Christ by their godless values and degenerate ideas which only deny God above (Rom 1:5). Therefore though we live in this world, we must not be conformed to this world, if we want to continue on as Christ’s disciples, bearing His light which shines the hope of the Gospel of God in every recess of the world and earth.

Vs. 20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus warning here is against all forms of religious hypocrisy that can infect and deceive anyone who looks to “religion” and trusts in their own observance of it, and not to Christ, for salvation from sin and death and ultimately the transformation of their persons. For though Bible based religion has a purpose in presenting and revealing God to people, all the Old Covenant ordinances were only in force until the Lord Jesus Christ came (Luke 16:16), who by His Crucifixion death and Resurrection from the dead has now fulfilled the Law and having fulfilled the Law He has ushered in the New Covenant by which we now have our relationship to God. And so sadly it is often through mans religious ordinances that they heap up on themselves, in mistakenly thinking that they will appease God in doing so, that people keep all kinds man made commandants and decrees about not eating this, or wearing this or not wearing that, or observing this day or that etc., (which may or may not be based on decrees in the Bible) but none of which is of any value against the sinful passions of the flesh, which is the true enemy of our souls (Matt. 5:29-30; Col. 2:20-23; Titus 1:14-16). For observance of manmade commands and decrees as the Pharisees so clearly reveal will only lead you to upholding those worthless things while denying the weightier matters in God's eyes (consider Matt. 23:23-36; Luke 11:39-44 etc.). And that is what the Jesus Christ is warning us all about here, living by "religion" and not by true and transforming faith in God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore beware of the doctrines and commandments of men all which only leads to spiritual bondage (Matt. 16:5-12), and will not bring to you the abundant life of Christ within you, which transforms the soul and fills the heart with Godly passions and desires for good, and doing the same (John 10:7-10). Now the scribes and the Pharisees are perfect examples of that grave error, who make the observance of all of their own self imposed religious statutes, decrees and ideals the basis of their own, or anyone else’s having a right standing with God. Yet in observing all that stuff it did not transform them or anyone else, but only leads one to becoming angry, embittered, and often living hypocritically. And so the scribes and Pharisees though looking very religious on the outside own hearts and lives were often filled with all manner of covetousness, wickedness, and even violence (Matt. 12:9-14; Luke 16:14-18). Which is why Jesus said of them, and all like them who think they are worshiping and serving God when they observe the commands and decrees of men, but are only doing and justifying those things which are a clear violation of God’s commandments: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. ⁹ And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” ^{Matt. 15:8-9} Therefore Jesus strictly warns us all not to be like them, or follow them, because following their ways only leads one to despising others and trusting in oneself, and not God who justifies the ungodly, who see their own sinfulness before Him and repent and believe in God’s Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Luke 18:9-14; Rom. 4:4-5; Titus 2:11-14). Therefore we who believe (and thus have been redeemed from all our sins and transgressions) are to pursue righteous, Godliness and faith, not “religion” ,with all who call upon God out of a pure heart. Now this we do by Keeping Christ’s commandments and abiding in His Word which alone brings liberty and life to all who believe in and obey the truth, God’s truth, Christ’s Word.

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Matthew 5:13-16

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Commentary

Vs. 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

Having given the beatitudes Jesus now likens us who believe in and belong to Him as to salt, for we are the “seasoning” of God’s Person, Word and Life that Christ Himself brings (2 Cor. 2:14-17). For we are the taste of God In Christ to our broken world when we keep His Word, but we also help preserve our world from its own degenerate inclinations towards sin and death as we do. Therefore by using this analogy Jesus’ is making it very clear that we don’t stray from Him or His Word, and embrace the lawlessness and the godlessness that is in this unregenerate world, and that the god of this world promotes through it, because no one wants or respects a person whose testimony of faith In Christ is not backed up by their own actions. Therefore each and every believer must make it our aim not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, so that we might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom 12:2).

Vs. 14-16 ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

If salt seasons and preserves then light illuminates, and it shines brightest in the darkest places. Now Jesus says that we are the light of the world; that is as His disciples we reflect what He truly is everywhere and anywhere we are (John 8:12). Therefore Jesus makes it clear that closet disciples is not what we are, nor a possibility for us to ever be; His Person and Life within us makes it impossible for us to just be idle or hidden away somewhere. God has purposes for our persons and lives and through us He desires to fulfill them all, for the benefit of all. And so just as a city set on a hill cannot be hidden, neither can we be hidden, or when they light a lamp they don’t put it under a basket, but on a lampstand so that it gives light to all in house, so do we. A Christian’s person and life then always testifies of Christ Jesus the Lord the light of the world who takes away the darkness and brings everlasting life to everyone who repents and believes. Therefore Jesus in order to help us facilitate that says to us who believe in Him, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Therefore a Christians person and life is not only inclined towards doing good works, but is marked by them, marked with a desire to glorify God through them.

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Matthew 5:1-12

¹ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. ² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain 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 are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Commentary

Vs. 1-2 ¹ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. ² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

And so now Jesus will begin His discourse on and declaration of just what His disciples will look like, and just what He wants them to be like (chapters 5:1-7:27); of which there is both the work of Holy Spirit renewal of our persons, as well as our own obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ’s commandments and decrees. Therefore what will be stated here by the Lord is for those who by their own personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have now begun a personal relationship with God through Him alone, for that is the beginning of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Everything else then is born out of that redeemed and restored position we now enjoy with God. Therefore in these first twelve verses (commonly referred to as the beatitudes) there will be stated promises, as well as requirements, and even revelations about the nature and disposition of the born-again people of God who enter into the Kingdom of God.

Vs. 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

To begin Jesus’ declarations in each of these opening statements are a state of being blessed, not a “blessing” per say, but a state of being blessed when one by their personal faith and trust in Him exemplifies the qualities He declares here. For when one does they are opening the door for the Kingdom of heaven to fill their hearts, souls, and lives. To begin then the Lord Jesus says to His disciples that “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” For those who are poor in spirit know they have nothing that can commend them to God (consider Isaiah 66:2), and so it is that many who come to Christ, only come to Him when they see their own bankruptcy before Him (consider Luke 18:9-14) and thus they enter the Kingdom of heaven on Christ’s merits not their own. For that is how one enters the Kingdom of heaven not by one’s own righteousness or good deed’s (as the rich young ruler tried, see Matt. 19:16-26) but by faith (i.e. trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so Jesus here pronounces everyone who does so blessed, for all who do so enter the Kingdom of God. Therefore the poor in spirit are quite literally the opposite of those who being proud in spirit, walk in their own counsels, self assuredness, strength and pride, and thus who do not perceive their own wickedness, wretchedness, and ultimately nakedness before God (consider Rev. 3:17-20). These then do not enter the Kingdom of God since they themselves do not see their own need for God. For the “self made” man or woman only shut them themselves out of God’s Kingdom when they do not see their own need for their own redemption from sin and death, and thus do not enter the Kingdom of God because wherever there is human pride or self justification at work, there is a barrier to the Work of the Gospel in that person’s heart and life. Jesus blessing then does not come on the proud in spirit but the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. And so it is that many people down through the centuries have entered the Kingdom of God and continue to enter it during what is often referred to as a “crises moment” in their lives when by the perfect timing of God, God brings them to see themselves as they really are, and in that moment of utter desperation and despair they cry out to the Lord Jesus Christ and He opens the door of the Kingdom to them, “for whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (see Rom. 10:9-10, 13; also consider Psalm 107). 

Vs. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.”

In His second Kingdom discourse Jesus declares that those who mourn are blessed. It’s a profound insight into who God looks at and whom He comforts. And so rather then expounding to His disciples to pursue the things that make for their own “happiness”, Jesus lifts up mourning as something that actually brings God’s Comfort into one’s life, and ultimately a state of being blessed that is not a conditional state, “as the pursuit of happiness is” but has eternal value and significance attached to it. Now in this world there is a lot that one could mourn over: injustice, greed, racism, war etc. And so the mourning here in one sense is the mourning of the Godly who see and perceive all of the evil around them and mourn for those both inside and outside of the church who are still unrepentant (1 Cor. 5:2; 2 Cor. 12:21). This mourning then can likewise be said to be the mourning of the repentant who see their own sinfulness and in godly sorrow seek God’s mercies and assistance to overcome it all (see 2 Cor. 7:8-11 also consider James 4:8-9). Thus it is not the mourning of the world, of those who never come to repentance from their sins and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. For the sorrow of the world only leads to death, but the sorrow of those who repent and believe, and thus receive the Lord Jesus Christ for themselves will be comforted, not only in the healing process from their sins, but also for all eternity for all the things that we suffer and will suffer in our faithfulness towards Christ down here (Rev. 21:4). Likewise then those who laugh now, whose lives are found and filled in this life, will mourn for all eternity because in their self-confident unbelief they never repented and believed, and received Christ for themselves (Luke 6:25).

Vs. 5 “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”

Jesus’ blessing on the meek is on those who by His Holy Spirit within them become by the Nature of the Lord Jesus Christ within them meek (consider Matt. 11:28-30). And so whatever they are naturally they are not by His Spirit within them and so our inner disposition is that of meekness, not weakness, (for a meek individual can be very brave and strong for standing up for what is right, consider the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor. 10), and so meekness is not timidity, but rather being meek means being gentle in ones dealings with others, being willing to yield when it comes to exercising one’s own “rights”, and being willing to accept God’s dealings with oneself in all circumstances of life as good, and having our best interests in mind. Thus a meek person is the antithesis of those who by wielding rule, authority, or power think to control their own lives and circumstances, or worse others; who think by strength of man they will attain too their own desires and ends (consider 1 Samuel 2:9). Thus a meek person in whom is Christ’s Spirit brings rest, not distress, to those they are around (consider Matt. 11:28-30). Therefore just as Jesus declares His blessing on the meek He also promises that they will inherit the earth, meaning they will attain too all the rewards and riches that the “push and shove crowd” thought to attain for themselves in this life. And so during Christ’s 1000 year millennial reign the meek will not only reign gloriously with Him, but also exceedingly prosperously as well (consider Isaiah 61:6-7; Rom 8:17; 1 Cor. 4:8; Rev. 5:10).

Vs. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” 

Jesus’ blessing here is on those who long for righteousness, who see this world and it’s degenerate values for what they are, and thus long for God’s righteousness born out of His truth being established in the earth (consider Prov. 29:27; Isaiah 26:9-10; 2 Peter 3:10-13). Therefore in Christ’s Kingdom He will rule by righteousness and He will decide by God’s Holy Spirit using His Word’s just measure (Isaiah 11:1-9). There then will be no more showing of partiality, of peddling of influence and power, of this worlds wicked values being expounded, propagated and promoted (Isaiah 30:8-11; 33:14-16). For in the Kingdom of heaven because Jesus will rule with a rod of iron, even before the wicked begins to plan His evil schemes and seeks to execute his evil desires, the Lord will strike him! There then will no longer be any delay in God executing His justice and establishing His righteousness in the earth (consider Ecc. 8:11). Those then who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled! Fully satisfied!

Vs. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”

If those who hunger and thirst for righteousness find complete satisfaction In Christ, in coming to Him and living for Him because it is His Spirit and His Word who indwelling them transforms them. So too will those who are merciful, for the key of the King and His Kingdom is His showing mercy where mercy is not “deserved.” Unlike then those who only trust in their own righteousness; who then have little stomach for showing mercy to others in their time of need; those who are Christ’s know that their Righteousness comes not from themselves, but from God, who has declared us righteous in His sight by our faith in His Son (Rom 4:1-8; 5:1; Gal. 2:21). And so Jesus’ blessing here is on all who show mercy because mercy is exactly what Jesus’ has showed and does show to us all who believe in Him (consider James 2:13).

Vs. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”

Jesus’ blessing here is on those who are “pure in heart, for they shall see God.” And so unlike the scribes and Pharisees who made much of ceremonial and external purity (all which may give the appearance of moral purity and excellence), Jesus’ emphasis is not on what we look like on the outside but on what we are within (Matt. 23:25). Now purity of heart begins with our putting God first in our hearts and lives, for anything less will only leave one divided and conflicted, because God will not play second to anyone or anything in our lives (consider Matt 6:24). Therefore those who hearts are singly directed towards and devoted to God will see God, both here and now, but also for all eternity in the Kingdom of heaven. Now in a more personal sense being pure in heart means that one’s motives are plain, straightforward, and true. There is no duplicity when ones speaks with, or has dealings with someone who is pure in heart, for they strive to live their lives with a clean conscience before God and man. And so being pure in heart means that what one truly is, is easily self evident to one and to all. (Antithesis Psalm 28:3-5; Prov.11:20; 26:23; 26:24-26 etc.). 

Vs. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”

In this world where conflict abounds, God’s sons and daughters are to be people who actively seek to be agents of reconciliation, for that is in the heart of each and every believer who has been born-again by God’s Spirit, not to see people at odds with each other, or with God, but at peace. And that is one thing that distinguishes true Christians from those who are not, an inherent desire to see people first being reconciled with God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which then brings His peace to them, and then born out of that reconciled relationship with God peace with each other.

Vs. 10-12 ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Now Jesus makes it clear to us, His Kingdom people, that we will be persecuted for righteousness sake (vs. 10). In essence when we stand up for and live by Jesus’ Kingdom commands, decrees, and thus God’s Everlasting Word we will be persecuted, the god of this world will make sure of that (consider Rev. 12:17). Therefore standing up for God’s righteousness, that is His everlasting morals will always make us the objects of this world’s wrath, scorn, and ridicule. Now rather than trying to avoid the persecution that comes with standing up for and living by God’s Righteousness and capitulating to this worlds degenerate and degenerating morals and values; which only makes one an enemy of God (see James 4:4, 1 John 2:15); Jesus says we are to rejoice when we are persecuted for righteousness sake, because like the prophets who came before us, who suffered the same in their generations from those who likewise rejected God’s life, love, and rule for them, it shows that we are committed to God alone, and not this worlds degenerating morals which by their rejecting God’s rule through the Lord Jesus Christ for them are only running head strong towards their own eternal destruction and ruin. 

 Therefore let us all who know and believe the truth never be ashamed of our Lord and Savior, nor His life giving Words, for by Him and faith in Him alone anyone can have remission of all their sins and everlasting life (Rom 1:16-17). Therefore let us all who believe be of the same mind and always stand up for God’s Word’s truth in this world and not embrace, nor normalize the degenerate morals through which the world now seeks to normalize homosexuality and their abominations along with the so-called transgender perversions and lies, which they even teach to their children as being good and sound behavior! Yet God’s Word clearly warns us all not to do so (consider Lev. 18:22-30; Deut. 22:5; Rom 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-23). And so society by adopting those demonic and utterly perverse values the world has set itself on a course for not only their own rejection of God, but also by their doing so they are unwittingly preparing themselves to receive the anti-Christ, and thus their own everlasting destruction along with him when they receive the number of the beast which He will require of them (consider 2 Thess. 2:9-12; Rev. 13:11-18; 14:9-12). We are living in some very dark days now as anyone who now stands up for and lives by God’s truth will largely be judged an offender, a transgressor, a “hateful” and bigoted individual, and will even be treated by lawful authorities as such. That said, we will still love and long for Christ’s Person’s return and His Kingdom’s establishment where righteousness will reign forever (Prov. 8:13; Isaiah 26:9; 2 Peter 3:10-13). And so down here we will be slandered and abused, we will be misquoted and mistreated, we will be utterly misunderstood and rejected (just like the prophets before us were) but when Christ returns we will be greatly rewarded if we remain loyal to Him and suffer with Him down here for righteousness sake, because when we do we will be glorified together with Him forever (Rom 8:14-17).

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Matthew 4:23-25

²³ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. ²⁴ Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. ²⁵ Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. 

Commentary

Now Jesus’ ministry begins! And what a ministry, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel (i.e. the Good News) of the Kingdom, healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Jesus is the Living Word of God come in the flesh and His Words, Works and Ways prove and approve Him alone, for the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Messiah, King, Savior, High Priest, Redeemer and our Friend has come in the flesh to save people! And so it is Jesus both taught in the Jews synagogues, (where the Word of God was known), just as He preached too and healed people on the streets (where the Word of God was often unknown, but was becoming known!), leaving then no place where the Word of God and the glory of God could be heard and seen by one and by all! Therefore Jesus’ fame spread well beyond the regions of Galilee and right up into Syria, and thus well beyond borders of Israel, and so people started coming to Jesus from all over, bringing to Him all kinds of sick people, who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, as well as those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; (basically people suffering from every kind of seemingly incurable physical and spiritual aliment) came to Jesus and He healed them all (vs. 24)! No small sign that God was here and was working mightily not only amongst His own people Israel, but more importantly He was reaching well beyond their borders and boundaries of them and reaching into the hearts and lives of the Gentiles, and healing all those who were historically their enemies! It was an awesome beginning to an awesome Ministry that was bringing Great multitudes of people from the north, the south, the east and west, for they came from Galilee, from Decapolis (a league of ten cities that included Damascus Syria’s capital), Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, Judea (the southern region of Israel), they even came from beyond the Jordan to Jesus to follow Him, for such was the fame of Jesus amongst the nations that people began flooding to Him in hope. And so the Scripture says Great multitudes followed Jesus; Jews and Gentiles, the clean and the unclean all followed Jesus, for all where received by Jesus who received Him. The only question then is will you? Will you also become a partaker of the Hope of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and likewise become a disciple of His? For the love and grace of God is being freely offered to you, begin then by receiving Christ for yourself and He will likewise receive and transform you (John 1:12; Rev. 3:20).

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Matthew 4:18-22

¹⁸ And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ They immediately left their nets and followed Him. ²¹ Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.


Commentary

At this point in Jesus’ early ministry life He is still just One Man, but that is all about to change as He sets out to find the disciples whom He had already chosen for Himself; the men whom He will reveal the deep secrets and profound mysteries about the Kingdom of God and Himself. These men then whom the Lord will call Apostles will be His chosen and exclusive preachers and proclaimers of His Person, Word, and Work that is until the Holy Spirit’s outpouring at Pentecost, whereupon each and everyone one of us from that time forward who believe in Him have now become as the Lord Jesus Christ said we would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:4-8), who will likewise bring and bear His Person, His Word, His Work, His love, His light so as to make disciples of His Person everywhere. And so unknown to them as the Lord Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus as He sees the brothers, Simon Peter and His brother Andrew casting a net into the sea will call them to Himself (vs. 18). Now this is not the first time Jesus met them (see John 1:35-42), but it will be the first time that the Lord Jesus will call them to Himself. Now Jesus’ call to them is simple and to the point, for He simply says to them: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Therefore Jesus promises them nothing other than He will make them fishers of men. And with that Simon Peter and Andrew his brother (and later the brothers James and John, vs. 21-22) will all immediately leave their nets and follow Him. Now as already stated this was not the first time Jesus met them, and so what takes place here is what Jesus’ had already prepared them both for, and that is to forsake their lives and become His disciples. Now notice that there isn’t any coercion, nor is there any promises spoken by Jesus to them about making them something great and grand, or rich and wealthy etc.
Instead like with us all Jesus only promises them that if they follow Him He will make them “fishers of men.” No longer then will they spend their lives in a meaningless pursuit of seeking to fill empty baskets with perishable fish. Instead Jesus will make them men by whom God will redeem souls and restore lives back to Himself!, Which is the most gratifying work that anyone can do, because when one enters into God’s purposes for themselves (to be His disciple and to make His disciples) they find their persons and lives filled and fulfilled with God’s eternal purposes and plans. There is then nothing greater for us who have already forsaken our own lives to do, then to seek and do what it is God created us In Christ to do. And so once again with Jesus’ call to follow Him, Simon Peter and Andrew his brother don’t hesitate, but immediately they leave their nets and they follow Him, because they knew in their hearts only Jesus could give them what would fully satisfy them. The question then is will you? (see Mark 8:36-9:1).

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Matthew 4:12-17

¹² Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. ¹³ And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ¹⁵ “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: ¹⁶ The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” ¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Commentary

Having overcome every temptation by the devil, Jesus while still in Judea hears of the imprisonment of John the Baptist, Jesus’ forerunner. Now John’s imprisonment occurred when Herod, the Roman appointed ruler over the Jews would first imprison and later by the scheming of his illegitimate wife behead John the Baptist for his rebuking Herod for his taking his own brother’s wife as his own wife, as well as for all the evils that Herod had been rebuked by John for doing (see Matt. 14:1-12). Therefore with John the Baptists’ arrest his ministry ends, and Jesus’ ministry in Galilee begins. Now Jesus’ ministry there will begin with His returning to the very region He grew up in, Nazareth. Now in Luke’s Gospel we read how the people of Nazareth will reject our Lord and Savior and then try to kill Him when He declares to them their own unbelief, inferring to them that there will be believing Gentiles (like in times past) that will be saved before they (see Luke 4:14-30). And so with Jesus rejection at Nazareth He moves on from Nazareth to the city of Capernaum (Herod’s capital city on the Northern shore of the Sea of Galilee) in the land of Zebulon and Naphtali (vs. 13), that it might be fulfilled which the prophet Isaiah spoke, saying: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” ^{vs. 16}

For it is the Lord Jesus Christ alone who comes to all people everywhere and shines God’s everlasting light in the face of sin, Satan and darkness. And so whether darkness is from sin and the outlying despair that always follows it, or darkness from the ruler of darkness himself who always seeks to hold people into bondage to himself (2 Tim. 2:25-26) who won’t release his prisoners (Isaiah 61:1), until Christ comes and shines His great light which not only shatters and scatters the darkness, but it is Lord Jesus Christ alone who is the Light of the World (John 8:12) who brings illumination and revelation of the One True God and of Jesus Christ whom He sent who by His Spirit and by God’s Word, Grace, and Power defeats and destroys the darkness and the ruler of it from every heart and every life of everyone and anyone who repents and believes in Him. And so from the time that John’s ministry ended, the Lord Jesus Christ began to preach and to say to one and to all, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ^{vs. 17}

Thus the Lord Jesus Christ call and command is for everyone, everywhere to repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand! For in this spiritual war there is only one side to be on, and that is the side of God’s everlasting love and life found only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore I urge you to repent and believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ for yourself that you too might become a child of God (John 1:12) and be delivered out of the realm of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of God’s Son’s love (Col. 1:13). Therefore don’t delay be reconciled to God today!

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Matthew 4:8-11

⁸ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” ¹¹ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Commentary 

The devil having failed to lure Jesus into a grand display of Jesus’ Person as the Son of God (so that Jesus would be vindicated as such before one and all), now employs what he believes will be his most enticing lure of them all. And so the devil now takes Jesus up on an exceedingly high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world, and all their glory, and then he says to Him, ...“All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” ^{vs. 9} Now in Luke’s Gospel it is made clear that the devil has been given authority over all of these (see Luke 4:6, also consider John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; 6:12 etc.), and so here the devil is not bluffing when he offers Jesus all of the worlds kingdoms and all their glory if He will fall down and worship him; something the devil so desperately wants; to be like the Most High (consider Isaiah 14:14). Now Jesus will receive all of these things (Rev. 11:15), but first He must past through every temptation and trial (including suffering death on the Cross), before He does so that the devils defeat will be complete and finial. There are then no short cuts to glory for Christ, for in order to fulfill His Purposes He must fulfill all that God’s Word has said He Will do. Therefore this time Jesus will employ His strongest rebuke against the devils strongest temptation. And so this time Jesus employs not only God’s Word but also His own Authority as the Son of God, to rebuke the devil calling him by his name Satan, telling him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” ^{vs. 10} Therefore with that strong rebuke of Satan the Scripture says, “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” ^{vs. 11}  

Now in Luke’s Gospel it states: “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” ^{Luke 4:13} Thus though the devil is rebuked he is not finished, he like his own will always seek another way, and for Satan it will be to employ one of Jesus’ own disciples, Judas Iscariot who will later betray Him, but even in that the devil (unknown to himself) will only be fulfilling God’s Word. Therefore we as Christ’s disciples should not be alarmed when the devil seeks to undermine us by multiple means and through multiple people, for the Lord Jesus Christ has already warned us all that believing in and belonging to Him means that even those of one’s own household will be ones enemies (see Matt. 10:11-42, vs. 36). And so with the departure of the devil the Scripture says that immediately angels came and ministered to Jesus. For at this point Jesus being in the flesh as a Man would’ve been utterly drained of all bodily strength and life, and so His immediately being ministered too by God the Fathers angels would’ve been both a necessity, but more to the point God the Father’s deep concern for His only begotten Son’s well being. And so though God the Father has by mutual Divine choice before time began made it so that Jesus must be fully in this world in the flesh, susceptible to experience all that mankind has to face and endure apart from His Divine intervention to rescue Him (consider Matt 26:52-54), He has neither left Jesus’ Person, nor has He forsaken Him to the devil and the evil forces that rule and have sway over this world. And so we too as God’s children are likewise under the same sort of oversight and care as Christ was when He was here in flesh (consider Rom. 8:37-39; Heb. 1:14).

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.