Seeing there was a large crowd, Jesus went up the mountain and sat down. His disciples came and found him. Jesus started teaching the crowd.
“If you are currently spiritually poor, you are favoured by God because you will get the heavenly kingdom. If you are grieving, you are favoured by God because you will be comforted. If you are gentle, you are favoured by God because you will inherit the earth. If you are really keen to get God’s approval, you are favoured by him because you will receive his approval. If you are compassionate, you are favoured by God because you will receive compassion. If you are innocent in your heart, you are favoured by God because you will see him. If you are making peace, you are favoured by God because you’ll be labelled as ‘children of God’. If you are currently being persecuted because you want to receive God’s approval, you are favoured by God because you’ll get the heavenly kingdom. If you are being insulted, persecuted or slandered because of me, you are favoured by God. Be happy and celebrate because your reward in heaven will be fantastic. They persecuted the prophets before they persecuted you.
“You are like salt. If the salt becomes bland, what use is it? It’s good for nothing. You might as well chuck it out and walk over it. You are the world’s light. You can’t hide a city on a hill. You don’t light a lamp and then put it under a basket. Instead you put it on a lampstand so that it’s useful for everyone in the house. Be like a lamp and shine so people around you can see the good things you do and praise your heavenly Father.
“Don’t assume that I have come to get rid of the law or the Prophets. I’m fulfilling them, not getting rid of them. I truthfully say that until the earth and skies are gone, not the smallest part of the law will be gotten rid of until everything has happened.
“Whoever breaks a commandment, even the smallest, and teaches others to do the same will be a loser in the heavenly kingdom. Whoever keeps and teaches them will be a winner in the heavenly kingdom. I’m telling you, if you don’t try and seek God’s approval through what you do in your lives more than the Jewish teachers and Pharisees, you won’t get into the heavenly kingdom.
“You know your ancestors were told ‘Don’t murder’ and ‘Whoever murders will be judged’. I’m telling you now that if anyone is angry with their brother, they will also be judged. Whoever calls his brother an idiot will be liable to the court. Whoever says ‘you’re a moron’ will be liable to hell. So, if you want to offer a gift at the temple altar and remember that a brother has something against you, leave the gift at the altar and go make up with the brother. Then offer your gift at the altar.
“Quickly reach an agreement with an accuser before you get to court, so that they can’t hand you to the judge, then from the judge to the officer where you’ll end up in jail. I’m being honest with you: You won’t come out of jail until you have paid up.
“You’ve heard you shouldn’t commit adultery. I’m telling you that if you check out a woman because you’re keen for her, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. If your right eye leads you astray, pull it out and throw it away, so that only one part of you dies and not your whole body ends up in hell. Also, if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off an throw it away. It’s better that part of your body should die rather than your whole body sent to hell.
“The law also says ‘When a man divorces his wife, he should give her notice.’ I’m telling you that if anyone divorces his wife, except if it’s because of cheating, causes her to commit adultery. And if you marry a divorced women, you also will have committed adultery.
“Again you have heard it was said to your ancestors ‘You will not lie; you will keep your promises to the Lord’. I’m telling you, however, don’t swear on anything. Not heaven, because it’s God’s throne, or by earth, because it’s his footstool, or by Jerusalem, because it is the great King’s. Don’t even swear by your own head, because you don’t have control to make a single hair change colour. Just say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Evil can come if you say more.
“You’ve heard ‘Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth’. I’m telling you not to fight an evil person. If someone hits you on the right side of your face, offer him the other cheek as well. If someone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give him your jacket as well. If someone requires you to go one kilometre with him, go two. If someone asks you to give or if someone wants to borrow from you, don’t say no.
“You’ve heard ‘Love your neighbours and hate your enemies’. I’m telling you now, love your enemies and pray for anyone who persecutes you. Bless anyone that curses you. Do nice things for anyone that persecutes and hates you so that you can be children of your heavenly Father. Because he makes his sun rise on evil and good and he sends rain on the just and unjust. If you just love those who love you back, what reward do you get? Don’t tax collectors do that? And if you only say ‘Hi’ to your brothers, how is that special? Don’t foreigners do that as well? Be perfect just like your heavenly father is.”
Matthew Chapter 5 Summary
In Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus delivers a sermon known as the Sermon on the Mount. He starts by pointing out the ‘blessed’ in society – the spiritually poor, the mournful, the gentle, the justice-seekers, the merciful, the pure-hearted, the peace-makers, and the persecuted. Jesus tells them of God’s favour and the rewards they’ll receive. He then compares his followers to salt and light, encouraging them to keep their faith and positively influence others. He points out the importance of obeying the Law and urges followers to seek being good beyond that of religious leaders. Jesus then talks through the interpretation of several commandments, saying that they don’t just include actions, but also thoughts and attitudes; anger, lust, divorce, lying, retaliation. We are to love enemies. Essentially, Jesus encourages a higher moral standard.
Matthew Chapter 5 Bible Study Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of being “salt” and “light” in the world?
Answer: This means that as followers of Jesus, we are to positively influence others, keeping our faith and shows God’s love, just like salt preserves and adds flavour, and light gets rid of darkness. - What does it mean when Jesus says he has come to “fulfill” the law?
Answer: Jesus means he has come to fully complete the law’s intentions and requirements, providing a perfect example and also completing the prophecies about the Messiah. - How does Jesus extend the understanding of murder to include anger?
Answer: Jesus explains that murder isn’t just the act but also the intention. So keeping anger or insulting others is just as problematic. - How should we understand Jesus’ statements about removing the eye or hand that causes sin?
Answer: These are metaphorical and urge us to eliminate anything in our lives that lead us into sin. They emphasise the seriousness of sin. - Why does Jesus encourage restoring relationships with others before worship?
Answer: Jesus values relationships and peace with others. He’s pointing out that our relationship with Him is impacted by our relationships with others. - What does Jesus mean by loving enemies and praying for those who persecute us?
Answer: Jesus encourages us to combat hatred with love and pray for those who hurt us. This shows the radical nature of God’s love. - How does Jesus explain the concept of justice with “turn the other cheek”?
Answer: Jesus encourages a response of love and peace instead of revenge, changing the concept of justice from pay-back to forgiveness. - Why does Jesus instruct followers not to swear?
Answer: Jesus emphasises honesty. He suggests our word should be enough. - How does Jesus’ teaching on adultery challenge the understanding of sin?
Answer: Jesus broadens the definition of sin to include not just the act but the intention, challenging us to maintain purity of thought. - How does Jesus expect us to be “perfect”?
Answer: Jesus calls us to strive for moral and spiritual maturity, to love everyone, and to fully live out the teachings He has given.
Matthew Chapter 5 Explained
In Matthew 5, Jesus presents a sermon that reshapes the understanding of God’s Law and challenges the status quo. He begins with the ‘Beatitudes’, where he blesses those who are often overlooked in society. Jesus tells them of God’s favour, reminding us that God’s kingdom is different to worldly values. These blessings offer hope, highlighting God’s care and the future reversal of their situation.
Jesus then shifts to using metaphors of salt and light, urging His followers to live their faith and be a positive influence to others. The importance of keeping their distinctiveness as followers of Christ is discussed here. This passage calls believers to make a real difference in the world through love, righteousness, and good deeds.
Jesus then discusses the Law’s interpretation, saying He hasn’t come to get rid of it, but to complete it. He urges people towards good character that surpasses the Pharisees’, going beyond just doing what the law says to having a heart attitude for doing what is good. This was a revolutionary teaching that shifts the focus from actions to internal character.
In the rest of the chapter, Jesus addresses murder, adultery, divorce, promises, revenge, and loving enemies. The radical nature of Jesus’ teachings is in extending these laws beyond the literal acts to thoughts and intentions. For instance, anger and insult are equated with murder, lustful thoughts with adultery. This challenges followers to a higher standard, where the heart’s purity matters as much as actions.
Divorce and oaths are discouraged, underlining the importance of marriage and honesty. Jesus is against taking revenge, but rather loving enemies, going against traditional ideas of justice and revenge. He calls for loving everyone.
Matthew 5 teaches us that being a disciple of Jesus isn’t simply about following rules, but about being an example of the values of God’s kingdom—love, mercy, purity, peace-making, and good character—in every aspect of our lives.
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Continue exploring Matthew 5
If you’d like to read Matthew 5 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Matthew 5 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Matthew 5 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Matthew 5 in the Contemporary English Version.
If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
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For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version
If you’d like to explore Matthew in more depth, here are some commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
Matthew (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)
Not My Life 