Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes & Woes

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Sermon on the Mount

  • The "Sermon on the Mount" is the first set of teachings in the Book of Matthew
  • it begins in Matthew Chapter 5 (Mt 5:1-2)
When he saw the crowds,* he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: ...
  • Verses 3-12 are "the Beatitudes"
  • The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen people since Abraham. The Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven (CCC 1717)
  • the Gospel of Luke, also records Jesus' teachings on the Beatitudes, Chapter 6:20-23
    • in what is called in Luke the "Sermon on the Plain"
    • so Luke records a similar teaching by Jesus at another place
  • notes on details:
    • "he went up to the mountain" = as Mosel went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, Jesus pronounces the New Law from a mountain top
    • "after he had sat down" = in Jewish culture, a teacher sits to teach
    • "his disciples came to him" = Jesus requires that his followers choose him (he selects the Apostles, telling some of them, "Follow me."

Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  • "poor in spirit"
    • "poor" wanting (needing, in need of)
    • "spirit" means faith
    • thereby, "poor in spirit" =
    • in need of and longing for God and his grace

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

  • mourn = "to grieve"
    • one mourns for regret, for loss
      • the loss = loss of God, loss of grace
    • Christ wants us to mourn our fallen world
    • thereby we mourn our sins and the sins around us
      • and the state of the human world
    • and we seek comfort and relief from our sins from God

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

  • meek = gentle, humble, forgiving,
    • gives no offense, takes no offense
    • obedient to God (the meek put God above themselves)
  • Moses is described in OT as "meek"
  • Jesus calls himself "meek"
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 
(Mt. 11:29)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

  • righteousness = sinless, justified
    • indicates correctness with and obedience to God
  • From Lk 1:6: on Zachariah and Elizabeth, mother and father of John the Baptist:
Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
  • "hunger and thirst" mean to need, can't live without
    • we may "want" to be righteous
      • such as we may "want" a new phone, car, etc., but we can certainly live with out it
      • however, we can't live without food or water
    • but Jesus tell us to "hunger and thirst" for righteousness
  • the righteous act on God's behalf and in the glory of his name, not on or for themselves

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

  • merciful = forgiving and giving
    • giving indicates acting on mercy, not just feeling or expressing mercy

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

  • pure = all, complete, lacking nothing
  • the pure heart governs all actions, choices, desires and emotions
    • it governs our bodies, our minds, our spirit
  • putting God above all else, as how Jesus tells us,
You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Mt 22:37)

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

  • peacemakers end conflict, seek reconciliation
  • = gatherers, gathering, bringing together, not separating

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  • "for righteousness sake" means doing the right thing for God
  • Jesus warns us to focus on God and not the things of the world, which leads to death (in sin)
    • and thus to seek righteousness with God and not the things of the world:
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? (Mk 8:36)

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

  • Jesus warns us frequently that the world will hate us on his account, such as from Mk 13:13:
You will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
  • thereby, we will be rewarded if we stand up for God despite hatred and persecution for it
  • note that every Apostle except John died a martyr

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

  • if we follow the Beatitudes, we can "rejoice and be glad" now as well as in heaven
  • for example, In Matthew Chapter 11 (Mt 11:30), Jesus tells us that his way is joyful and not burdensome (difficult to bear):
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

Sermon on the Mount (continuing after the Beatitudes)

  • after the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount continues

Similes of Salt and Light

  • after declaring the Beatitudes, Jesus describes God's people as "salt" and "Light"
  • using the analogies of salt and light, Jesus describes God's people
  • From Matthew 5:13-16:
Salt of the earth
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot”

Light of the world

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.

Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.

Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Matthew's Antithesis

  • Next, Jesus clarifies several of the Ten Commandments (Mt 5:17-48)
  • this section is called "Matthew's Antithesis" because he states one idea, then expands, clarifies, or contradicts it
    • antithesis = "a contrast between two things"
  • Jesus states a common understanding by the Jews of the Ten Commandments (given them by Moses)
    • "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors..." (Mt. 5:21)
  • he paraphrases or quotes from Moses and the Commandments, which is the first "thesis" (a claim or idea)
    • "You have heard that it was said 'to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’" (Mt. 5:21)
  • then answers, contrasts, or explains it with his own "thesis"
    • thus it is called an "antithesis" because it responds to the first thesis
    • "But I say to you..." (Mt. 5:22)
  • thus the "antitheses" refer to Jesus' responses, additions or clarifications of the Ten Commandments
    • especially in terms of their implication
    • ex., "Thou Shalt Not Kill" and "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" command not just against the acts but their origin in the heart
    • Thereby Jesus does not change the Commandments, he clarifies and extends them
  • he starts by explaining that the Ten Commandments are still Law:

Teaching About the Law 

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.(Mt 5:17)
  • then goes through six of the Commandments:

Teaching About Anger 

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” (Mt 5:21-22)

Teaching About Adultery 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Mt 5:27-28)

Teaching About Divorce 

It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.’ But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Mt 5:31-32)

Teaching About Oaths 

Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one. (Mt 5:37)

Teaching About Retaliation 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.” (Mt 5:38-39)

Love of Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” (Mt 43-48)

  • Jesus then adds,
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. (5:1-

Teaching About Almsgiving 

[But] take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

Teaching About Prayer 

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Mt 6:5-8)

The Lord's Prayer 

“This is how you are to pray ...
  • see below for "Our Father" prayer

Teaching About Fasting 

so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you. (Mt. 6:18)

Treasure in Heaven

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. (Mt. 6:21)

The Light of the Body 

but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be. (Mt 6:23)

God and Money 

No one can serve two masters. (Mt 6:24)

Dependence on God 

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil. (Mt 6:34)

Beatitudes from the Gospel of Luke

From Luke Ch 6:20-23 

Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.

Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
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