Day Five – Tuesday, January 7, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Matthew 5

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

The Beatitudes

Luke 6:20–26

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.

Points to Ponder:

• After Jesus established His ministry in Galilee, He gathered His followers to a mountain.
• In Israel, on the coast of the Sea of Galilee, there are two locations that have significance related to this passage. The mount of Beatitudes is just above a place called Tabgha. The Mount of Beautitudes is thought to possibly be where Jesus taught or preached. Tabgha is the site where most believe that the feeding of the 5,000 occurred. However, there is a sloping hill that leads down to the water that could have been the location of the teaching as well.
• Either way, Jesus shared a lengthy and deep message, with many facets, to the large crowd that came to hear His anointed message.
• In this message, He began with the most well-known section of this sermon, the Beautitudes. Each statement began with “Blessed are.” These were considered a list of blessings from God to those who exhibit the named traits.
• Blessed are the poor in spirit, the humble, the unassuming. Those who do not puff themselves up will inherit the Kingdom of God.
• Blessed are those that mourn, those who see the evil on earth and feel deeply for the plight of doomed mankind. Revival is coming, heaven is coming, comfort is coming.
• Blessed are the meek, the accommodating, the submissive to God. One day they will rule the world.
• Blessed are those who are hungry for God. He will fill them!
• Blessed are the merciful. Mercy invites mercy. Mercy gives God reason to extend mercy to those who are merciful.
• Blessed are the pure in heart. Only those who are holy will ever be able to see God.
• Blessed are the peacemakers. Those who bring peace, who engender peace, those who help make peace between those at war of any kind, they will be sons and daughters of the Most High.
• Blessed are the persecuted. They represent God at their own peril. They will also inherit the Kingdom of God when they endure the hatred of humanity toward the Savior.

The Similitudes

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.

Points to Ponder:

• Christians are compared to salt and light in this brief passage.
• As salt, Christians should permeate the atmosphere around them in order to make Jesus known in any sphere in which they have opportunity.
• Neglecting this opportunity can make the salt lose its flavor. We must be active about the gospel.
• Light is another analogy for the Christian. We must allow the gospel to be visible, but not just visible. Instead of just allowing the light to shine, we must enable the light to shine through us.
• How can we do this? Think right, act right, live right, and others will see Christ in us.

Jesus Fulfills the Law

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.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus was not an abolitionist. He did not want to blow up Judaism and start over. He came to fulfill and help Judaism to reach its desired completion.
• Jesus was a Jew!
• He said the law was good, but that He would fulfill the requirements of the law, and the righteousness He would provide would exceed the human righteousness brought about through man’s efforts.

Murder

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.

Points to Ponder:

• When you understand what Jesus meant by exceeding the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you see that just the cold reading of a commandment does not explain the depths of its requirements.
• The law said that one should not murder.
• Jesus said that character assassination or speaking ill of a brother or sister is just as damaging as murder.
• Be reconciled to others, and make amends where you have offended.

Adultery

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.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus also goes beyond the law’s basic reading when speaking of adultery.
• In the law, the act of adultery, or sexual acts with someone to whom you are not married, was the definition of the sin.
• Jesus goes on to say that one should not even look at someone to lust after them. This includes things like looking at images or videos that portray someone in a sexual way.
• Any image or thought or view of someone that tempts you to lust should be resisted.
• Jesus uses what is called Oriental Hyperbole to demonstrated the seriousness of the admonishment. He (not literally) insists that one should cut off an offending member (eye, hand) instead of allow the temptation to cause one to sin and possibly miss heaven.

Divorce

³¹ “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³² But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus delves into the ideology concerning divorce and remarriage here. He goes beyond Moses’ commands concerning divorce by setting restrictions on what should constitute a reason to divorce a spouse.
• Jesus goes so far as to say that divorce for any reason other than the unfaithfulness of your spouse causes that spouse to commit adultery.
• He further calls marrying a divorced person a form of adultery as well.
• It is obvious that Jesus held a higher view of the sanctity of marriage than even that of Moses!

Oaths

³³ “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Points to Ponder:

• In Jesus’ discussion of oaths and swearing, he reminds the listeners that oaths should be performed.
• He also, though, says that oaths or swearing should not even be necessary.
• Whatever one would swear by (the altar, the throne of God, heaven, the color of your hair) should not be invoked, because none of those things are under the control of humanity.
• Jesus says that one’s word, without an oath or swear, should be good enough, because once you say it, you should do it. Don’t go back on your word!

Retaliation

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you not to 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 away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Points to Ponder:

• When Jesus addresses retaliation, he reminds the listener that the law allows retaliation in kind (eye for an eye. tooth for tooth, etc.)
• However, Jesus calls the listener to a new understanding of righting wrongs, suggesting that the people of God should not take back when oppressed, but rather give more, thus showing the love of God.
• The right to vengeance should not be assumed by a human being.
• Do not turn away someone who asks something of you, but instead offer that and even more.

Love

Luke 6:27, 32

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Points to Ponder:

• Anyone can have strong distaste for someone who has mistreated him or her. Jesus even assents that the law says that someone can hate his or her enemy.
• Jesus, however, turns this ideology on its ear, says that Christians should love their enemies and do good to them. Pray for those who attempt to abuse you.
• Jesus even assigns spiritual and eternal value to such attitudes.
• He reasons that even sinners love their friends and hate their enemies.
• But to truly be sons of God, one must love everyone, enemy or friend.

All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page.