Chapter 8

In sections 52 to 54 we see Christ choosing the Twelve Apostles and delivering the Sermon on the Mount to them and to the multitudes.

1Or,through.

2Or,all the things that he did.

3Gr.scourges.

4Gr.fell.

aNote the wide territory from which the crowds now come, from Idumea in the south to Phoenicia in the north and from Perea in the east.

bIsaiah 42:1-4.

1Some ancient authorities addwhom also he named apostles. See Luke 6:13.

2Gr.demons.

3Some ancient authorities insertand he appointed twelve.

4Or,Zealot. See Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13.

5Or, brother. See Jude 1.

aMatthew postpones giving the names of the Twelve till they are sent out to preach in Galilee (Matt. 10:1-4.§ 70). There is a fourth list in Acts 1:13. See the four compared in note at the end of this volume,note 8.

Matthew, chapters 5-7. Luke 6:17-49.aA level place on a mountain, not far from Capernaum

aThere is little doubt that the discourses given by Matthew and Luke are the same, Matthew locating it on "the mountain," and Luke "on a level place," which might easily be a level spot on a mountain. (See note at end of this book,note 9.) Observe that they begin and end alike, and pursue the same general order. Luke omits various matters of special interest to Matthew's Jewish readers (e.g.Matt. 5:17-42), and other matters that he himself will give elsewhere (e.g.Luke 11:1-4;12:22-31); while Luke has a few sentences (as ver. 24-26, 38-40), which are not given by Matthew.

The Place and the Audience

1. The Introduction: The Beatitudes and the Woes. Privileges of the Messiah's Subjects

1Some ancient authorities transpose verses 4 and 5.

2. The Theme of the Sermon: Christ's Standard of Righteousness in Contrast with that of the Scribes and PhariseesMatt. 5:13-20

13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men [seeMark 9:50; Jesus often repeated his sayings].14Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.15Neither domenlight a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house [seeMark 4:21;Luke 8:16].16Even so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceedthe righteousnessof the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.

3. Christ's Ethical Teaching Superior to that of the Scribes (both the Old Testament and the Oral Law) in Six Items or Illustrations (Murder, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths, Retaliation, Love of Enemies)Matt. 5:21-48

21Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement [see Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17]:22but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother1shall be in danger of the judgement; and whosoever shall say to his brother,2Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say,3Thou fool, shall be in danger4of the5hell of fire.23If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,24leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge6deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.

27Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery [see Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18]:28but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.29And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into7hell.30And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into7hell.31It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement [see Deut. 24:1]:32but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.a

33Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths [see Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11; 23:21]:34but I say unto you, Swear not at all [seeMatt. 26:63-64]; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor8by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King [see Isa. 66:1].36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black [see Ps. 48:2].379But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of10the evilone.

38Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth [see Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21]:39but I say unto you, Resist not11him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also [seeJohn 18:23].40And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.41And whosoever shall12compel thee to go one mile, go with him twain.42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour [see Lev. 19:18; Deut. 23:6; 25:19],

1Many ancient authorities insertwithout cause.

2An expression of contempt.

3Or,Moreh,a Hebrew expression of condemnation.

4Gr.untoorinto.

5Gr.Gehenna of fire.

6Some ancient authorities omitdeliver thee.

7Gr.Gehenna.

8Or,toward.

9Some ancient authorities readBut your speech shall be.

10Or,evil:as in ver. 39; 6:13.

11Or,evil.

12Gr.impress.

13That is,collectors or renters of Roman taxes:and so elsewhere.

14Some ancient authorities readdespairing of no man.

aSee furtherMark 9:43-47;10:11-12;Matt. 18:8-9;19:9.

4. The Practice of Real Righteousness unlike the Ostentatious Hypocrisy of the Pharisees, as in Almsgiving, Prayer, FastingMatt. 6:1-18

1Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father which is in heaven.

2When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:4that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

5And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee.7And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.8Be not therefore like unto them: for1your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name.10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.11Give us this day2our daily bread.12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from3the evilone.414For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;18that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.

1Some ancient authorities readGod your Father.

2Gr.our bread for the coming day.

3Or,evil.

4Many authorities, some ancient, but with variations, addFor thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

5. Single-hearted Devotion to God, as Opposed to Worldly Aims and AnxietiesMatt. 6:19-34

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves1break through and steal:20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not1break through nor steal:21for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.22The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.25Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?26Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?27And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto his2stature?28And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven,shall henot much moreclotheyou, O ye of little faith?31Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?32For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.34Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

1Gr.dig through.

2Or,age.

6. Captious Criticism, or Judging Others

1Or,teacher.

7.Prayer, and the Golden Rule

8. The Conclusion of the Sermon. The Lesson of Personal Righteousness Driven Home by Powerful Parables

1Some ancient authorities omitis the gate.

2Many ancient authorities readHow narrow is the gate, &c.

3Gr.demons.

4Gr.powers.

5Many ancient authorities readfor it had been founded upon the rock:as in Matt. 7:25.

In sections 55 to 58 we see the rapid spread of Christ's influence and the inquiry from the Baptist in prison.a

aHere we have only Matthew and Luke, a block from the Logia of Matthew.

1Or,boy.

2Gr.sufficient.

3Gr.with a word.

4Some ancient authorities insertset:as in Luke 7:8.

5Gr.bondservant.

6Many ancient authorities readWith no man in Israel have I found so great faith.

7Gr.recline.

8Or,precious to him;or,honourable with him.

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