Jesus began to teach in Matthew 5 that the kingdom of God is unlike the kingdom of this world. Those who are blessed are not those whom the world considers blessed. Jesus’ teachings do not follow cultural wisdom, and might even be considered foolish in the world’s eyes.
Blessings of God unlike blessings of the world
Those who are blessed are the poor in spirit (or humble in heart). They are those who mourn, those who are gentle, those who are merciful, those who hunger for righteousness, those who are pure, those who make peace, and those who are persecuted.
On the other hand, according to the world, the blessed are those who are rich, those who have power over others, those who rejoice in their abilities and wealth, those who shoulder their way to the top, and those who are at ease.
But why are the seemingly afflicted and humble blessed in God’s eyes?
- Those who are poor in spirit are sinners who recognize their own sins. The one who is justified in God’s sight is the one who humbles himself before God, and who says, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” (Luke 18:13). God will show mercy to the one who is humble.
- Those who mourn are those who recognize how short life is and how we need to use our time wisely. “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart… The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure” (Ecclesiastes 7:2,4). We should not waste life in pleasures, but do what is right in the sight of God, because this applies to everyone.
- Those who are gentle are the best rulers. Those who are merciful will receive mercy themselves.
- Those who seek righteousness will be satisfied with the righteousness of God.
- Those who are pure in heart will see God, because “the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). Love from a pure heart is to love sincerely, without ulterior motives.
- Those who are peacemakers are children of God, because Christ Himself makes peace for us with the Father.
- Those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness are blessed, because in the same way Christ and the prophets were also persecuted. If we share in His sufferings, we will share in His glory (2 Timothy 2:12).
The types of people Jesus mentioned are blessed in God’s eyes, because they realize what is important in life. They are ready to inherit the kingdom of God.
Law for the heart
Jesus says He did not come to abolish the Law in the Old Testament, but to fulfill it. It is tempting to think the New Testament replaces the Old Testament.
But Jesus explains, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).
In the Old Testament, the Law mostly governs our conduct (acts of what we should or should not do). For example, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not worship idols, etc. In the New testament, Jesus talks about how these commandments should be followed from our hearts instead of just externally.
You shall not commit murder
“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court’. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing’, shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool’, shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” (Matthew 5:21-22)
Jesus teaches that we should not be angry with other people. We should not quarrel with them or say bad things about them. If we do, we are guilty before the courts of God in heaven. If we call anyone a fool, that sin is enough to send us to eternal punishment (if we don’t have the blood of Jesus to wash us clean).
Sin is serious before God, because God is holy and does not tolerate sin. These sins may seem small in our eyes. But small sins such as these lead to hate. Jesus tells us to not give sin an opportunity. We should start with the attitudes of our heart. If our hearts are right and if we don’t commit murder in our hearts, then we will be gentle outwardly toward other people too.
You shall not commit adultery
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30)
Lust also begins in the heart. It starts with wandering eyes and wayward hands. From our thoughts and fantasies, we can commit lustful acts in our hearts (even without the other person knowing). It is very easy from this point to commit adultery physically. So it is important to flee from sexual immorality. Turn your eyes and your hands away from sin.
Jesus emphasizes the importance of our spiritual well-being above our physical wholeness. We should treat sin seriously, and do whatever is necessary to not play with sin.
Whoever divorces commits adultery
“It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32)
God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Jesus explains that Moses gave permission for divorce in the Old Testament, because of people’s hardness of heart. “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:6-9).
So Jesus says whoever divorces commits adultery (except in the case of the other person already breaking the marriage by being unchaste or committing adultery first).
A wrong marriage can negatively impact your relationship with God, especially if the other person is an unbeliever. “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
If you’re unmarried, pray to God for a God-fearing Christian spouse to marry.
If you’re already married, try to stay in the marriage as long as the other person is willing, because God hates divorce.
“But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).
If it is not physically safe for a woman to stay in the same house as her husband, then she should leave and get to a safe place but remain unmarried.
“…If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. …Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace” (1 Corinthians 7:12-13, 15).
So if one person becomes a believer and the other person is not a believer, and if the unbeliever is unwilling to live with the believer, then the believer can be released from the marriage.
In general, however, we should live in peace with our spouse, and exercise love instead of unforgiveness.
Make no oath at all
“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord’. But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.” (Matthew 5:33-37)
People tend to swear and make oaths by heaven, by earth, by their own heads, or by anything else. But Jesus teaches us that we should do what we promise to do, and not make oaths. There are many things we cannot control, such as the natural color of our own hair. So we should not swear or make oaths, because our ability to fulfill our vows can be limited.
When it is in our power and ability to do so, we should do as we have promised. Anything else is prideful and presumptuous.
Love your enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth’. But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
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, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven…” (Matthew 5:38-45)
The Old Testament teaches “eye for eye” (Leviticus 24:20). What does Jesus think of that?
The Old Testament Law required an eye for an eye in order to teach the Israelites how to administer justice fairly in Israel.
“If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him. Thus the one who kills an animal shall make it good [make full payment with fine for the owner’s animal], but the one who kills a man shall be put to death. There shall be one standard for you; it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 24:19-22)
In order to be fair to all people, God’s Law is this way – just as one does to another, so what was done will be paid back.
This is why Jesus tells us: “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). If we treat other people kindly, we will be rewarded. If we treat others badly, we deserve justice so that what was done to the other person will also be done to us.
“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay’, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)
So God’s justice is to repay people exactly what they do to others. However, God’s mercy is that if we repent of our sins, God forgives us and shows us mercy. Therefore, if we have repented of our bad deeds, we need to learn to love from now on.
Love is not only for those who love us. But we need to forgive our enemies and do good to them too. If we treat people the same way we want to be treated, we will be blessed. Even though this may be hard, we can ask God to help us love other people.
Conclusion
In all these commands, Jesus addresses the attitude of our hearts. It is from our hearts that sins begin. So let us cleanse our hearts before God by washing ourselves in Jesus’ blood. Ask God to help us overcome sins by the power of His Spirit. Do our part to be diligent to follow God and turn away from sin.
Read Matthew 5 (NIV) in the Bible. See other lessons in the Gospel of Matthew.