Matthew 5

The Gospel of Matthew has five great discourses.  The first begins with this chapter.  The others are Chapter 10, chapter 13, chapter 18, and chapters 24-25.  What sets these apart is clear from the refrain that concludes each discourse “When Jesus had finished saying these things” or similar  words found in 7:28, 11.1, 13.53, 19.1 and 26.1.  These five discourses could be modeled after the Torah the first five books of the Bible.

The sermon on the mount begins in chapter 5 and ends in chapter 7.  All of these chapters tie together in a way to indicated what it would mean to live a disciple life.

Chapter 5 begins with Jesus seeing the crowds and going up a mountain side to speak.  Again the similarity of Moses going up the mountain to hear God’s word.  Jesus presents first God’s vision of the kingdom which is included in the beatitudes.  They contain, according to K. C. Hanson values of honor and affirm conditions and behaviors which God regards as honorable and esteemed and which are to be practiced by the audience.  As you read them, note how they emphasize an almost reversal of what the world would hold of value then and now.

Jesus follows this with two images of what the mission of the church is, salt and light.  It is the hearer of Jesus’ words that are to be the salt flavoring and purifying the world and light to which the  “nations will come to Mount Zion.”  It is not the political empire that will do this or even the religious elite.

According to Warren Carter verses 17-48 focus on Jesus interpreting the Torah.  It lays out arguments that those who are familiar with the Torah might make regarding what Jesus is teaching.  Most of these statements begin with you have heard it said but I tell you which takes the scripture and interprets the meaning.  Verse 17 begins with Jesus saying that he has not come to do away with the Law but to fulfill it.  Many of the interpretations support a more just action especially to those who are marginalized and without power (poor, women, being examples.)  5:48 ends with be perfect as the Father is perfect (NIV).  This echoes Leviticus 19:1-2 which states “Be Holy because I, Lord your God, am holy.”