Sermon on the Mount

Context

Matthew 5:1 And seeing the crowds He went up into the mountain, and upon His sitting His students came to Him. 2 And opening His mouth He instructed them, saying:

All of these words are instructions for “His students”. It cannot be imagined that they should be applied to His enemies, or to the ungodly. There are other scriptures which command His students concerning the ungodly, to have nothing to do with them.

Beatitudes

See Beatitudes and also Exclusivity of the Gospel

Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit”, and Christ quoted from Isaiah during the announcement of His ministry that He was sent to “preach the gospel to the poor”, meaning the dispersion of Israel. Isaiah 66:1 says:

“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

This message is to those of a “poor and of a contrite spirit” of the children of Israel.

Mourning

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who are mourning, because they shall be comforted

Meek

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, because they shall inherit the earth.

Old Testament References:

Isaiah 60: “16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.... 21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time."

Psalm 25: “11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”  

The Biblical context is that those who are meek of the people of Israel – those who have the covenants – they shall inherit the earth, and not just anyone pretending to be meek.

Psalm 37: “9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.“ [The Communist Manifesto, the Protocols of the so-called Learned Elders of Zion, the jewish trash spewing daily from the mainstream media, this is how the wicked plot against the just.]

Psalm 37: “18  The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”

But it is whom He considers upright, who shall be blessed, and not whom we consider to be upright.

Hungering for Righteousness

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who are hungering and thirsting for righteousness, because they shall be satiated.

Old Testament References:

Isaiah 49:10: “They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.”

Ezekiel 34, at the end of the prophecy concerning the lost sheep:

“29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. 30 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. 31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men [adam], and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.”

Isaiah chapter 65 compares the obedient of the children of Israel to those among us who are disobedient and who associate with and oblige the enemies of our God:

“9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. 11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. 12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed.”

As Daniel says in chapter 12, “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt”, but every one that shall be found written in the book shall be delivered.

Merciful

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are those having mercy, because they shall be mercied.

Mercy for our brother was something which Yahweh asked of us in the Old Testament as well as the New. And mercy not only on them who may do us wrong, but also on those who are of humble means. Examples of this are found in Proverbs 14:20-22, 31, Proverbs 21:20-21, and Hosea 6:6. An example is found in the Exodus, when Moses encountered two Israelite men quarreling. Exodus Chapter 2:

“11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.”

There was no care for the Egyptian, and he was even an Adamite. Yet Moses was astonished when he found two men of Israel quarreling, knowing that it was wrong for them to be doing so. Because Moses understood this difference, caring for Israel and not for the alien, he was appointed leader over all the children of Israel, to bring them out of the captivity in Egypt.

Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are those who are pure in heart, because they shall see Yahweh.

Psalm 24: “4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

Psalm 73:1: “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.”

Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they shall be called sons of Yahweh.

Proverbs 10:10, from the Septuagint: “He that winks with his eyes deceitfully, procures griefs for men; but he that reproves boldly is a peacemaker.”

The man who placates others – whether they be aliens or Israelites - is not a peacemaker. God is not pleased with placators; that is the folly of man's judgement. Rather, the proverb says that he who reproves is a peacemaker. That reproof must be according to the Word of God! Surely God does not want us to make peace with His enemies. Deuteronomy 23:6 says:

“Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.”

Ezra 9:12 says:

“Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.”

A placemaker does not seek peace with God's enemies. A real peacemaker makes peace with God, by reproving and insisting that we be obedient to His Word in deed, and not merely with lip service. Here are the blessings of obedience from Deuteronomy chapter 28:

“1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.”

For Christians, the only real peace is found in obedience to our God. He will see to His enemies. Today we are disobedient, and we are overrun with His enemies!

Persecuted

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted on account of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Paul, in Hebrews chapter 11, speaking of those who in ancient days went against the “mainstream” and sought obedience to God, explains thus:

“36 And others received trials of mockings and scourgings, then further of bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were cut in pieces - having died by slaughter of the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, being afflicted, being mistreated, 38 (of whom the Society was not worthy,) wandering upon deserts and mountains and in caves and in the holes of the earth. 39 And all, being accredited through the faith, have not acquired the promise 40 of Yahweh, foreseeing for us something better, that not apart from us should they be perfected.”

In other words, they had not acquired it in the flesh, but they will be together with us in the last day.

Isaiah 51:7: “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.”

Old Testament Foundations

Most of the things which Christ taught in this Sermon on the Mount can also be found in the Old Testament. In reality, He was teaching nothing new, even if He was explaining much of it it differently, for there is nothing new under the sun. If our race obeyed His Word, we would have heaven indeed. Isaiah 49 for example contains many similar statements to those found in the Sermon on the Mount.

The clear connections between the Old Testament and the New demonstrate they truly are but one book containing the same teachings, for the same children of Israel. We especially saw that Yahshua Christ in His Sermon on the Mount was teaching many of those same precepts found in the ancient Hebrew literature, for the most part in the Psalms and in the Wisdom of Sirach. Yet this does not lessen the importance of the mission of Christ one iota. Rather, it magnifies it all the more, once one understands that this is the same God, talking to the same people that He had once spoken to through the Old Testament prophets and the Law of Moses. We saw that the Sermon on the Mount was meant for Israelites only. The word neighbor in in the phrase in Leviticus 19:18 which says love thy neighbor in Hebrew is ultimately derived from a verb which means to graze together, and therefore can only refer to the sheep. The Greek word for neighbor does not mean to refer to geographical proximity, for there are other more specific words for that. Rather it simply denotes one who is near to a person. With all of the other injunctions found in the law, it too can only refer to one of the sheep, and not to a wolf who has moved in nearby. This meaning is magnified where Yahshua tells His followers not to share their pearls or that which is holy with dogs and swine.

That this entire message is therefore exclusive – in the racial sense, there should be no doubt.

An Example

Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for you treasure upon the earth, where moth and corrosion obliterate and where thieves dig through and steal. 20 But store up for you treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor corrosion obliterate and where thieves do not dig through nor steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there also shall be your heart.

From Isaiah 51:8: “For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.“ And from the Wisdom of Sirach, chapter 29: “10 Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost. 11 Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold. 12 Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction. 13 It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear.”

We see that all the words of Christ are from the beginning. If they were new to their hearers, they were new only because the religious authorities of the time had kept them from the people.