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
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.
Old Testament Foundations
Isaiah 49 contains many similar statements to those found in the Sermon on the Mount