Matthew 5:1-16
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:1-16: Verse-by-Verse Analysis
In verse 1, Jesus goes up on a mountainside to teach his disciples. This shows the importance of finding a quiet place to listen and learn from God.
Verse 3 speaks of being “poor in spirit” and how they will inherit the kingdom of heaven. This refers to humility and recognizing our need for God.
Those who mourn will be comforted, as mentioned in verse 4. This shows that God is close to those who are hurting and will bring them peace.
The meek, mentioned in verse 5, will inherit the earth. This highlights the importance of gentleness and humility in God’s kingdom.
Verse 6 talks about hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and how those who do so will be filled. This emphasizes the importance of seeking God’s ways above all else.
Being merciful, as mentioned in verse 7, will result in receiving mercy. This shows the importance of showing compassion and forgiveness to others.
The pure in heart will see God, as stated in verse 8. This highlights the importance of having a sincere and genuine relationship with God.
Peacemakers will be called children of God, as mentioned in verse 9. This shows the importance of promoting peace and unity among others.
Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake will inherit the kingdom of heaven, as stated in verse 10. This shows that standing up for what is right is valued by God.
Verse 13 compares believers to salt and light, emphasizing the importance of being a positive influence in the world and preserving God’s truth.
Believers are called to let their light shine before others in verse 16, showing the importance of living out their faith in a way that glorifies God.