Matthew 5:1-48 King James Version Bible

Summary and Message of Matthew 5 – Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes, Salt and Light, Law, and Righteousness

Matthew 5:1-48 King James Version Bible. Matthew chapter 5 is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus outlines the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven and sets a higher standard of righteousness for His followers.

In his Sermon Jesus explains how righteousness goes beyond behaviors and speech – they also include our thoughts and attitudes. Jesus calls His followers to a transformative way of life characterized by humility, mercy, purity, and peacemaking.

Matthew Chapter 5:1-48 lays the foundation for a new covenant relationship with God, emphasizing the internalization of God’s laws and a genuine, heart-felt obedience that reflects God’s character and love. It challenges believers to live in a way that is distinct from the world, influencing it positively as salt and light, and to pursue a righteousness that stems from a deep, inner commitment to God’s will.

Summary and Message of Matthew 5 – Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes, Salt and Light, Law, and Righteousness

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The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)

The Beatitudes describe the attitudes and characteristics that are blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven. Each Beatitude promises a specific reward, emphasizing spiritual values over worldly ones. They highlight humility, righteousness, mercy, purity, peacemaking, and enduring persecution for righteousness as marks of true discipleship.

• Poor in Spirit: Recognizing one’s spiritual poverty and need for God.
• Those Who Mourn: Mourning over sin and suffering, leading to comfort from God.
• Meek: Humility and gentleness, trusting in God’s strength rather than one’s own.
• Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness: A deep desire for justice and moral excellence, which God promises to satisfy.
• Merciful: Showing compassion and forgiveness, reflecting God’s mercy.
• Pure in Heart: Inner purity and integrity, leading to a deeper relationship with God.
• Peacemakers: Promoting peace and reconciliation, embodying God’s peace.
• Persecuted for Righteousness: Enduring suffering for doing what is right, with the assurance of God’s kingdom.

Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)

Jesus uses the metaphors of salt and light to illustrate the influence His followers should have on the world.

• Salt: Disciples are to preserve goodness and prevent moral decay in the world. Losing saltiness means losing effectiveness and purpose.
• Light: Believers are to shine with good works, pointing others to God. A hidden light is ineffective, so Christians must live visibly righteous lives that reflect God’s glory.

Fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20)

Jesus affirms the enduring significance of the Law and the Prophets, but He also reveals that He has come to fulfill them. His life and teachings complete and deepen the understanding of the Law.

• Fulfillment: Jesus embodies the perfect fulfillment of the Law’s intent.
• Higher Righteousness: The righteousness Jesus demands surpasses the legalistic observance of the Pharisees, calling for an inner transformation and genuine obedience to God’s will.

Teachings on Righteousness (Matthew 5:21-48)

Jesus expands on specific commandments to illustrate the deeper, heart-based righteousness He calls for.

• Anger (vs. 21-26): Jesus equates unjust anger and insults with murder, stressing reconciliation and the avoidance of harboring resentment.
• Adultery (vs. 27-30): He intensifies the commandment against adultery by addressing lustful thoughts, teaching the importance of inner purity.
• Divorce (vs. 31-32): Jesus underscores the sanctity of marriage, allowing divorce only in cases of sexual immorality.
• Oaths (vs. 33-37): He advises against swearing oaths, encouraging straightforward honesty and integrity in speech.
• Retaliation (vs. 38-42): Jesus teaches against the principle of “an eye for an eye,” advocating for non-retaliation and radical generosity.
• Love for Enemies (vs. 43-48): He calls for loving and praying for enemies, reflecting God’s perfect and unconditional love. This teaching challenges believers to love beyond natural inclinations, embodying the divine nature.

Matthew 4:1-48 King James Version Bible

1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

The Beatitudes
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Salt and Light
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Fulfillment of the Law
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Teachings on Righteousness
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.