In Lesson 10 we started looking at the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 and ended the lesson in verse 8. And I made a point of explaining the chronological context of what we will be looking at throughout the entirety of Jesus’ message. He had just experienced several rather heated confrontations with the religious establishment and what follows here is a rebuke of their self-righteous, hateful, fault-finding, grossly distorted religion based on man-made rules that were in direct opposition to the heart of God.
This context is clearly established with Jesus’ use of the word makarioi, a word that should be more accurately rendered, to be fully satisfied. In classic Greek it was used to describe the perfect conditions of their concept of the afterlife. In the New Testament it is used to describe the perfect, eternal contentment of those in relationship with Christ and trusting in His redemptive sacrifice.
In order to expose the wrong attitudes displayed by the Pharisees, Jesus defines the correct, Godly characteristics that should be evident in those who hope in Him. So far we identified the dependent spirit (the “poor in spirit”, those who understand their spiritual helplessness), the penitent spirit (those “who mourn” over their acknowledged moral and spiritual weaknesses), the gentle, submissive spirit (the “meek” who accept God’s dealings with no resistance or consideration of personal cost), the hungry, thirsty spirit (those who crave the righteousness of God), the merciful, compassionate spirit (the benevolent who freely give to the needs of others) and the pure spirit (those who are honest and transparent in the presence of God).
There are still three more, this is verse 9. “Those who are willing to take the peace of God to the hateful and hostile (the peacemakers) will be fully satisfied, because they have taken on the true nature of their Father in Heaven.” The word translated “peacemakers” is from eireneopolos, found nowhere else in the New Testament. It is used to describe someone who makes peace or takes peace to others after having received the peace of God in his own heart, not simply someone who tries to make peace between two conflicting parties (“peace” is from eirene, the absence or end of strife).
This is a spirit of peace demonstrated by the spiritual maturity of those who understand the true nature of God (to take peace to those who are hateful and hostile). Jesus confronts this wrong attitude later in 5:43-48 (when He talks about loving your enemies, blessing those who curse you, doing good to those who hate you, etc.) and we’ll look at it then in detail. Again, in verse 9 Jesus exposes the Pharisees’ intense hostility towards both the Father and Himself and just how much they miss the mark when it comes to knowing the true nature of God.
This is verse 10, “And those who are harassed because they have chosen to rise above the world’s standards (those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake) will be fully satisfied, because the Kingdom of Heaven is their rightful inheritance.” This is an easy one to explain since we have already dealt with the word for “righteousness” earlier. This is the Godly characteristic of being right or just (the meaning of disaiosune). And as we well know, those who choose to demonstrate the character and nature of God in their lives are often persecuted for it (in some countries they are imprisoned, even killed). This is a long-suffering spirit. Being openly submissive and obedient to God in this world requires patient endurance. So, in verse 10 Jesus points out the obvious fact the Pharisees were far from patient or willing to endure any who did not fully subscribe to their manmade, religious standards or who might violate those wrong standards.
Finally, here’s the last one in verses 11 and 12. “And when others lie about you, pursue you and say all kinds of evil things about you because of Me, be glad (rejoice), you will be fully satisfied! Your reward will be waiting for you in heaven. Just remember, they treated the prophets before you the same way.” Again, this one is pretty much self-explanatory. Here, rejoice is from chairo, to rejoice or be glad. This is a thankful spirit describing the one who has the self-satisfaction in knowing he has chosen what is good and right in this life and his reward is waiting for him. He knows others before him who made the same choice were treated the same way. Verses 11 and 12 are more direct in that Jesus implies just who has been lying, persecuting and say all kinds of evil things.
In the next section in Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus uses two common examples (salt and light) as metaphors to encourage people to live their lives in ways that bring honor to their heavenly Father. “You are the ones who must influence the world, to bring out the best in it (the salt of the earth) — like salt brings out the best taste in food, you bring out what’s good and right in the world. But if you don’t do it, then who will?” (Verse 13)
Salt is used for seasoning to enhance the flavor of food and as a preservative to protect it from decomposition or fermentation. The application is obvious: living a life for God gives both meaning and protection, not only for those who live it, but for those who learn from its example. However, just as salt when exposed to the effects of the earth (sun, rain, even air) can lose its savor and preserving qualities; those who give in to the ways of the world lose their Godly influence and ability to show others the goodness of God.
“You are the ones who must show the way (the light of the world). You stand out above the crowd. So don’t hesitate to let your life shine. In this world you can’t really hide the fact that you know God. So stand up! Speak up! Let yourself be noticed. Let your life shine like a bright light. And give yourself unselfishly to others. Let them see in you the love of the Father, so He can draw them to Himself.” (Verses 14-16) Jesus’ use of “light” in this statement is specific. It’s from phos, and describes a light that is not kindled or started by anyone and so it can never be quenched. He uses the term to illustrate believers being a witness to the world. It’s a light that was not kindled by men, but by God and therefore could never be quenched (God has always and will always have a witness in the world).
Then He contrasts this “light” to an oil lamp (the KJV has “candle”, however, wax candles were unknown in Bible times). The word is luchnos, a small, hand held bowl with a flax wick. The point Jesus makes with this is that you don’t light a lamp, then cover it so the light it gives is hidden. You even put it on a lamp stand with other lamps to give more light, so more people can benefit from the light (the witness). The greater the witness in the world, the more the Father is “glorified” (from doxazo, to recognize or honor) and the more people are drawn to Him.
In this next section (Matthew 5:17-20) Jesus assures the crowd (and the religious establishment) that He has not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but instead will fulfill all they have said. “Don’t think that I’ve come to change (destroy) what God has already promised or what the prophets have said. I’m not here to change anything. In fact, I’m going to make sure I accomplish (fulfill) all of it down to the smallest detail.” (Verse 17) “Destroy” is from kataluo, in classic Greek it meant, to unloose something that had been bound. In the New Testament it came to mean, to dissolve, demolish or destroy. It has been translated abolish, undo or change in more contemporary versions.
Then “fulfill” is from pleroo, to fill up or complete in every way. Jesus’ meaning here cannot be minimized. When He said He came “to fulfill the law and the prophets” he meant that He would not only fulfill what had been foretold by His actions and sufferings, but He would also perform perfect obedience to the commandments of God in His life and explain it clearly through His teaching and in this way He would entirely satisfy all the requirements of the law. A clear, objective examination of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension shows He never violated the law in any way and that He, in fact, fulfilled it in every way.
“And you can be sure of this one thing, the earth and all the stars you can see in the sky at night will change (pass away), but even the smallest detail of God’s eternal promises will never change. And His Word will accomplish its intended purpose, which is, to make the Kingdom of God a reality.” (Verse 18) Some explanation is needed here. The KJV says till heaven and earth “pass” (others say, pass away, perish, disappear, all misleading translations). “Pass” is from parerchomai, to pass from one condition to another, to be changed. The heavens and the earth are eternal, they will never pass away, perish or disappear (Ecclesiastes 1:4; Psalm 89:36-37). Peter describes the heavens and earth being purified by fire (judgment), changed and renewed (2 Peter 3:10-13); then John sees a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1), the old having passed away.
There is an important principle implied in parerchomai, which is, when the change takes place the new is better than the old. Paul explains the principle this way. “So, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old has passed away, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) The point Jesus is making here is that even the smallest detail of God’s promises concerning the eternal, perfect Kingdom of God will never change, but instead, will become a reality. And the new kingdom will have been changed and made new by the removal of the effects of the curse and all influence of evil both on the earth and in the heavens.
“Those who ignore the importance (the least) of these commandments and teach others to ignore them, will be less important in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those who live by these commandments and encourage others to do the same are the ones who will be honored (great) in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Verse 19) The terms “least” (from elachistos, used to describe less importance) and “great” (megas, describing greater authority) in this verse suggest what is valued in the kingdom — obedience and faithfulness. There will be those in the kingdom who did not take the word or commandments of God as seriously as they should have. In this context, Jesus is referring to the Pharisees who put more importance on the rules and rituals of their religion and gave them more authority than God’s commands. On the other hand, those who lived according to His commands and taught others to do the same will have the greater reward.
“And I’m telling you right now; you’re going to have to do a better job of following God’s Word than the scribes and Pharisees are doing. They’re always careful to follow the rules they’ve made, but they ignore the important principles in God’s commands. You can’t find the Kingdom of Heaven that way.” (Verse 20) This is the conclusion of Jesus’ exposing the condition of the religious establishment that had been pursuing, opposing, even plotting to kill Him. Their proud, zealous, arrogant, legalistic efforts to produce their own self-righteousness had uncovered their spiritual poverty. And Jesus has just listed in these verses all the things they lacked in the Godly character that is His righteousness.
We will see in the next lesson Jesus will begin to tear down some of the things common to their religious thought with passages beginning with “you have heard that it was said”, or “it has been said”, when he expresses their wrong teaching on subjects like anger, adultery, divorce, false promises, retaliation and hatred, then teaches truth from the heart of God.