Concordant Commentary by A. E. Knoch

Matthew 4:18-25

18-19 Compare Mar_1:16-18; Luk_5:1-11; Joh_1:40-42.

21-22 Compare Mar_1:19-20; Luk_5:10-11.

23 See Mar_1:21-39.

25 Compare Mar_3:7-8.

1-2 Compare Luk_6:20:23.

1 The “Sermon on the Mount” was probably varied and repeated many times. Luke gives one of these. That was given on an “even place” (Luk_6:17) after His calling of the apostles. It is much abridged. Mark gives scattered allusions here and there. It is fitting that the fullest proclamation of the laws of the kingdom should be given in this account, for it is concerned with the Son of David.

5 The Beatitudes will find their fulfillment in the kingdom of the heavens, when Messiah comes again and establishes His millennial reign. Till then most of them prove to be a practical disappointment. The merciful often do not obtain mercy. The meek do not receive an allotment in the land or the earth. Not only that, but they never shall. A meek unbeliever will receive no allotment whatever. A meek believer is promised every blessedness among the celestials (Eph_1:3). It would be a bitter disappointment to him to have an allotment on the earth or in the land of Israel. There is no happiness in this beatitude for us.

12 All blessing comes from heaven, but it is not all enjoyed in heaven. The kingdom will be the days of heaven on earth, for the blessing will be heavenly in source and character, though located on earth. The heavenly city, new Jerusalem, is heavenly but comes down out of heaven to the earth. English has no way of distinguishing that which is heavenly in character from that which has its place in heaven, so special care is needed to avoid confusion in thought on this theme.

13 See Mar_9:50 Luk_14:34-35.

13 The salt of Palestine was usually gathered from marshes. Contact with the ground or exposure to rain or sun soon spoiled it, so that it lost its saltness. As it was very harmful to growing vegetation it was carefully swept up and thrown into the street, and thus trodden under foot.

14 Compare Mar_4:21-22; Luk_8:16-17; Luk_11:3317 See Luk_16:16-17; Rom_3:31.

18 See Mat_24:35.

18 The yod or iota was the smallest of the Hebrew letters. The ceriphs were probably the small projections which distinguished some of the Hebrew letters. The idea of the Massorah, that they were small meaningless ornaments like horns is hardly in line with the spirit of Christ's teaching. He denounced unwarranted, uninspired additions to the Scriptures.

19 To obey is always better than sacrifice. The very least precept of the Lord calls for implicit,

unquestioning response.

21 Compare Exo_20:13.

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Concordant Commentary by A. E. Knoch

Matthew 4:18-25

Old Testament

New Testament