HE WENT UP INTO THE MOUNTAIN (ανεβη εις το ορος). Not "a" mountain as the Authorized Version has it. The Greek article is poorly handled in most English versions. We do not know what mountain it was. It was the one there where Jesus and the crowds were. "Delitzsch calls the Mount of Beatitudes the... [ Continue Reading ]
TAUGHT THEM (εδιδασκεν). Inchoative imperfect, began to teach. He sat down on the mountain side as the Jewish rabbis did instead of standing. It was a most impressive scene as Jesus opened his mouth wide and spoke loud enough for the great throng to hear him. The newly chosen twelve apostles were... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED (μακαριο). The English word "blessed" is more exactly represented by the Greek verbal ευλογητο as in Luke 1:68 of God by Zacharias, or the perfect passive participle ευλογημενος as in Luke 1:42 of Mary by Elizabeth and in Matthew 21:9. Both forms come from ευλογεω, to speak well of (ευ, λο... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT MOURN (ο πενθουντες). This is another paradox. This verb "is most frequent in the LXX for mourning for the dead, and for the sorrows and sins of others" (McNeile). "There can be no comfort where there is no grief" (Bruce). Sorrow should make us look for the heart and hand of God and so... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEEK (ο πραεις). Wycliff has it "Blessed be mild men." The ancients used the word for outward conduct and towards men. They did not rank it as a virtue anyhow. It was a mild equanimity that was sometimes negative and sometimes positively kind. But Jesus lifted the word to a nobility never atta... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS (ο πεινωντες κα διψωντες την δικαιοσυνην). Here Jesus turns one of the elemental human instincts to spiritual use. There is in all men hunger for food, for love, for God. It is passionate hunger and thirst for goodness, for holiness. The word for "f... [ Continue Reading ]
OBTAIN MERCY (ελεηθησοντα) "Sal win pitie theirsels" (_Braid Scots_). "A self-acting law of the moral world" (Bruce).... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL SEE GOD (τον θεον οψοντα). Without holiness no man will see the Lord in heaven (Hebrews 12:14). The Beatific Vision is only possible here on earth to those with pure hearts. No other can see the King now. Sin befogs and beclouds the heart so that one cannot see God. Purity has here its wide... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEACEMAKERS (ο ειρηνοποιο). Not merely "peaceable men" (Wycliff) but "makkers up o' strife" (_Braid Scots_). It is hard enough to keep the peace. It is still more difficult to bring peace where it is not. "The perfect peacemaker is the Son of God (Ephesians 2:14)" (McNeile). Thus we shall be... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HAVE BEEN PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE (ο δεδιωγμενο ενεκεν δικαιοσυνης). Posing as persecuted is a favourite stunt. The kingdom of heaven belongs only to those who suffer for the sake of goodness, not who are guilty of wrong.... [ Continue Reading ]
FALSELY, FOR MY SAKE (ψευδομενο ενεκεν εμου). Codex Bezae changes the order of these last Beatitudes, but that is immaterial. What does matter is that the bad things said of Christ's followers shall be untrue and that they are slandered for Christ's sake. Both things must be true before one can w... [ Continue Reading ]
LOST ITS SAVOUR (μωρανθη). The verb is from μωρος (dull, sluggish, stupid, foolish) and means to play the fool, to become foolish, of salt become tasteless, insipid (Mark 9:50). It is common in Syria and Palestine to see salt scattered in piles on the ground because it has lost its flavour, "hae... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDER THE BUSHEL (υπο τον μοδιον). Not a bushel. "The figure is taken from lowly cottage life. There was a projecting stone in the wall on which the lamp was set. The house consisted of a single room, so that the tiny light sufficed for all" (Bruce). It was not put under the bushel (the only one... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN SO (ουτως). The adverb points backward to the lamp-stand. Thus men are to let their light shine, not to glorify themselves, but "your Father in heaven." Light shines to see others by, not to call attention to itself.... [ Continue Reading ]
I CAME NOT TO DESTROY, BUT TO FULFIL (ουκ ηλθον καταλυσα αλλα πληρωσα). The verb "destroy" means to "loosen down" as of a house or tent (2 Corinthians 5:1). Fulfil is to fill full. This Jesus did to the ceremonial law which pointed to him and the moral law he kept. "He came to fill the law, to re... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE (ιωτα εν η μια κερεα). "Not an iota, not a comma" (Moffatt), "not the smallest letter, not a particle" (Weymouth). The iota is the smallest Greek vowel, which Matthew here uses to represent the Hebrew _yod_ (jot), the smallest Hebrew letter. "Tittle" is from the Latin _titul... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL DO AND TEACH (ποιηση κα διδαξη). Jesus puts practice before preaching. The teacher must apply the doctrine to himself before he is qualified to teach others. The scribes and Pharisees were men who "say and do not" (Matthew 23:3), who preach but do not perform. This is Christ's test of great... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL EXCEED (περισσευση πλειον). Overflow like a river out of its banks and then Jesus adds "more" followed by an unexpressed ablative (της δικαιοσυνης), brachylogy. A daring statement on Christ's part that they had to be better than the rabbis. They must excel the scribes, the small number of r... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU (εγω δε λεγω υμιν). Jesus thus assumes a tone of superiority over the Mosaic regulations and proves it in each of the six examples. He goes further than the Law into the very heart. " RACA " (Ρακα) and " THOU FOOL " (Μωρε). The first is probably an Aramaic word meaning "Empty,... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRST BE RECONCILED (πρωτον διαλλαγηθ). Second aorist passive imperative. Get reconciled (ingressive aorist, take the initiative). Only example of this compound in the New Testament where usually καταλλασσω occurs. Deissmann (_Light from the Ancient East_, p. 187, New Ed.) gives a papyrus example... [ Continue Reading ]
AGREE WITH (ισθ ευνοων). A present periphrastic active imperative. The verb is from ευνοος (friendly, kindly disposed). "Mak up wi' yere enemy" (_Braid Scots_). Compromise is better than prison where no principle is involved, but only personal interest. It is so easy to see principle where pride... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAST FARTHING (τον εσχατον κοδραντην). A Latin word, _quadrans, 1/4 of an _as_ (ασσαριον) or two mites (Mark 12:42), a vivid picture of inevitable punishment for debt. This is emphasized by the strong double negative ου μη with the aorist subjunctive.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY (ου μοιχευσεις). These quotations (verses Matthew 5:21; Matthew 5:27; Matthew 5:33) from the Decalogue (Matthew 5:20 and Matthew 5:5) are from the Septuagint and use ου and the future indicative (volitive future, common Greek idiom). In Matthew 5:43 the positive form... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIS HEART (εν τη καρδια αυτου). Not just the centre of the blood circulation though it means that. Not just the emotional part of man's nature, but here the inner man including the intellect, the affections, the will. This word is exceedingly common in the New Testament and repays careful stud... [ Continue Reading ]
CAUSETH THEE TO STUMBLE (σκανδαλιζε σε). This is far better than the Authorized Version "_Offend thee_." _Braid Scots_ has it rightly "ensnare ye." It is not the notion of giving offence or provoking, but of setting a trap or snare for one. The substantive (σκανδαλον, from σκανδαληθρον) means the... [ Continue Reading ]
A WRITING OF DIVORCEMENT (αποστασιον), "a divorce certificate" (Moffatt), "a written notice of divorce" (Weymouth). The Greek is an abbreviation of βιβλιον αποστασιου (Malachi 19:7; Mark 10:4). Vulgate has here _libellum repudii_. The papyri use συγγραφη αποστασιου in commercial transactions as ... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVING FOR THE CAUSE OF FORNICATION (παρεκτος λογου πορνειας). An unusual phrase that perhaps means "except for a matter of unchastity." "Except on the ground of unchastity" (Weymouth), "except unfaithfulness" (Goodspeed), and is equivalent to μη επ πορνεια in Matthew 19:9. McNeile denies that Je... [ Continue Reading ]
SWEAR NOT AT ALL (μη ομοσα ολως). More exactly "not to swear at all" (indirect command, and aorist infinitive). Certainly Jesus does not prohibit oaths in a court of justice for he himself answered Caiaphas on oath. Paul made solemn appeals to God (1 Thessalonians 5:27; 1 Corinthians 15:31). Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH (οφθαλμον αντ οφθαλμου κα οδοντα αντ οδοντος). Note αντ with the notion of exchange or substitution. The quotation is from Exodus 21:24; Deuteronomy 19:21; Leviticus 24:20. Like divorce this _jus talionis_ is a restriction upon unrestrained vengeance. "I... [ Continue Reading ]
RESIST NOT HIM THAT IS EVIL (με αντιστηνα τω πονηρω). Here again it is the infinitive (second aorist active) in indirect command. But is it "the evil man" or the "evil deed"? The dative case is the same form for masculine and neuter. Weymouth puts it "not to resist a (the) wicked man," Moffatt "no... [ Continue Reading ]
THY COAT... THY CLOKE ALSO (τον χιτωνα σου κα το ιματιον). The "coat" is really a sort of shirt or undergarment and would be demanded at law. A robber would seize first the outer garment or cloke (one coat). If one loses the undergarment at law, the outer one goes also (the more valuable one).... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL COMPEL THEE (αγγαρευσε). The Vulgate has _angariaverit_. The word is of Persian origin and means public couriers or mounted messengers (αγγαρο) who were stationed by the King of Persia at fixed localities, with horses ready for use, to send royal messages from one to another. So if a man is... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN NOT THOU AWAY (μη αποστραφηις). Second aorist passive subjunctive in prohibition. "This is one of the clearest instances of the necessity of accepting the spirit and not the letter of the Lord's commands (see vv.Matthew 5:32; Matthew 5:34; Matthew 5:38). Not only does indiscriminate almsgivi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATE THINE ENEMY (κα μισησεις). This phrase is not in Leviticus 19:18, but is a rabbinical inference which Jesus repudiates bluntly. The Talmud says nothing of love to enemies. Paul in Romans 12:20 quotes Proverbs 25:22 to prove that we ought to treat our enemies kindly. Jesus taught us to pra... [ Continue Reading ]
PERFECT (τελειο). The word comes from τελος, end, goal, limit. Here it is the goal set before us, the absolute standard of our Heavenly Father. The word is used also for relative perfection as of adults compared with children.... [ Continue Reading ]