Matthew 5:3

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:3

3. Blessed are the poor in spirit—All familiar with Old Testament phraseology know how frequently God's true people are styled "the poor" (the "oppressed," "afflicted," "miserable") or "the needy"—or both together (as in Psalms 40:17; Isaiah 41:17). The explanation of this lies in the fact that it is generally "the poor of this world" who are "rich in faith" (Isaiah 41:17- :; compare 2 Corinthians 6:10; Revelation 2:9); while it is often "the ungodly" who "prosper in the world" (Revelation 2:9-... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 5:3

The "poor in spirit" are those who recognize their natural unworthiness to stand in God’s presence and who depend utterly on Him for His mercy and grace (cf. Psalms 37:14; Psalms 40:17; Psalms 69:28-29; Psalms 69:32-33; Proverbs 16:19; Proverbs 29:23; Isaiah 61:1). They do not trust in their own goodness or possessions for God’s acceptance. The Jews regarded material prosperity as an indication of divine approval since many of the blessings God promised the righteous under the Old Covenant were... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 5:3-10

2. The subjects of Jesus’ kingdom 5:3-16Their condition 5:3-10 (cf. Luke 6:20-26)This pericope describes the character of the kingdom’s subjects and their rewards in the kingdom.Kingsbury identified the theme of this Sermon as "greater righteousness" and divided it as follows: (I) On Those Who Practice the Greater Righteousness (Matthew 5:3-16); (II) On Practicing the Greater Righteousness toward the Neighbor (Matthew 5:17-45); (III) On Practicing the Greater Righteousness before God (Matthew... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:1-48

The Sermon on the MountJohn 5:1 to John 7:29. The Sermon on the Mount: see Luke 6:20. This sermon is so similar to the sermon reported by St. Luke (Luke 6:20), that it is best to regard them as identically the same. It is true that it has been plausibly suggested that our Lord during His preaching tours often repeated nearly the same sermon to different audiences, and that St. Matthew has given us the sermon as delivered at one place and St. Luke as delivered at another, but the resemblances... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 5:3

(3) Blessed.—The word differs from that used in Matthew 23:39; Matthew 25:34, as expressing a permanent state of felicity, rather than the passive reception of a blessing bestowed by another.The poor in spirit.—The limitation, as in “the pure in heart,” points to the region of life in which the poverty is found. In Luke 6:20 there is no such qualifying clause, and there the words speak of outward poverty, as in itself a less perilous and therefore happier state than that of riches. Here the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 5:1-48

The Beatitudes Illustrated By Events in the Passion Matthew 5:0 1. Christ condemned. Pilate washes his hands and declares Christ innocent. 'Blessed are the pure in heart.' 2. Christ takes up the cross. 'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake.' 3. Christ falls under the weight of the cross. 'Blessed are they that mourn.' 4. Christ meekly allows another to share His cross. 'Blessed are the meek.' 5. Christ comforts the women. 'Blessed are the merciful.' 6. Christ stripped... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:1-48

Chapter 7The Gospel of the Kingdom("Sermon on the Mount") - Matthew 5:1-48; Matthew 6:1-34; Matthew 7:1-29IT may seem almost heresy to object to the time-honoured title "Sermon on the Mount"; yet, so small has the word "sermon" become, on account of its application to those productions of which there is material for a dozen in single sentences of this great discourse, that there is danger of belittling it by the use of a title which suggests even the remotest relationship to these ephemeral... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Matthew 5:1-48

5. The Proclamation of the King concerning His Kingdom. Chapters 5-7 1. The Characteristics of the heirs of the Kingdom.(Matthew 5:1-16 .) 2. The Confirmation of the Law and its Expansion.( Matthew 5:17-48 .) CHAPTER 5 In the closing of the last chapter we saw our Lord Jesus Christ surrounded by a great multitude of people, which followed Him and who were attracted by the King’s presence, before whom the various diseases had to flee. If we turn to the eighth chapter we find the... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Matthew 5:3

5:3 Blessed [are] the {a} poor in {b} spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(a) Under the name of poverty are meant all the miseries, that are joined with poverty.(b) Whose minds and spirits are brought under control, and tamed, and obey God. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:1-48

From every direction He attracted followers, Galilee mentioned first, but also Decapolis beyond the sea of Galilee, Jerusalem and Judea, and east of Jordan. No doubt their motives for following Him were various, some good, others selfish, but they heard the word of God, which challenges men's motives as veil as their actions, as is plainly seen in Chapter 5. Because of the crowds He took a position on a mountain from which to speak. His disciples came to Him, so that they were in close... read more

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