Matthew 5:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 5:1-2

We have here a general account of this sermon. I. The Preacher was our Lord Jesus, the Prince of preachers, the great Prophet of his church, who came into the world, to be the Light of the world. The prophets and John had done virtuously in preaching, but Christ excelled them all. He is the eternal Wisdom, that lay in the bosom of the Father, before all worlds, and perfectly knew his will (John 1:18); and he is the eternal Word, by whom he has in these last days spoken to us. The many... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 5:1-48

As we have already seen, Matthew has a careful pattern in his gospel. In his story of the baptism of Jesus he shows us Jesus realizing that the hour has struck, that the call to action has come, and that Jesus must go forth on his crusade. In his story of the Temptations he shows us Jesus deliberately choosing the method he will use to carry out his task, and deliberately rejecting methods which he knew to be against the will of God. If a man sets his hand to a great task, he needs his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:1

And seeing the multitudes ,.... The great concourse of people that followed him from the places before mentioned, he went up into a mountain ; either to pray alone, which was sometimes his custom to do, or to shun the multitude; or rather, because it was a commodious place for teaching the people: and when he was set : not for rest, but in order to teach; for sitting was the posture of masters, or teachers, see Matthew 13:2 Luke 4:20 . The form in which the master and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:2

And he opened his mouth ,.... He spoke with a clear and strong voice, that all the people might hear him; and with great freedom, utterance, and cheerfulness, and things of the greatest moment and importance; and taught them ; not his disciples only, but the whole multitude, who heard him with astonishment; see Matthew 7:28 . Some things in the following discourse are directed to the disciples in particular, and others regard the multitude in general. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:1

And seeing the multitudes - Τους οχλους , these multitudes, viz. those mentioned in the preceding verse, which should make the first verse of this chapter. He went up into a mountain - That he might have the greater advantage of speaking, so as to be heard by that great concourse of people which followed him. It is very probable that nothing more is meant here than a small hill or eminence. Had he been on a high mountain they could not have heard; and, had he been at a great distance,... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 1 Matthew 5:1.He went up into a mountain. Those who think that Christ’s sermon, which is here related, is different from the sermon contained in the sixth chapter of Luke’s Gospel, rest their opinion on a very light and frivolous argument. Matthew states, that Christ spoke to his disciples on a mountain, while Luke seems to say, that the discourse was delivered on a plain. But it is a mistake to read the words of Luke, he went down with them, and stood in the plain, (Luke 6:17,) as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:2

Verse 2 2.Opening his mouth. This redundancy of expression ( πλεονασμὸς) partakes of the Hebrew idiom: for what would be faulty in other languages is frequent among the Hebrews, to say, He opened his mouth, instead of, He began to speak. Many look upon it as an emphatic mode of expression, employed to draw attention to any thing important and remarkable, either in a good or bad sense, which has been uttered: but as some passages of Scripture countenance an opposite view, I prefer the former... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:1

And seeing the multitudes ; i.e. those spoken of in Matthew 4:25 —the multitudes who were at that point of time following him. He went up . From the lower ground by the lake. Into a mountain ; Revised Version, into the mountain ( εἰς τὸ ὄρος ); i.e. not any special mountain, but "the mountain nearest the place spoken of—the mountain near by" (Thayer); in contrast to any lower place, whether that was itself fairly high ground (as probably Luke 9:28 ) or the shore of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:1-2

Teaching for the multitude. We hold that the discourse to which these two verses in St. Matthew's Gospel are an introduction is one with that given in the sixth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel; and that although, judging from the closest context in both passages, it might at first be supposed that "these sayings of Jesus" were spoken to the lesser circle of his disciples exclusively, they were really spoken, if not from the very beginning, yet, as regards the large proportion of them, to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:1-2

The preparation for a great sermon. Christ magnified the Law, and honoured the sabbath. On the sabbath he wrought many of his miracles and uttered many of his parables. So, after spending the night in prayer, on the sabbath he delivered his sermon on the mount. The preparation for that discourse is the subject of the text. In order to a great sermon there should be— I. A SUITABLE PLACE . 1 . Noble edifices have been raised by the piety of men. 2 . Here was a cathedral... read more

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