Matthew 5:3-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3

The blessedness that Christ pronounces. Amid many ways in which the grand inheritance which Jesus designated by the word "blessedness" may be regarded, and its worth exhibited and its charm enhanced to our mental gaze, all too sluggish, we may now take the following course. This blessedness which Christ pronounces must be the more worthy of regard, in that— I. IT IS NOT FLAUNTED IN PROMINENCE AND IN BRIGHTEST , LOUDEST COLOUR ON HIS FLAG . II. IT FINDS ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3

Poverty in spirit; and the clue to its blessedness. It is to be remarked that every pronouncement of blessedness that here passes the lip of Jesus is accompanied by a "reason of the hope that is" in it. We shall, therefore, in each case notice I. THIS DESCRIPTIVE TITLE OF CERTAIN CHARACTERS — THOSE WHO ARE " POOR IN SPIRIT "— WHO ARE THEY ? Do we not long for Christ's own determination of his own descriptions in these cases? Probably with singular unity and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3-5

The secret of happiness. Jesus begins his first great sermon with the word "blessed." His whole mission is a benediction. It is his object to encourage and cheer, not to repress and humiliate. 1 . But he knows the secret of happiness too well to attempt to shed joy in any other way than through those channels by which, in the very constitution of things, God has appointed it to flow. There is a necessary connection between each Beatitude and the character blessed. The reward is not an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3-5

The triumphs of humility. The originality of Christ is evinced in these first sentences of his discourse. "Nothing," says David Hume, "carries a man through the world like a true, genuine, natural impudence." Sturdy qualities are approved by men of the world, and quiet virtues are despised. Christ places these in the forefront, and associates with them benedictions in a manner which astonishes the poets, philosophers, and sages of antiquity. Let us— I. REVIEW THE QUALITIES HERE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3-9

The benediction of good character. The word "blessed" is taken from beati , which is used in the Vulgate. By it our Lord indicates what will be especially esteemed, and receive special honour, in his new kingdom. To see our Lord's point we should observe what the Pharisaic teachers of his day were proclaiming. According to them, God's blessing rested upon minute acts of obedience; upon precision in keeping every detail of a series of elaborate, man-made rules. The teaching of the day... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3-12

Sermon on the mount: 1. The Beatitudes. The subject of the sermon on the mount may be said to be the righteousness of the kingdom. To give all his hearers a clearer conception of this fundamental idea, our Lord speaks The citizens of the kingdom are first described, their character being indicated in the first paragraph, their influence being referred to in Matthew 5:13-16 . The passage containing the Beatitudes will best yield its meaning if we consider I. OUR LORD IS IN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3-16

1. The ideal character of his disciples. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:4

In some, especially "Western" authorities, Matthew 5:4 , Matthew 5:5 are transposed ( vide Westcott and Hort, 'Appendix'), possibly because the terms of Matthew 5:5 seemed to be more closely parallel to Matthew 5:3 (cf. Meyer, Weiss), and also those of Matthew 5:4 fitted excellently with Matthew 5:6 . But far the greater balance of evidence is in favour of the usual order, which also, though not on the surface, is in the deepest connexion with the preceding and the following... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:4

The blessedness of the mourner. "Blessed are they that mourn," etc. Perhaps this Beatitude may be counted as the one that most amazed ears and minds, which were not a little amazed by each one in turn. How little real cheerfulness possessed the heart of the people among whom Jesus lived! There was a maddened, frivolous excitement on the one hand; on the other, a tamed-down and habitual dispiritedness. The heritage of the nation at this time was the misery and sense of degradation that came... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit - The word “blessed” means “happy,” referring to that which produces felicity, from whatever quarter it may come.Poor in spirit - Luke says simply, Blessed are the poor. It has been disputed whether Christ meant the poor in reference to the things of this life, or to the humble. The gospel is said to be preached to the poor, Luke 4:18; Matthew 11:5. It was predicted that the Messiah would preach to the poor, Isaiah 61:1. It is said that they have special... read more

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