matthew-5:2-4-esv

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:4

Verse 4 4.Happy are they that mourn. This statement is closely connected with the preceding one, and is a sort of appendage or confirmation of it. The ordinary belief is, that calamities render a man unhappy. This arises from the consideration, that they constantly bring along with them mourning and grief. Now, nothing is supposed to be more inconsistent with happiness than mourning. But Christ does not merely affirm that mourners are not unhappy. He shows, that their very mourning contributes... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:1-16

The sermon on the mount. The first part of the sermon: the law of the kingdom of heaven. I. THE BEATITUDES . 1 . The first Beatitude. 2 . The second Beatitude. (a) It seems a paradox. Sorrow and joy are opposed to one another; but the Lord says that there is a sorrow which is blessed. Life is full of sorrows. There is more sorrow in the world than joy, more pain than pleasure. Outward sorrows are blessed if they are meekly borne, in patience and in trustful faith. When... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:2

And he opened his mouth . Frequent in the Old Testament; e.g. Job 3:1 . A Hebraism, indicating that the words spoken are not the utterance of chance, but of set will and purpose. In the Gospels (in this sense) only Matthew 13:35 (from Psalms 78:2 , LXX .); also in Acts 8:35 (Philip); Acts 10:34 (Peter); Acts 18:14 (Paul); Revelation 13:6 (the beast); cf. 2 Corinthians 6:11 , of perfect frankness of expression, and Ephesians 6:19 , perhaps of courage in the utterance of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:2

The new Preacher. "He opened his mouth, and taught them." Our Lord was both a Teacher and a Preacher. The teacher aims at instruction; he seeks to arouse the activity of his scholars' minds. The preacher aims at persuasion, and seeks to arouse into activity the moral nature. The teacher will prefer the interlocutory method; the preacher will prefer the lengthened and systematic address. The so-called sermon on the mount is the full outline, giving the chief points of a continuous address,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3

Blessed ( μακάριοι ); Vulgate, beati ; hence "Beatitudes." The word describes "the poor in spirit," etc., not as recipients of blessing ( εὐλογημένοι ) from God, or even from men, but as possessors of "happiness" (cf. the Authorized Version of John 13:17 , and frequently). It describes them in reference to their inherent state, not to the gifts or the rewards that they receive. It thus answers in thought to the common ירשׁ ) of the Old Testament; e.g. 1 Kings 10:8 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:3-5

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