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Matthew 5: Expository Preaching and Study Guide

Overview

Matthew 5 begins the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most important teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. This chapter introduces the Beatitudes and continues with teachings on salt and light, fulfillment of the Law, anger, reconciliation, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and love for enemies. Jesus proclaims a standard of righteousness that surpasses external religion and calls for inward transformation.

This chapter sets the tone for the Kingdom of God. It emphasizes not outward compliance but inner holiness and heart-level obedience. Jesus speaks with divine authority, revealing God’s will for how His people should live. The inerrant Word of God here confronts sin, convicts the heart, and points to the necessity of grace.

Historical and Literary Context

Historical Background

  • Audience: Jesus addresses a primarily Jewish crowd, including His disciples (Matt. 5:1-2), but the principles have universal application.

  • Setting: Likely on a hillside near Capernaum, Jesus uses a natural amphitheater to teach large crowds (traditionally called the Mount of Beatitudes).

  • First-century Jewish expectation: The people were expecting a political Messiah to overthrow Rome. Jesus subverts that expectation by announcing a kingdom marked by humility, mercy, and righteousness.

Literary Structure

  • Genre: Didactic discourse—Jesus teaches ethical and spiritual truths through authoritative proclamation.

  • Structure: Begins with blessings (Beatitudes), then shifts to metaphors (salt/light), then teachings that deepen the meaning of Old Testament Law. The structure moves from heart (Beatitudes), to mission (salt and light), to behavior (Law and heart-level obedience).

  • Progression: Jesus contrasts superficial righteousness (e.g., Pharisaical legalism) with the righteousness of the Kingdom, which springs from a regenerated heart.

Key Themes and Doctrinal Points

1. Kingdom Ethics and the Character of True Disciples (vv. 1-12 – The Beatitudes)

  • These are not steps to salvation but characteristics of those who are already part of the Kingdom.

  • Doctrinal Emphasis: Regeneration leads to transformation. True disciples reflect God‘s righteousness inwardly.

  • Examples:

    • Poor in spirit – spiritual humility and recognition of one’s sinfulness (Romans 3:10-12).

    • Those who mourn – grieve over sin, not just suffering (2 Corinthians 7:10).

    • Hunger and thirst for righteousness – a longing only satisfied by God (Philippians 3:8-9).

2. Influence and Witness of Believers (vv. 13-16)

  • Disciples are salt (preserving truth and purity) and light (reflecting Christ‘s glory).

  • Doctrine: God uses His people as a means of grace in the world (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 2:9-12).

3. Fulfillment, Not Abolishment, of the Law (vv. 17-20)

  • Jesus upholds the Old Testament but shows its true depth.

  • Doctrine: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Romans 10:4), revealing that righteousness is not through works but faith in Him.

4. Heart-Level Righteousness (vv. 21-48)

Jesus gives six examples (“You have heard it said… But I say to you…”) showing that sin begins in the heart:

  • Anger is akin to murder (vv. 21-26)

  • Lust is spiritual adultery (vv. 27-30)

  • Divorce violates God‘s design (vv. 31-32; cf. Genesis 2:24)

  • Oaths point to integrity (vv. 33-37)

  • Retaliation is replaced with mercy (vv. 38-42)

  • Love for enemies reflects God’s perfect love (vv. 43-48)

  • Doctrinal Points:

Additional Doctrinal Emphases

God’s Sovereignty

  • The Beatitudes reflect a life shaped by divine grace, not human effort.

  • The Kingdom belongs to those God calls (John 6:44; Ephesians 1:4-5).

Creation and Image of God

  • Human dignity is assumed in how we treat others—Jesus confronts hatred and lust because people bear God‘s image (Genesis 1:27).

  • Love for enemies reflects God‘s character (Matthew 5:45).

Sin and Redemption

  • The call to radical righteousness reveals our inability to save ourselves.

  • This drives us to the cross and highlights the need for grace.

Sanctification

Verse-by-Verse Analysis of Key Sections

Matthew 5:1-2 – The Setting of the Sermon

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.”

  • Explanation: Jesus assumes the posture of a rabbi (“sat down”) and begins to teach not just the crowds, but especially His disciples.

  • Cross-reference: Exodus 19 – Moses went up Mount Sinai to receive the Law; here, Jesus gives the new law of the Kingdom.

  • Application: Jesus is the authoritative teacher and fulfillment of the Lawgiver role—He is the final Word (Hebrew 1:1-2).

Matthew 5:3-12 – The Beatitudes

Each beatitude highlights the inward character of those who belong to the Kingdom:

  1. Verse 3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit”

    • Humble recognition of spiritual bankruptcy.

    • Cross-reference: Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 34:18

    • Doctrine: Salvation begins with acknowledging our sinfulness and need for grace.

  2. Verse 4 – “Blessed are those who mourn”

    • Mourning over sin leads to repentance.

    • Cross-reference: 2 Corinthians 7:10

    • Application: True comfort comes only from God’s forgiveness.

  3. Verse 5 – “Blessed are the meek”

  4. Verse 6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”

  5. Verse 7 – “Blessed are the merciful”

    • Reflecting God’s mercy through forgiveness and compassion.

    • Cross-reference: James 2:13; Micah 6:8

    • Application: Our mercy flows from God’s mercy toward us.

  6. Verse 8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart”

  7. Verse 9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers”

  8. Verse 10-12 – “Blessed are those who are persecuted”

    • Suffering for righteousness is expected and rewarded.

    • Cross-reference: 2 Timothy 3:12; Acts 5:41

    • Application: True disciples rejoice in suffering for Christ’s sake.

Matthew 5:13-16 – Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world…”

  • Explanation: Salt preserves and purifies; light reveals truth and gives direction.

  • Cross-reference: Philippians 2:15; Ephesians 5:8

  • Doctrine: Christians must influence culture with truth and grace, reflecting Christ’s nature.

  • Application: We live publicly for Christ’s glory, not hidden or compromised.

Matthew 5:17-20 – Christ Fulfills the Law

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets…”

  • Explanation: Jesus does not discard the Law but fulfills it in perfect obedience, prophetic fulfillment, and deeper interpretation.

  • Cross-reference: Romans 3:31; Galatians 4:4-5

  • Doctrine: Jesus is the only one who satisfies the Law’s demands. His righteousness is credited to believers by faith (2 Corinthians 5:21).

  • Application: Obedience flows from new life in Christ, not legalism.

Matthew 5:21-48 – The Heart of the Law

These six “antitheses” expose the heart-level intent of God’s commandments:

  1. Anger (vv. 21-26): Murder begins in the heart.

    • Cross-reference: 1 John 3:15

    • Application: Reconciliation is a gospel priority.

  2. Lust (vv. 27-30): Adultery includes impure thoughts.

    • Doctrine: The heart is the battleground for holiness (Jeremiah 17:9).

  3. Divorce (vv. 31-32): Upholds God‘s design for marriage.

  4. Oaths (vv. 33-37): Speak the truth without manipulation.

    • Application: Truthfulness marks God’s people.

  5. Retaliation (vv. 38-42): Respond with grace, not vengeance.

  6. Love for Enemies (vv. 43-48): Reflects the Father’s love.

    • Cross-reference: Luke 6:35; Romans 5:8

    • Application: Our love must imitate God’s impartial, merciful character.

Theological Implications and Connection to Jesus Christ

How Matthew 5 Connects to God the Father

  • Father’s Blessing: The Beatitudes begin with divine blessing—God the Father delights in the hearts that are shaped by grace (vv. 3-12).

  • Father’s Design: The commands reflect the moral character of the Father—He is holy, just, merciful, and loving (v. 48).

  • Father’s Reward: “Your Father who is in heaven” is mentioned multiple times (vv. 16, 45, 48), reminding believers that obedience is relational, not transactional.

  • Father’s Character Revealed: Loving enemies and doing good to those who hate us reflects the Father’s impartial love (v. 45)—He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike.

  • Father’s Expectation of Perfection (v. 48): “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” calls believers to reflect God‘s complete, holy, and merciful nature through lives transformed by grace.

Connection to the Holy Spirit

Matthew 5 is deeply connected to the person and work of the Holy Spirit, though the Spirit is not mentioned by name. The chapter describes the character and conduct of Kingdom citizens—qualities that are impossible apart from the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Key Connections:

  1. Regeneration and the Beatitudes:

    • The Beatitudes describe the fruit of a life transformed by the Spirit (Titus 3:5).

    • Only those born again by the Spirit can be “poor in spirit,” “pure in heart,” and “hungry for righteousness” (John 3:5-8).

  2. Sanctification and Heart-Level Obedience:

  3. Bold Witness as Salt and Light:

  4. Christlikeness through the Spirit:

Sermon Outline and Flow

Title: “Kingdom Character: Living the Life of Christ from the Inside Out”

Text: Matthew 5:1-48

Introduction:

  • Illustration: Describe a fruit tree that looks healthy on the outside but bears no fruit—much like outward religion without inward transformation.

  • Transition: Jesus begins His ministry not by raising an army or making laws, but by transforming hearts. Matthew 5 reveals what life in His Kingdom looks like.

I. The Blessings of the Kingdom (vv. 1-12) – “Who Are the Blessed?”

  • Main Point: God blesses those who reflect His heart—not the powerful, but the humble.

  • Application: True happiness comes from God, not circumstances. Are you “poor in spirit”? Do you hunger for righteousness?

  • Illustration: Testimony of a successful businessman who found joy not in wealth but in repentance and mercy through Christ.

II. The Mission of the Kingdom (vv. 13-16) – “What Difference Do We Make?”

  • Main Point: Believers are salt and light—preserving truth and illuminating grace in a dark world.

  • Application: Don’t hide your light. Live boldly for Christ in your family, school, or workplace.

  • Illustration: Story of a teacher who prayed for students daily and shared Christ in small ways that impacted lives.

III. The Standard of the Kingdom (vv. 17-20) – “What Does God Really Expect?”

  • Main Point: Jesus fulfills the Law and calls us to a deeper righteousness—one that flows from the heart.

  • Application: We are not saved by works, but true faith leads to a transformed heart that obeys God.

IV. The Heart of the Kingdom (vv. 2-48) – “How Deep Does Obedience Go?”

  • Main Point: God sees not just our actions, but our intentions—anger, lust, dishonesty, revenge, and hatred are all addressed.

  • Application: Ask the Spirit to expose and cleanse your heart. Reconcile with others. Love your enemies.

Conclusion:

  • Call to Action: This sermon is not about trying harder but surrendering more fully. Only through Christ and by the Spirit can we live this life.

  • Example Prayer: “Lord, make me poor in spirit. Give me hunger for righteousness. Shine through me.”

  • Final Illustration: Share a story of someone who loved their enemy—perhaps a missionary who forgave persecutors or a believer who reconciled with a bitter relative. Their life testifies that the Kingdom of God is not just future—it’s alive now in the Spirit-filled Church.

Modern-Day Illustrations and Analogies

  1. The Mirror Analogy:

    • Matthew 5 acts like a mirror. We see who we really are in the light of Christ’s righteousness. Just as a mirror shows physical flaws, God’s Word shows our spiritual need.

  2. Salt in a Rotten World:

    • In ancient times, salt preserved meat from decay. In today’s world of moral decay, Christians preserve truth, justice, and grace. Without us, the culture rots faster.

  3. Light in a Blackout:

    • Picture a sudden blackout in a city. One flashlight can guide many. Believers are that light when others are lost in confusion or despair.

  4. The High Bar Analogy:

    • Think of the high jump. The Pharisees placed the bar at a “religious” level; Jesus raises it to God’s level. No one can clear it—except Him. And only those in Him can begin to walk in obedience.

  5. The Water Filter:

    • The Holy Spirit is like a filter that purifies the “water” of our hearts. Lust, anger, and pride are toxins that only the Spirit can cleanse.

Application for Today’s Christian

Matthew 5 provides both a mirror and a map—it reveals our spiritual need and directs us to live out the values of Christ’s Kingdom. Its principles are intensely practical and transformational.

Discipleship: Living Like Jesus

  • Cultivate Christlike Character: Make the Beatitudes a prayer guide. Ask God to help you grow in meekness, purity, mercy, and spiritual hunger.

  • Heart Check: Instead of focusing on behavior modification, ask the Holy Spirit to purify your heart (Psalm 139:23-24).

  • Respond to Opposition: When insulted or persecuted, respond with grace. Choose patience, kindness, and prayer rather than retaliation.

Stewardship: Representing the Kingdom

  • Influence Your Sphere: Be “salt” in conversations and “light” in decisions—at work, online, in the community. Avoid passivity and compromise.

  • Integrity in Speech and Conduct: Keep your word (vv. 33-37). Let your yes be yes. Live with consistency so others see Jesus in your life.

Faith in Action:

  • Reconciliation: Don’t delay forgiveness. If there’s unresolved conflict, take the first step toward peace (vv. 23-24).

  • Love Beyond Comfort: Practice sacrificial love. Serve and bless those who mistreat you—this reflects the Father’s nature (vv. 44-45).

  • Personal Devotion: Meditate on the Sermon on the Mount regularly. Use Matthew 5 as a framework for self-examination and spiritual growth.

Connection to God’s Love

Though Matthew 5 is filled with high moral demands, it is ultimately grounded in the love of God.

1. The Father’s Care for the Broken

  • The poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the meek are not ignored by God. They are blessed. God sees and honors those the world overlooks.

  • This is love that lifts up the lowly and heals the wounded (Luke 4:18-19).

2. God’s Love Seen in the Call to Mercy and Reconciliation

  • Jesus’ commands are rooted in God’s own mercy. He calls us to forgive because He is forgiving (Matthew 5:7; Psalm 103:8-12).

  • God desires reconciliation, not estrangement. He initiates peace through Christ, and we reflect His heart when we pursue peace with others.

3. The Love That Perfects

  • Jesus ends the chapter saying, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (v. 48).

    • This is not perfection through effort, but through union with Christ.

    • God‘s love is the model—we are to love as He loves: selflessly, generously, and universally (Romans 5:8).

4. God’s Redeeming Presence

  • Every command in Matthew 5 draws us closer to God‘s heart. He doesn’t abandon us to fulfill them on our own. Instead, He sends His Spirit, works in us through grace, and restores our lives to reflect His image (Philippians 2:13).

Broader Biblical Themes

Matthew 5 is not an isolated moral code. It stands firmly within the grand story of Scripture.

1. Creation and Image-Bearing

  • Humanity was made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), to reflect His character. The Beatitudes describe what that image looks like restored—humble, merciful, pure, peaceable.

  • Jesus, the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15), is restoring that likeness in us.

2. Covenant and Kingdom

3. Redemption through the Righteous One

  • The high standard of Matthew 5 shows our need for a Savior. No one can meet these demands except Jesus.

  • Christ lived this sermon perfectly. He was meek, merciful, pure, a peacemaker, and persecuted. At the cross, He bore the curse so we could receive the blessing (Galatians 3:13-14).

  • Through His redemption, we are declared righteous and empowered to live out His commands (Romans 8:1-4).

4. Mission and Witness

  • Salt and light language anticipates the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). God’s people are called to influence the world by reflecting the light of Christ.

  • The Sermon on the Mount is the discipleship manual for Kingdom citizens who live in a fallen world while pointing others to the King.

Reflection Questions: Matthew 5

Use these questions for personal devotion, family worship, or small group discussion. They are designed to help apply the truths of Matthew 5 deeply and practically.

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)

  1. Which of the Beatitudes do you find most challenging to live out, and why?

  2. How does understanding “blessed are the poor in spirit” affect your view of humility and dependence on God?

  3. What does it mean to “hunger and thirst for righteousness” in your daily life?

  4. In what areas do you need to ask God to help you show mercy or pursue purity of heart?

Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)

  1. Are there places in your life—work, family, online—where your witness as salt and light needs to grow?

  2. What does it practically look like to let your “light shine before others” today?

  3. How can you encourage other believers to stand boldly and not hide their light?

Jesus and the Law (Matthew 5:17-20)

  1. How does knowing that Jesus fulfilled the Law change the way you read the Old Testament?

  2. What does it mean to have a righteousness that “surpasses that of the Pharisees”? How is that possible?

  3. Are there ways you’ve fallen into religious habits without heart transformation?

Heart-Level Obedience (Matthew 5:21-48)

  1. Jesus compares anger to murder and lust to adultery. What does that teach us about the seriousness of sin?

  2. Have you taken steps to reconcile with someone as Jesus commands? What might be the next step?

  3. How does your view of marriage reflect Jesus’ teaching on covenant faithfulness?

  4. Do your words and promises reflect the truth and integrity Jesus requires?

  5. How do you respond to personal offense—do you seek justice or show mercy?

  6. Who in your life is hardest to love? How can you begin praying for or blessing them?

Living the Kingdom Life

  1. Which part of Matthew 5 most convicted you? Which part most encouraged you?

  2. How do these teachings affect the way you live as a disciple of Jesus in today’s world?

  3. In what ways are you depending on the Holy Spirit to live out the character of Christ?

  4. What would change in your community, family, or church if believers truly lived out the Sermon on the Mount?

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