Matthew 5

Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.

You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.

Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.

Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.

For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.

Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’

but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’

but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’

but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.

Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter records Jesus’ foundational teaching on the character and conduct of those who belong to God’s kingdom, delivered to his disciples and the gathered crowd from a mountainside. It begins with the Beatitudes, a series of declarations about the spiritually blessed, and unfolds into a deeper exposition of God’s law, contrasting external righteousness with the internal holiness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. Positioned early in Matthew’s Gospel, it establishes the moral and spiritual vision of the kingdom that Jesus inaugurates, reinterpreting the law not as a legal burden but as a reflection of God’s holy character.

Flow.

Jesus opens his teaching with the Beatitudes, outlining the paradoxical blessedness of the humble, mournful, meek, and persecuted who seek righteousness.
He shifts to describe the disciples as salt and light—agents of preservation and revelation—whose influence must remain active and visible for the glory of God.
The focus turns to the enduring authority of the law, which Jesus fulfills rather than abolishes, raising the standard of righteousness to the level of the heart, not just outward actions.
Through a series of antitheses (“You have heard… but I say…”), Jesus intensifies the demands of the law, exposing anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and hatred as violations of God’s moral intent, and calls his followers to radical love and perfection.

Connections.
Following chapter 4, where Jesus begins his public ministry with preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” this chapter expands on what life in that kingdom entails. It answers the implicit question: What does it mean to repent and follow Christ in the new age of God’s reign? The Sermon on the Mount forms the ethical foundation for discipleship, which chapter 6 and 7 will continue by addressing prayer, trust, and judgment. Here, Jesus’ authority as the one who teaches “as one having authority” (cf. 7:29) is established, setting him apart from the religious leaders of his day and preparing the way for the cost and demands of true discipleship.

What it teaches.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to those whose lives reflect divine righteousness from the heart, not mere outward conformity. True righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees because it is rooted in inward transformation (WCF 19.2), aligning one’s thoughts, words, and actions with God’s holy character. The law is not annulled but upheld and deepened by Christ, who reveals its spiritual scope (WCF 19.5; LC 99). Believers, as salt and light, are called to manifest this righteousness visibly, not for self-glorification but so that others may see God’s goodness and give Him praise (WCF 16.2). Love, mercy, purity, and even perfection are not impossible ideals but promises made possible through the transforming work of God’s Spirit in those who belong to His kingdom (HC LD 52).

Apply.
Live so that your words, thoughts, and deeds reflect the inner righteousness of Christ, letting even your private integrity point others to the Father’s goodness.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.