1Když spatřil zástupy, vystoupil na horu. A když se posadil, přistoupili k němu jeho učedníci. 2Otevřel ústa a učil je: 3„Blahoslavení chudí duchem, neboť jejich je království Nebes. 4Blahoslavení plačící, neboť oni budou potěšeni. 5Blahoslavení tiší, neboť oni dostanou zemi do dědictví. 6Blahoslavení ti, kdo hladovějí a žízní po spravedlnosti, neboť oni budou nasyceni. 7Blahoslavení milosrdní, neboť oni dojdou milosrdenství. 8Blahoslavení čistého srdce, neboť oni uvidí Boha. 9Blahoslavení ti, kdo působí pokoj, neboť oni budou nazváni Božími syny. 10Blahoslavení ti, kdo jsou pronásledováni pro spravedlnost, neboť jejich je království Nebes. 11Když vás budou tupit a pronásledovat a mluvit proti vám lživě všecko zlé kvůli mně, jste blahoslavení. 12Radujte se a jásejte, neboť hojná je vaše odplata v nebesích; vždyť takto pronásledovali proroky, kteří byli před vámi. “ 13„Vy jste sůl země. Jestliže sůl ztratí chuť, čím bude osolena? Nehodí se již k ničemu, než aby ji vyhodili a lidé po ní šlapali. 14Vy jste světlo světa. Nemůže být ukryto město ležící na hoře. 15A když rozsvítí lampu, nekladou ji pod nádobu, ale na stojan; a svítí všem, kteří jsou v domě. 16Tak ať vaše světlo září před lidmi, aby uviděli vaše dobré skutky a vzdali slávu vašemu Otci, který je v nebesích.“ 17„Nedomnívejte se, že jsem přišel zrušit Zákon nebo Proroky; nepřišel jsem je zrušit, nýbrž naplnit. 18Neboť amen, pravím vám: Dokud nepomine nebe a země, nepomine jediné nejmenší písmenko ani jedna čárka ze Zákona, dokud se všechno nestane. 19Kdo by tedy zrušil jediné z těchto nejmenších přikázání a tak učil lidi, bude v království Nebes nazván nejmenším. Kdo by je však činil a učil, ten bude v království Nebes nazván velkým. 20Neboť vám pravím: Nebude-li vaše spravedlnost o mnoho převyšovat spravedlnost učitelů Zákona a farizeů, do království Nebes určitě nevstoupíte.“ 21„Slyšeli jste, že bylo řečeno předkům: ‚ Nezavraždíš.‘ Kdo by zavraždil, propadne soudu. 22Já vám však pravím, že soudu propadne každý, kdo se bez příčiny hněvá na svého bratra. Kdo by svému bratru řekl: ‚Raka ‘, propadne veleradě. Kdo by mu řekl: ‚Blázne‘, propadne ohnivé Gehenně. 23Jestliže tedy přinášíš svůj dar na oltář a tam si vzpomeneš, že tvůj bratr má něco proti tobě, 24zanech tam před oltářem svůj dar a odejdi; nejprve se usmiř se svým bratrem, a pak přijď a obětuj svůj dar. 25Dohodni se se svým odpůrcem rychle, dokud jsi s ním na cestě, aby tě snad odpůrce nevydal soudci a soudce strážci, a byl bys uvržen do vězení. 26Amen, pravím tobě: Jistě odtamtud nevyjdeš, dokud nezaplatíš poslední haléř. “ 27„Slyšeli jste, že bylo řečeno předkům: ‚ Nezcizoložíš.‘ 28Já však vám pravím, že každý, kdo hledí na ženu tak, že po ní zatouží, již s ní zcizoložil ve svém srdci. 29Jestliže tě tvé pravé oko svádí, vyjmi je a odhoď od sebe; neboť je pro tebe lépe, aby zahynul jeden z tvých údů, než aby celé tvé tělo bylo vrženo do Gehenny. 30A jestliže tě svádí tvá pravá ruka, utni ji a odhoď od sebe; neboť je pro tebe lépe, aby zahynul jeden z tvých údů, než aby celé tvé tělo odešlo do Gehenny.“ 31„Také bylo řečeno: ‚Kdo propustí svou ženu, ať jí dá rozlukový list.‘ 32Ale já vám pravím, že každý, kdo propouští svou ženu, kromě případu smilstva, uvádí ji do cizoložství, a kdo by se s propuštěnou oženil, cizoloží.“ 33„Dále jste slyšeli, že bylo řečeno předkům: ‚ Nebudeš křivě přísahat, ale splníš Pánu své přísahy.‘ 34Já však vám pravím, abyste nepřísahali vůbec; ani při nebi, protože je to trůn Boží; 35ani při zemi, protože je to podnož jeho nohou; ani při Jeruzalému, protože je to město velikého Krále. 36Nepřísahej ani při své hlavě, protože ani jediný vlas nemůžeš učinit bílým nebo černým. 37Ať je tedy vaše slovo ‚ano, ano‘ — ‚ne, ne‘; co je nad to, je ze Zlého. “ 38„Slyšeli jste, že bylo řečeno: ‚Oko za oko a zub za zub.‘ 39Já však vám pravím, abyste neodporovali zlému člověku, ale když tě někdo udeří do tvé pravé tváře, nastav mu i druhou tvář. 40A tomu, kdo se s tebou chce soudit a vzít ti košili, nech i plášť. 41A když tě někdo bude nutit k službě na jednu míli, jdi s ním dvě. 42Tomu, kdo tě žádá, dej a od toho, kdo si od tebe chce vypůjčit, se neodvrať.“ 43„Slyšeli jste, že bylo řečeno: ‚Budeš milovat svého bližního ‘ a nenávidět svého nepřítele. 44Já však vám pravím: Milujte své nepřátele, žehnejte těm, kdo vás proklínají, dobře čiňte těm, kdo vás nenávidí, a modlete se za ty, kteří vás urážejí a pronásledují, 45abyste byli syny svého Otce, který je v nebesích; neboť on nechává své slunce vycházet nad zlými i dobrými a déšť posílá na spravedlivé i nespravedlivé. 46Jestliže si zamilujete ty, kteří vás milují, jakou máte odměnu? Což i celníci nečiní totéž? 47A pozdravíte-li jen své bratry, co činíte navíc? Nečiní totéž i pohané? 48Buďte tedy dokonalí, jako je dokonalý váš nebeský Otec.“
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 None will find happiness in this world or the next, who do not seek it from Christ by the rule of his word. He taught them what was the evil they should abhor, and what the good they should seek and abound in.
3 Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian. 1. The poor in spirit are happy. These bring their minds to their condition, when it is a low condition. They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer. The kingdom of grace is of such; the kingdom of glory is for them. 2. Those that mourn are happy. That godly sorrow which worketh true repentance, watchfulness, a humble mind, and continual dependence for acceptance on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, with constant seeking the Holy Spirit, to cleanse away the remaining evil, seems here to be intended. Heaven is the joy of our Lord; a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears. Such mourners shall be comforted by their God. 3. The meek are happy. The meek are those who quietly submit to God; who can bear insult; are silent, or return a soft answer; who, in their patience, keep possession of their own souls, when they can scarcely keep possession of anything else. These meek ones are happy, even in this world. Meekness promotes wealth, comfort, and safety, even in this world. 4. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are happy. Righteousness is here put for all spiritual blessings. These are purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ, confirmed by the faithfulness of God. Our desires of spiritual blessings must be earnest. Though all desires for grace are not grace, yet such a desire as this, is a desire of God's own raising, and he will not forsake the work of his own hands. 5. The merciful are happy. We must not only bear our own afflictions patiently, but we must do all we can to help those who are in misery. We must have compassion on the souls of others, and help them; pity those who are in sin, and seek to snatch them as brands out of the burning. 6. The pure in heart are happy; for they shall see God. Here holiness and happiness are fully described and put together. The heart must be purified by faith, and kept for God. Create in me such a clean heart, O God. None but the pure are capable of seeing God, nor would heaven be happiness to the impure. As God cannot endure to look upon their iniquity, so they cannot look upon his purity. 7. The peace-makers are happy. They love, and desire, and delight in peace; and study to be quiet. They keep the peace that it be not broken, and recover it when it is broken. If the peace-makers are blessed, woe to the peace-breakers! 8. Those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are happy. This saying is peculiar to Christianity; and it is more largely insisted upon than any of the rest. Yet there is nothing in our sufferings that can merit of God; but God will provide that those who lose for him, though life itself, shall not lose by him in the end. Blessed Jesus! how different are thy maxims from those of men of this world! They call the proud happy, and admire the gay, the rich, the powerful, and the victorious. May we find mercy from the Lord; may we be owned as his children, and inherit his kingdom. With these enjoyments and hopes, we may cheerfully welcome low or painful circumstances.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If they are not such as they should be, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If a man can take up the profession of Christ, and yet remain graceless, no other doctrine, no other means, can make him profitable. Our light must shine, by doing such good works as men may see. What is between God and our souls, must be kept to ourselves; but that which is of itself open to the sight of men, we must study to make suitable to our profession, and praiseworthy. We must aim at the glory of God.
17 Let none suppose that Christ allows his people to trifle with any commands of God's holy law. No sinner partakes of Christ's justifying righteousness, till he repents of his evil deeds. The mercy revealed in the gospel leads the believer to still deeper self-abhorrence. The law is the Christian's rule of duty, and he delights therein. If a man, pretending to be Christ's disciple, encourages himself in any allowed disobedience to the holy law of God, or teaches others to do the same, whatever his station or reputation among men may be, he can be no true disciple. Christ's righteousness, imputed to us by faith alone, is needed by every one that enters the kingdom of grace or of glory; but the new creation of the heart to holiness, produces a thorough change in a man's temper and conduct.
21 The Jewish teachers had taught, that nothing except actual murder was forbidden by the sixth commandment. Thus they explained away its spiritual meaning. Christ showed the full meaning of this commandment; according to which we must be judged hereafter, and therefore ought to be ruled now. All rash anger is heart murder. By our brother, here, we are to understand any person, though ever so much below us, for we are all made of one blood. Raca, is a scornful word, and comes from pride: Thou fool, is a spiteful word, and comes from hatred. Malicious slanders and censures are poison that kills secretly and slowly. Christ told them that how light soever they made of these sins, they would certainly be called into judgment for them. We ought carefully to preserve Christian love and peace with all our brethren; and if at any time there is a quarrel, we should confess our fault, humble ourselves to our brother, making or offering satisfaction for wrong done in word or deed: and we should do this quickly; because, till this is done, we are unfit for communion with God in holy ordinances. And when we are preparing for any religious exercises, it is good for us to make that an occasion of serious reflection and self-examination. What is here said is very applicable to our being reconciled to God through Christ. While we are alive, we are in the way to his judgement-seat; after death, it will be too late. When we consider the importance of the case, and the uncertainty of life, how needful it is to seek peace with God, without delay!
27 Victory over the desires of the heart, must be attended with painful exertions. But it must be done. Every thing is bestowed to save us from our sins, not in them. All our senses and powers must be kept from those things which lead to transgression. Those who lead others into temptation to sin, by dress or in other ways, or leave them in it, or expose them to it, make themselves guilty of their sin, and will be accountable for it. If painful operations are submitted to, that our lives may be saved, what ought our minds to shrink from, when the salvation of our souls is concerned? There is tender mercy under all the Divine requirements, and the grace and consolations of the Spirit will enable us to attend to them.
33 There is no reason to consider that solemn oaths in a court of justice, or on other proper occasions, are wrong, provided they are taken with due reverence. But all oaths taken without necessity, or in common conversation, must be sinful, as well as all those expressions which are appeals to God, though persons think thereby to evade the guilt of swearing. The worse men are, the less they are bound by oaths; the better they are, the less there is need for them. Our Lord does not enjoin the precise terms wherein we are to affirm or deny, but such a constant regard to truth as would render oaths unnecessary.
38 The plain instruction is, Suffer any injury that can be borne, for the sake of peace, committing your concerns to the Lord's keeping. And the sum of all is, that Christians must avoid disputing and striving. If any say, Flesh and blood cannot pass by such an affront, let them remember, that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God; and those who act upon right principles will have most peace and comfort.
43 The Jewish teachers by neighbour understood only those who were of their own country, nation, and religion, whom they were pleased to look upon as their friends. The Lord Jesus teaches that we must do all the real kindness we can to all, especially to their souls. We must pray for them. While many will render good for good, we must render good for evil; and this will speak a nobler principle than most men act by. Others salute their brethren, and embrace those of their own party, and way, and opinion, but we must not so confine our respect. It is the duty of Christians to desire, and aim at, and press towards perfection in grace and holiness. And therein we must study to conform ourselves to the example of our heavenly Father,
1Pet 1:15,
1Pet 1:16. Surely more is to be expected from the followers of Christ than from others; surely more will be found in them than in others. Let us beg of God to enable us to prove ourselves his children.
