1Když Ježíš uviděl zástupy, vystoupil na horu. Posadil se, a když k němu přistoupili jeho učedníci, 2začal je učit: 3„Blaze chudým v duchu, neboť jim patří nebeské království. 4Blaze plačícím, neboť budou potěšeni. 5Blaze mírným, neboť dostanou zemi za dědictví. 6Blaze těm, kdo hladovějí a žízní po spravedlnosti, neboť budou nasyceni. 7Blaze milosrdným, neboť dojdou milosrdenství. 8Blaze čistým v srdci, neboť uvidí Boha. 9Blaze těm, kdo působí pokoj, neboť budou nazváni Božími dětmi. 10Blaze pronásledovaným pro spravedlnost, neboť jim patří nebeské království. 11Blaze vám, když vám budou zlořečit a pronásledovat vás a šířit o vás všelijaké zlé a lživé řeči kvůli mně. 12Radujte se a jásejte, protože vaše odplata v nebesích je veliká. Takto totiž pronásledovali proroky, kteří byli před vámi. 13Vy jste sůl země. Kdyby sůl ztratila svou chuť, čím se zas osolí? Nebude už k ničemu, jen se vyhodí ven a lidé ji pošlapou. 14Vy jste světlo světa. Město ležící na hoře nemůže být skryto. 15Stejně tak se nerozsvěcí lampa, aby ji postavili pod vědro, ale na svícen a tehdy svítí všem, kdo jsou v domě. 16Tak ať vaše světlo září před lidmi, aby viděli vaše dobré skutky a vzdali slávu vašemu Otci v nebesích.“ 17„Nemyslete si, že jsem přišel zrušit Zákon nebo Proroky. Nepřišel jsem je zrušit, ale naplnit. 18Amen, říkám vám: Dokud nepomine nebe a země, nepomine ani nejmenší písmenko, ani jediná čárka ze Zákona, než se to všechno naplní. 19Kdokoli by zrušil jedno z těchto nejmenších přikázání a tak by učil lidi, bude v nebeském království považován za nejmenšího. Ale kdokoli by je plnil a učil, ten bude v nebeském království považován za velikého. 20Říkám vám, že pokud vaše spravedlnost nebude o mnoho převyšovat spravedlnost znalců Písma a farizeů, nikdy nevstoupíte do nebeského království. 21Slýchali jste, že předkům bylo řečeno: ‚Nezabíjej,‘ a kdokoli by někoho zabil, bude vydán soudu. 22Já vám však říkám, že každý, kdo se hněvá na svého bratra, bude vydán soudu. Kdokoli by svému bratru řekl: ‚Tupče!‘ bude vydán veleradě, a kdokoli by mu řekl: ‚Blázne!‘ bude vydán pekelnému ohni. 23Proto když bys přinášel na oltář svůj dar a tam si vzpomněl, že tvůj bratr má něco proti tobě, 24nech svůj dar tam před oltářem a jdi se nejprve smířit se svým bratrem. Teprve potom přijď obětovat svůj dar. 25Se svým odpůrcem se dohodni rychle, dokud jsi s ním na cestě, aby tě tvůj odpůrce nevydal soudci a soudce zřízenci a byl bys vsazen do vězení. 26Amen, říkám ti: Určitě odtamtud nevyjdeš, dokud nevrátíš poslední haléř. 27Slýchali jste, že bylo řečeno: ‚Necizolož.‘ 28Já vám však říkám, že každý, kdo by se chtivě podíval na ženu, už s ní zcizoložil ve svém srdci. 29Svádí-li tě tvé pravé oko, vyloupni je a zahoď pryč. Je pro tebe lepší, aby zahynul jeden tvůj úd, než aby celé tvé tělo bylo uvrženo do pekla. 30Svádí-li tě tvá pravá ruka, usekni ji a zahoď pryč. Je pro tebe lepší, aby zahynul jeden tvůj úd, než aby celé tvé tělo přišlo do pekla. 31Také bylo řečeno: ‚Kdo chce zapudit svou manželku, musí jí dát rozlukový list.‘ 32Já vám však říkám, že každý, kdo zapudí svou manželku (kromě případu smilstva), přivádí ji k cizoložství; a každý, kdo si zapuzenou vezme, cizoloží. 33Slýchali jste také, že předkům bylo řečeno: ‚Nebudeš křivě přísahat‘ a ‚Své sliby Hospodinu splň.‘ 34Já vám však říkám, abyste vůbec nepřísahali, ani při nebi, protože to je Boží trůn, 35ani při zemi, protože to je podnož jeho nohou, ani při Jeruzalému, protože to je město toho velikého Krále. 36Nepřísahej ani na svou hlavu. Nemůžeš přece jediný svůj vlas udělat bílým nebo černým. 37Ať je tedy vaše slovo ‚Ano‘ ano a ‚Ne‘ ne. Co je nad to, je od zlého. 38Slýchali jste, že bylo řečeno: ‚Oko za oko, zub za zub.‘ 39Já vám však říkám, abyste neodporovali zlému člověku. Když tě někdo udeří do pravé tváře, nastav mu i druhou. 40Když se s tebou někdo chce soudit, aby tě připravil o košili, nech mu i plášť. 41Když tě někdo nutí jít s ním jednu míli, jdi dvě. 42Tomu, kdo tě prosí, dej a od toho, kdo si od tebe chce půjčit, se neodvracej. 43Slýchali jste, že bylo řečeno: ‚Miluj svého bližního a svého nepřítele měj v nenávisti.‘ 44Já vám však říkám: Milujte své nepřátele a modlete se za ty, kdo vás pronásledují. 45Tak budete synové svého Otce v nebesích. On přece dává svému slunci vycházet na dobré lidi i na zlé a posílá déšť na spravedlivé i nespravedlivé. 46Jakou máte odplatu, když milujete jen ty, kdo milují vás? Nedělají snad totéž i výběrčí daní? 47A co mimořádného děláte, když zdravíte jen své bratry? Nedělají to snad 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.