Matthew Chapter 5 begins what is often called the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus sees the crowds, goes up on the mountain, sits down, and His disciples come to Him. Then He begins to teach.

That setting matters.

There are crowds nearby, but Matthew says His disciples came to Him. So the sermon is especially directed to His disciples, though the crowds later hear and are astonished by His teaching. Jesus is teaching what life in His kingdom looks like.

This connects with what we saw in Matthew Chapter 4: The Temptation of Christ and the Light in Galilee. Jesus has begun preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Now He teaches the character of those who belong to that kingdom.

The Sermon on the Mount is not a checklist for earning salvation.

It is not Jesus saying, “Be good enough, and then God will accept you.”

From a Christian Reformed lens, this sermon shows the life of those who have been brought under the reign of Christ. We are saved by grace, but that grace changes us. The King teaches His people what kingdom righteousness looks like.

What Are the Beatitudes?

The opening section is called the Beatitudes.

The word “Beatitudes” comes from the Latin word for “blessed.” So the Beatitudes are the blessings Jesus speaks at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…”

“Blessed are those who mourn…”

“Blessed are the meek…”

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…”

These are not natural human bragging points. Jesus does not say, “Blessed are the proud, powerful, self-satisfied, and admired.”

He blesses those who know their need.

To be poor in spirit means recognizing spiritual poverty before God. It is not pretending we have nothing wrong with us. It is knowing that we come to God empty-handed.

Those who mourn are not merely sad in general. This includes mourning over sin, brokenness, suffering, and the fallen condition of the world.

The meek are not weak in the sinful sense. Meekness is humble strength under God. It is not self-exalting. It does not need to dominate.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness long for what is right before God. They do not treat holiness as a side issue. They desire God’s righteousness, both in their own lives and in the world.

The Beatitudes are surprising because Jesus is describing the blessed life in a way the world would not naturally recognize.

Pure in Heart and Peacemakers

Jesus says:

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

To be pure in heart means more than outward religious behavior. It means inward sincerity before God. It means not living with a divided heart, pretending to love God while secretly clinging to sin.

This is important because Matthew 5 keeps moving beneath outward actions into the heart. Jesus is not only concerned with what people see. He is concerned with what God sees.

The promise is amazing:

“They shall see God.”

That does not mean we earn the vision of God by being morally impressive. It means that those whom God purifies will come into the joy of His presence. The Christian life is not just about avoiding punishment. It is about being brought to God.

Jesus also says:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

A peacemaker is not someone who avoids all conflict at any cost. Jesus Himself tells the truth, and the truth often creates conflict. A peacemaker is someone who seeks true peace under God, not fake peace built on lies.

Peacemakers reflect the character of their Father. God makes peace through Christ. So His children should not be people who love division, bitterness, gossip, revenge, or unnecessary conflict.

This also connects with Jesus’ teaching later in the chapter about reconciliation, retaliation, and loving enemies.

Salt of the Earth

Jesus tells His disciples:

“You are the salt of the earth.”

Salt had several uses in the ancient world. It gave flavor. It helped preserve. It was valuable. The basic idea is that Jesus’ people are meant to have a distinct, preserving, visible presence in the world.

Then Jesus says:

“But if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?”

That image means that if disciples lose their distinctiveness, they become useless for the purpose they were given.

Salt that no longer tastes like salt is pointless.

A disciple who no longer lives as a disciple is contradicting his calling.

This is not saying Christians save the world by their own power. Christ is the Savior. But His people are meant to be different from the world, not identical to it.

Light of the World

Jesus also says:

“You are the light of the world.”

A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. A lamp is not put under a basket, but on a stand, so that it gives light to all in the house.

This connects with the lamp image we discussed in Mark 4. In that chapter, Jesus teaches that light is not meant to be hidden. In Matthew 5, He says His disciples are to let their light shine.

But this is not about showing off.

Jesus says:

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

The goal is not, “Look at me.”

The goal is, “Glory to the Father.”

Good works matter. Kindness matters. Mercy matters. Truth matters. Integrity matters. But the Christian does not do these things to build a personal brand. The Christian lives before the world so that God is glorified.

Jesus and the Law

Jesus then says:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

“The Law and the Prophets” is a way of referring to the Old Testament Scriptures.

Jesus is saying He did not come to throw away the Old Testament. He came to fulfill it.

He fulfills the promises.

He fulfills the sacrifices.

He fulfills the prophecies.

He fulfills the righteousness Israel failed to keep.

He is the true obedient Son.

This connects with Matthew Chapter 3: Repentance, the Coming Kingdom, and the Baptism of Christ, where Jesus says He must be baptized “to fulfill all righteousness.” Christ does not stand outside God’s righteous plan. He fulfills it perfectly.

Not an Iota, Not a Dot

Jesus says that until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

An “iota” refers to the smallest letter. A “dot” refers to a very small stroke or part of a letter.

In modern terms, Jesus is saying not even the smallest part of God’s Word will fail.

This does not mean Christians live under the Old Testament law in exactly the same way Israel did before Christ. Jesus fulfills the Law. The ceremonial sacrifices, priesthood, and temple pointed forward to Him.

But it does mean God’s Word is not disposable.

Jesus has the highest view of Scripture. Every part of God’s Word matters, and everything God promised will be accomplished.

Righteousness Greater Than the Scribes and Pharisees

Jesus says:

“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

That would have sounded shocking.

The scribes and Pharisees were known for serious religious effort. So what does Jesus mean?

He does not mean, “Try harder than the Pharisees and maybe you can earn heaven.”

He means that kingdom righteousness must be deeper than outward religious performance.

The Pharisees could look righteous externally while missing the heart of God’s law. Jesus is going to show that the Law reaches the heart: anger, lust, truthfulness, revenge, and love.

Yes, we need to believe in Jesus. Without Christ, we cannot enter the kingdom. But Jesus is also teaching that true faith is not empty. It produces a righteousness that goes deeper than outward appearance.

From a Reformed perspective, our right standing before God comes through Christ’s righteousness, received by faith. Then, by the Spirit, God begins to produce real righteousness in us.

We are justified by Christ.

We are sanctified by Christ.

Both matter.

Anger and Murder

Jesus says the commandment forbids murder.

But then He goes deeper.

He warns against sinful anger, insults, and contempt.

This does not mean every form of anger is always sinful. Scripture speaks of righteous anger. Jesus Himself shows righteous anger. But sinful anger, hatred, contempt, and a desire to destroy another person all violate the heart of God’s command.

Jesus mentions the word “Raca.”

“Raca” was an insult. It likely meant something like “empty-headed” or “foolish one.” The exact tone is hard to translate, but the idea is contempt.

He also mentions being answerable to the council. This likely refers to the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council or high court.

Jesus’ point is not merely to give a legal chart of which insult gets which punishment. His point is that God sees the heart. Murder begins long before the physical act. Hatred, contempt, and dehumanizing speech matter to God.

Reconcile Before the Altar

Jesus says that if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there and first be reconciled to your brother.

Then come and offer your gift.

This is not saying worship of God is unimportant. It is saying we cannot use religious activity as a cover for refusing reconciliation.

Yes, we go to God.

But we must not pretend that going to God means we can ignore the people we have wronged.

If we have sinned against someone, we should seek reconciliation as far as it depends on us. We cannot control whether the other person forgives or responds well. But we can confess, repent, and seek peace.

This fits with the Beatitude:

“Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Lust and Adultery

Jesus then speaks about adultery.

The commandment says:

“You shall not commit adultery.”

But Jesus says that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

This does not mean noticing beauty is automatically sin.

It does mean looking with lustful intent is sin.

For a married man, lusting after another woman is a betrayal in the heart. Even for an unmarried person, lust treats another person as an object for selfish desire rather than as someone made in the image of God.

Jesus is again showing that God’s law reaches inward.

The Pharisee might say, “I have never physically committed adultery.”

Jesus says God also sees the heart.

Then Jesus uses strong language about tearing out the eye or cutting off the hand. He is not commanding literal self-mutilation. He is teaching radical seriousness about sin.

Do not make peace with lust.

Do not nurture it.

Do not excuse it.

Fight it.

Divorce

Jesus then addresses divorce.

He says that whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

This is a difficult and sensitive passage.

In Jesus’ day, some treated divorce too casually. A man could try to dismiss his wife for shallow reasons and still imagine himself righteous because he followed a legal process.

Jesus rejects that.

Marriage is not disposable.

Divorce is not a casual escape hatch.

Jesus protects the seriousness of marriage and the dignity of the wife.

The exception He gives is sexual immorality. Elsewhere in Scripture, abandonment is also discussed. Christians have debated the details, but the main point in Matthew 5 is clear: God takes marriage seriously, and people should not use technicalities to justify faithlessness.

This does not mean every divorced person is beyond grace. The Gospel is for sinners and sufferers. Many people have been sinned against deeply in marriage. Many carry grief, regret, or wounds.

But Jesus’ teaching should make us honor marriage, reject casual divorce, and seek faithfulness.

Oaths and Truthfulness

Jesus then speaks about oaths.

This is not only about using God’s name in vain, though that is related.

People would swear by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or their own head, as if some oaths were binding and others were not. Jesus cuts through the manipulation.

He says:

“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

The point is truthfulness.

A disciple of Jesus should not need elaborate oath formulas to sound honest. Our words should be trustworthy.

When Jesus says you cannot make one hair white or black, He means you do not have sovereign control even over your own life. You are not God. You cannot guarantee reality by swearing dramatically.

So speak plainly.

Tell the truth.

Do not use God’s name, religious language, or exaggerated promises to manipulate people.

Retaliation

Jesus then says:

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

That Old Testament law was originally about justice and proportional punishment. It was meant to limit vengeance, not unleash personal revenge.

But Jesus teaches His disciples not to live by personal retaliation.

He says if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other also. If someone sues you for your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

This does not mean Christians must never report crimes, seek justice, or protect the vulnerable. Jesus is not commanding passivity in the face of all evil.

He is addressing personal revenge.

The disciple of Jesus should not be ruled by the instinct to strike back, get even, or repay insult with insult.

Christians can seek justice without being controlled by vengeance.

Love Your Enemies

Jesus ends the chapter with one of the hardest commands:

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

This is not natural.

It is easy to love people who love us. It is easy to pray for friends and family. It is much harder to pray for people we do not like, people who oppose us, people who have hurt us, or people we would rather avoid.

But Jesus says His disciples must love their enemies.

Why?

Because God shows kindness even to the evil and unjust. He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good. He sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

This does not mean God approves of evil. It means God is patient, merciful, and generous even toward people who do not deserve it.

And that is how He has treated us.

We were not naturally God’s friends. We were sinners in need of mercy.

So when Jesus commands us to pray for enemies, He is calling us to reflect the mercy of our Father.

This connects with the wider Gospel pattern. In Luke Chapter 4: Temptation, Rejection, and the Authority of Christ, Jesus is rejected in Nazareth, yet He continues His mission. In John Chapter 4: Living Water and the Savior of the World, Jesus brings grace to Samaritans, people many Jews despised. Christ’s kingdom does not run on human hatred.

It runs on grace.

Be Perfect as Your Father Is Perfect

Matthew 5 ends with Jesus saying:

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

That statement should humble us.

Jesus is not lowering God’s standard. He is showing us the fullness of righteousness.

God does not merely want outward religion.

He wants the heart.

He wants truth.

He wants purity.

He wants mercy.

He wants love.

He wants reconciliation.

He wants His people to reflect His character.

If we read Matthew 5 honestly, we should not walk away thinking, “I can easily do this.”

We should walk away saying, “I need Christ.”

The Sermon on the Mount drives us to Jesus.

He is the true righteous One.

He fulfills the Law.

He is pure in heart.

He is the peacemaker.

He loves His enemies.

He does not retaliate in sinful vengeance.

He speaks truth.

He obeys the Father perfectly.

And by grace, He brings His people into the life of His kingdom.

The Message of Matthew Chapter 5

Matthew Chapter 5 shows the character of Christ’s kingdom.

The Beatitudes describe the blessed life in a way the world does not expect.

Salt and light show that disciples are meant to be distinct and visible.

Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets.

True righteousness goes deeper than external religion.

Anger matters.

Lust matters.

Marriage matters.

Truth matters.

Reconciliation matters.

Retaliation must give way to mercy.

Enemies must be prayed for.

From a Christian Reformed lens, Matthew 5 does not teach salvation by moral achievement. It teaches the righteousness of the kingdom under the rule of Christ.

We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

But the grace that saves us also changes us.

Jesus does not merely forgive His people.

He teaches them.

He forms them.

He makes them salt and light.

And He calls them to live as children of their Father in heaven.