What is the meaning of Matthew 5:1-12?

¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them. He said: ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Sermon on the Mount

The sermon took place on a mountain in Galilee. Christ had no formal pulpit, just as He had no place to lay His head. While the scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat, enjoying honor and comfort as they distorted the law, Christ, the true Teacher, preached in the open air. The mountain was not one of the sacred mountains of Zion but an ordinary one, illustrating that under the gospel, no place holds special holiness.

Unlike the giving of the law at Mount Sinai—where God descended amid thunder and lightning, and the people were commanded to keep their distance—Christ now ascended the mountain and spoke with gentleness. Then, God’s voice brought fear; now, it invited nearness. This reflects the superiority of the gospel over the law, for grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:7; Hebrews 12:18). His audience was primarily His disciples, who came to Him, drawn by love and a desire for learning.

Christ begins His sermon with blessings, for He came into the world to bless us (Acts 3:26), as the great High Priest of our profession, in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed (Gen. 12:3). He not only purchased blessings for us but also poured out and pronounced blessings upon us. He does this with authority, as One who can command the blessing, even life forevermore. His pronouncing them blessed makes them so; for those whom He blesses are truly blessed.

The Old Testament ended with a curse (Mal. 4:6), but the gospel begins with a blessing; for we are called to inherit the blessing. Each of the blessings Christ pronounces has a twofold purpose:

1. To show who is truly blessed and what their character is.
2. To reveal where true happiness lies—in the promises made to those with certain godly characteristics, which, when fulfilled, will make them happy.

This teaching corrects the world’s mistaken ideas about happiness. People commonly believe that the rich, powerful, and honored are blessed because they enjoy worldly pleasures. But Jesus challenges this belief and offers a new perspective on true blessedness—one that may seem paradoxical to those blinded by worldly thinking but is nevertheless an eternal truth. If this is the beginning of Christ’s doctrine, then a Christian’s practice must begin with adopting these views of happiness.

It also reassures the weak and poor who receive the gospel. Christ’s blessings are not just for those who are prominent in gifts, graces, and usefulness, but also for those whose hearts are sincere before God.

Furthermore, this teaching invites souls to Christ and prepares their hearts for His message. Just as the blessings and curses of the law were declared on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal (De 27:12), here Christ emphasizes the blessings while implying the curses. The law deters from sin by warning of death, while the gospel draws us to Christ by offering life.

Lastly, it lays out the terms of the relationship between God and man—what God expects from us and what we can expect from Him. The path to blessings or happiness is opened, and since this comes from Christ’s own mouth, it is clear that both the grace required and the glory promised come from Him alone. Jesus gives eight descriptions of blessed people, representing the key virtues of a Christian. Each blessing includes both a present happiness and a future reward.

I. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3). The poor in spirit are those who are emptied of self so they may be filled with Christ. This means:

1. Being content with little, accepting God’s will in financial hardship, and not being attached to worldly wealth.
2. Being humble—thinking less of oneself, acknowledging God’s greatness, and having a lowly opinion of one’s own abilities.
3. Renouncing confidence in one’s own righteousness and depending solely on Christ for salvation and grace.

This humility is foundational to all other Christian virtues. It brings present blessings, as God gives grace to the humble, and it leads to future glory, as the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

 II. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Mt 5:4). This refers to:

1. Mourning over sin—true repentance, sorrow for personal failures, and concern for the sins of others.
2. Mourning for the suffering of others, weeping for the lost, and grieving over the afflictions of the church.

These mourners are blessed because their sorrow leads to comfort. Though they may not be comforted immediately, God has prepared joy for them, and in eternity, all their tears will be wiped away.

III. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Mt 5:5). The meek are those who submit to God’s will, are gentle toward others, and control their tempers. They do not seek revenge but respond to provocation with patience. They are blessed because they resemble Christ, enjoy a peaceful life, and will inherit the earth—both in the sense of God’s provision now and the eternal inheritance to come.

IV. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Mt 5:6).  Righteousness here means all spiritual blessings—justification, sanctification, and conformity to Christ. To hunger and thirst for righteousness is:

1. To earnestly desire God’s grace, longing for holiness and closeness to Him.
2. To pursue righteousness with diligence, using the means God has provided.

Those who have this hunger are already blessed, for their desire itself is evidence of God’s work in them. And they will be filled—both in this life, as God grants them grace, and fully in eternity, where they will be satisfied forever in His presence.

V. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Mt 5:7). The merciful are not always considered the wisest or the richest, yet Christ calls them blessed. The merciful are those who are inclined to pity, help, and support people in distress. A person can be merciful even if they lack the means to be generous, for God accepts a willing heart. We must not only endure our own afflictions patiently but also share in the sufferings of others through Christian sympathy. We should show pity (Job 6:14) and clothe ourselves with compassion (Colossians 3:12).

We must have compassion on the souls of others—helping the ignorant with instruction, warning the careless, and guiding sinners toward salvation. We should comfort those in sorrow (Job 16:5), be gentle with those we have power over, and assist those in need, for failing to do so shuts our hearts against them (James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17). “Share your bread with the hungry” (Isaiah 58:7,10). Even a good person is merciful to their animals.

1. They Are Blessed – “Blessed is he who considers the poor” (Psalm 41:1). They resemble God, whose goodness is His glory, and they show evidence of love for Him. One of life’s purest joys is doing good for others. As Christ said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
2. They Shall Obtain Mercy – They will receive mercy from others and, most importantly, from God, who is merciful to the merciful (Psalm 18:25). They will find His sparing mercy (Matthew 6:14), providing mercy (Proverbs 19:17), and sustaining mercy (Psalm 41:2). Ultimately, they will inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 25:34-35), while those who show no mercy will face judgment without mercy.

VI. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Mt 5:8). The pure in heart are those whose hearts are cleansed from evil thoughts, evil concupiscence, and evil passions. True religion consists of heart purity. Those who are inwardly pure show the power of true faith. We must not only lift clean hands to God but also have a pure heart (Psalm 24:4-5; 1 Timothy 1:5). The heart must be free from sinful desires and worldly greed. It must be purified by faith and devoted entirely to God. “Create in me a clean heart, O God!”

The blessings of the pure in heart is, “They shall see God.” This is the ultimate happiness. Seeing Him by faith in this life is a taste of heaven; seeing Him fully in eternity is heaven itself. To see God as He is, to enjoy Him, and to be transformed into His likeness (Psalm 17:15) is our greatest joy. Only the pure in heart will see God. The unclean cannot endure His holiness, nor would they find joy in His presence. Nothing impure will enter the new Jerusalem, but those sanctified by grace will find their deepest longings fulfilled in the sight of God.

VII. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt 5:9).  The blessed are pure toward God and peaceable toward others. Peacemakers are those who:

1. Have a Peaceable Disposition – They love, desire, and delight in peace, making it their way of life. “I am for peace” (Psalm 120:7).
2. Have a Peaceable Conversation – They work to maintain and restore peace. They listen to offers of peace and seek reconciliation among those in conflict. Being a peacemaker is sometimes difficult and thankless, but it is a noble calling.

They enjoy inner peace and bring peace to others. They follow Christ’s example, who came to bring peace on earth. God will recognize them as His own, for He is the God of peace, and His Son is the Prince of Peace. Those who stir up conflict do not reflect God’s nature. If peacemakers are blessed, then woe to the peace-breakers! Christ never intended for His religion to be spread by force or intolerance. The children of this world thrive on conflict, but the children of God are the quiet and peaceable ones.

VIII. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:10-12). This is the most paradoxical beatitude and unique to Christianity. Persecution for righteousness’ sake is a sign of true discipleship.

1. The Suffering of the Saints

• They Are Persecuted – They are pursued and oppressed as if they were dangerous criminals. They are treated as outcasts, fined, imprisoned, exiled, and sometimes killed. This has been the case since the days of righteous Abel and continues through history (Hebrews 11:35). Christ warned His followers that they, too, would suffer (1 John 3:13).
• They Are Reviled and Falsely Accused – They are mocked, insulted, and slandered. False accusations are used to justify mistreatment. Just as Christ was falsely accused, so are His followers (Psalm 35:11; Acts 17:6-7).
• They Suffer for Righteousness’ Sake – Their suffering is not for wrongdoing but for refusing to compromise their faith. Persecution comes because of their devotion to Christ (Romans 8:36).

2. The Comfort of the Saints

• They Are Blessed – They experience God’s special grace in their suffering (Acts 5:41; 2 Corinthians 1:5).
• They Shall Be Rewarded – “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Their suffering is temporary, but their reward is eternal. God does not forget those who suffer for Him. “Great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12).
• They Follow in the Footsteps of the Prophets – The prophets were persecuted before them, and they now share in that legacy (James 5:10). The path of suffering is not new—it is the way of the faithful. “That same grace which sustained the prophets will sustain you.”
• They Should Rejoice – They should not merely endure suffering but rejoice in it, knowing that Christ will richly reward them (1 Peter 4:12-13).