This week’s readings are all from Matthew 5-6. Click here to see a full listing of each day’s reading and the full chapter of Matthew 5-6. Full readings of each day’s smaller segments of the readings will be posted on this site during the week.
Today's Reading
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them by saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
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 satisfied.
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 the children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people! 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
Soooo…yes very familiar, especially as Jay has been preaching from the Sermon on the Mount…but the commentary in my Life Application Study Bible caused me to learn something that I had always glossed over as I read the very first verse…I had always pictured the crowd and the disciples as the audience with Jesus on the top of the mount as if he was in a pulpit…the commentary indicated that the crowd was separate from the disciples and that Jesus was avoiding the crowd by going up the mountain and only his closest disciples followed him up and were with Jesus for his teaching of the beatitudes….hmmm
I also noted but have no answer as to why there is one “reward” repeated twice…first and eighth…any thoughts🤔🤔
It could be a literary device known as framing or book-ending. Jesus, the speaker, opens with the idea that's actually the main idea, that of inheriting the kingdom of heaven. Then He closes with the same idea to emphasize the point and to indicate that section of teaching is finished.