Matthew 5:1-12  The Beatitudes

         1.   NIV Study Bible says that it is unknown whether the
    Sermon on the Mount is a single event or a conflation of multiple
    speeches (1448).  Harper Study Bible (NAS) concurs (1210).

         2.   NIV Study Bible says that the preaching in the
    Beatitudes is virtually impossible for Christians to achieve in
    their own power but that this is the standard set by Christ.  NIV
    Study Bible raises the possibility of hyperbole used here as in
    other teachings of Christ (1449).

         3.   The indication given in Matthew 5:1-2 and Luke 6:12 & 20
    indicates that this discourse is given directly to the disciples
    and not the multitudes as a casual glance would suggest.  Perhaps
    the decision must first be made to become a disciple before
    learning from the Master.

         4.   The Beatitudes in Luke seem to focus more on the reward
    for the disciples suffering for the name and cause of Christ.  In
    other words, there doesn't seem to be as much emphasis on
    righteousness as compared to perseverance.  Matthew and Luke show
    quite conclusively that a disciple of Christ will suffer
    persecution but that this stores up spiritual (probably eternal)
    blessings and rewards.  The disciples are compared to the prophets
    sent by God to Israel, whom Israel stoned.  Not surprisingly, the
    majority of persecution to come upon the disciples came from the
    Jewish religious leadership (such as Saul the Judaizer) more than
    from the Gentile world.

         5.   In both Matthew and Luke, the Beatitudes are prefaced by
    Jesus casting out demons and healing the sick (Matt. 4:23-24, Luke
    6:17-18).

         6.   In general, the Beatitudes seem to embrace the Golden
    Rule of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

         7.   Luke prefaces his account of the Beatitudes with Jesus
    in prayer all night to God the Father as spiritual preparation to
    deliver the sermon.  Luke also seems to indicate that Jesus had
    many disciples but He chose 12 of them to be apostles (6:13-16)
    including Judas Iscariot, the "son of perdition," (John 17:12).


                               Bibliography

              Bible (New American Standard).  Nashville, Tennessee:
    Holman Bible Publishers, 1977.
              The NIV Study Bible (New International Version). Grand
    Rapids, Michigan:  Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1985.