Matthew 5:1-12

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus' disciples come to him and he teaches them saying: "Happy are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs."

The gospel of Matthew reports that Jesus went up a mountain in order to deliver to his disciples what has become known as "The Sermon on the Mount." This sermon begins with a series of affirmations that have been called "The Beatitudes" because of their first word in the Latin Bible. Modern translations often used the word "Happy" rather than the traditional "Blessed," but the meaning of the text has more to do with a reversal of our expectations than with a particular choice of words.

In the gospel of Luke this sermon by Jesus is presented on a level place, or plain, rather than on the top of a mountain. How are we to explain this difference in setting? The gospel of Matthew was written for a largely Jewish congregation, who would immediately associate the setting on a mountain with the law given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The gospel of Matthew effectively presents Jesus as the bearer of a new teaching that is rooted in the covenant with Israel. The gospel of Luke, however, includes Gentiles among the crowd that hears Jesus deliver his sermon on a plain. This emphasizes that Gentiles and Jews are equal in the church, which is part of the good news proclaimed by the gospel of Luke.

Grace and peace...Bob