A Slice of the Beatitudes: Part 1
Some time ago, and as I have written on this website before, I recall saying that Matthew 6:1 was an extension of Matthews 5:48. Further, I read Matthew 6 & 7 in light of Matthews 5:48. I don't think that is wrong. But I do think a bit differently now. Surely, any time you are reading the words of Jesus in the Gospels there are many layers and connections you can make. I want to talk about one of those connections in this article.
Matthew 5:1–10 CSB17
“When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
IMO, this is the most important part of what Jesus said and everything else he said in Matthew 5-7 hangs on this.
But I want to draw your attention to a particular aspect of the beatitudes.
After the Beatitudes, it reads,
Matthew 5:11–12 CSB17
““You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”” (Emphasis mine.)
IMO, Jesus is saying the prophets possessed the beatitudes. And so Christ is saying if people persecute you based on you possessing the beatitudes, our heavenly Father will reward you.
Matthew 5:17–18 CSB17
““Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.””
If we read the beatitudes as the Law and Prophets, it makes for a very interesting connection.
Jesus also makes some remarkable negative arguments in this large passage. If you possess the beatitudes, you will not be angry (Matt. 5:22), not lustful (Matt. 5:28), will not judge (Matt. 7:1), and which all culminates with not being foolish (Matt. 7:26-27).
Not only does Christ make positive arguments (Matt. 5:11-12) and negative arguments (Matt. 5:22, 28; 7:1, 26-27), but actually most of this passage is deductive reasoning, abductive reasoning, and extrapolation. For example, Christ says to only tell the truth (Matt. 5:37), Repay evil with kindness (Matt. 5:44), how to pray (Matt. 6:6, 9-13), how to fast (Matt. 6:18), how to think about wealth (Matt. 6:24), Not to worry about anything because God will take care of you (Matt. 6:31-33), the Golden rule (7:12), how to get to heaven (Matt. 7:21).
Here are the verses where Jesus uses the word "prophets":
Matthew 5:12 CSB17
“Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:17 CSB17
““Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
Matthew 7:12 CSB17
“Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:15 CSB17
““Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.”
This is actually a chiasm. A chiasm is a pattern of matching the first and last as you go down the list. In this example, the first and last match and the middle two matches. The point of the first and last is that false prophets will persecute people who have the beatitudes. The point of the middle two is saying Christ came to fulfill the Golden rule.
There's much more I could say, but I just wanted to draw attention to this one particular aspect of this passage.
God bless you! Until next time!