Matthew 5:3

"He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,"

Key Reflection

In first-century Jewish culture, opening one's mouth to teach was a profound act of authority and responsibility. The phrase "He opened his mouth and taught them, saying," in Matthew 5:3 marks the beginning of Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount. For the original audience, this declaration signaled that Jesus was about to deliver authoritative teachings, likely to contrast with the religious leaders' interpretations of the law, setting the stage for his radical new insights into the Kingdom of Heaven.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit. The word blessed means happy, referring to that which produces felicity, from whatever quarter it may come. Poor in spirit. Luke says simply, blessed are THE poor. It has been disputed whether Christ meant the poor in reference to the things of this life, or the humble. The gospel is said to be preached to the poor, Lu 4:18; Mt 11:5. It was predicted that the Messiah should preach to the poor, Is 61:1. It is said that they have peculiar facilities for being saved, Mt 19:23; Lu 18:24. The state of such persons is therefore comparatively blessed, or happy.

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