I. OVERVIEW

1. The Sermon on the Mount is not laws to be kept to achieve salvation. Rather it defines the character and conduct of Christians.

2. Beatitudes (Latin – “happy”) introduce the Sermon on the Mount. The Greek term indicates deep inner joy.

3. Eight Pronouncements of Blessing (5:11-12 viewed as one). See also Luke 6:20-26.

• Note ending of first and eighth: “because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
• All eight have the same form: blessing followed by explanation.
• First four closely linked via alliteration with Greek letter pi (our English letter “p.” (poor, mourners, gentle, and hunger)
• 5:3-10 use third-person plural forms “they”/ “theirs” but 11-12 use 2^nd person forms “you” and “your.”
• Verbs in vv. 4,6,7,9 are divine passives. God makes these things so.
• The Beatitudes define the nature of discipleship.
• The Beatitudes identify qualifications for entering and living in God’s Kingdom.

II. STRUCTURE

Chiastic Structure:

• A 5:3 Poor in spirit blessed because theirs is the kingdom of heaven
• B 5:4 Mourners blessed because they will be comforted
• C 5:5 Meek blessed because they will inherit the earth
• D 5:6 Hungry blessed because they will be filled
• D’ 5:7 Merciful blessed because they will be mercied
• C’ 5:8 Pure blessed because they will see God
• B’ 5:9 Peacemakers blessed because they will be called sons of God
• A’ 5:10 Persecuted blessed because theirs is the kingdom of heaven

The beatitudes may be divided into two groups of four, with the first group emphasizing the disciple’s vertical relationship to God, the second emphasizing the disciple’s horizontal relationship to people.

• This chiastic layout of the beatitudes is indicated by several factors.
• There is the enveloping present tense inclusio in 5:3, 10. (Theirs is the kingdom…)
• The similar future divine passives occur in 5:4, 9.
• A future active verb with direct object occurs in 5:5, answered by the future middle verb with direct object in 5:8.
• In the center of the chiasm, 5:6-7 both utilize future divine passives.
• It may also be noted that the both halves of the chiasmus conclude with the concept of righteousness (5:6, 10), and that there is alliteration with the Greek letter pi in Matthew’s description of the blessed in the first half (5:3-6).
• The idea of the blessedness of the present possession of the kingdom (5:3, 10) is developed primarily by stressing what God will do for disciples (future divine passive verbs; 5:4, 6, 7, 9), and secondarily by what disciples will do in response to what God does (future active and middle verbs; 5:5, 8).