Matthew 5 marks the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, the first of five “discourses” in the book of Matthew. The Sermon is also the beginning of a section of Matthew where we are offered a comprehensive view of Jesus’ ministry. He is teacher in the Sermon and then turns his focus to demonstrating how His teaching radically informs our behavior and should motivate us to follow Him.
If you will remember from our earlier treatment of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus ascends a mountain in order to teach, demonstrating His authority and provoking images of Moses, whom the Israelites revered as a “law-giver.” Jesus is unashamedly assuming a similar role as law-giver and, as we shall see, the very one in whom the law finds its meaning.
The Beatitudes comprise the first section of the Sermon, where Jesus describes those who occupy His kingdom. The language is direct and lacks nuance, a characteristic which will continue throughout the next two chapters. Jesus is crystal clear that His followers will conform to a lofty standard and will experience great blessing as a result. These verses are perhaps some of the most recognizable and, therefore, most often ignored aspects of Kingdom life.
The remainder of chapter 5 finds Jesus walking a narrow line between stodgy conservative and radical liberal. He affirms the validity of the Law as binding on His followers, even extending its power to areas not actually covered originally. He obviously has a high view of God’s law, as seen in the first five books of the Old Testament. His treatment of the Law would satisfy even the most traditional Rabbi.
He is not content to stop there. The Law finds its ultimate meaning and fulfillment in Him, in His person, in His words, and in His deeds. The Law means Jesus. He treats the Law as if it is His own to amend and explain and extend as He wishes. Just as His dominion extends over all things, so also the Law extends over every aspect of our behavior, whether public or private. His explanation of the Law serves as both an inspiration to our integrity and an inescapable reminder that no person will keep it. As presented in Matthew 5, Christ’s Law stands as an authority over all and as a railing condemnation against all.