Matthew 5:1-3

The Beatitudes

5:1 When ¹  he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. ²  After he sat down his disciples came to him. 5:2 Then ³  he began to teach ⁴  them by saying:

5:3 “Blessed ⁵  are the poor in spirit, ⁶  for the kingdom of heaven belongs ⁷  to them.

[5:1]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[5:1]  ² tn Or “up a mountain” (εἰς τὸ ὄρος, eis to oro").

[5:2]  ³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[5:2]  ⁴ tn Grk “And opening his mouth he taught them, saying.” The imperfect verb ἐδίδασκεν (edidasken) has been translated ingressively.

[5:3]  ⁵ sn The term Blessed introduces the first of several beatitudes promising blessing to those whom God cares for. They serve as an invitation to come into the grace God offers.

[5:3]  ⁶ sn The poor in spirit is a reference to the “pious poor” for whom God especially cares. See Ps 14:6; 22:24; 25:16; 34:6; 40:17; 69:29.

[5:3]  ⁷ sn The present tense (belongs) here is significant. Jesus makes the kingdom and its blessings currently available. This phrase is unlike the others in the list with the possessive pronoun being emphasized.