Matthew 5:13

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:13

13-16. We have here the practical application of the foregoing principles to those disciples who sat listening to them, and to their successors in all time. Our Lord, though He began by pronouncing certain characters to be blessed—without express reference to any of His hearers—does not close the beatitudes without intimating that such characters were in existence, and that already they were before Him. Accordingly, from characters He comes to persons possessing them, saying, "Blessed are ye... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 5:11-16

Their calling 5:11-16Jesus proceeded to clarify His disciples’ calling and ministry in the world to encourage them to endure persecution and to fulfill God’s purpose for them."Some might think that Matthew 5:11-12 constitute the concluding Beatitude, since these verses begin with the words ’blessed are you". But it is noteworthy that only here in the Beatitudes do we meet a verb in the second person (i.e., ’blessed are you’). In addition there are 36 (Greek) words in this Beatitude compared to... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 5:13

Matthew 5:13-16 have been called the epilogue to the Beatitudes and have been compared to the prologue to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-6). [Note: Edersheim, 1:529.] By placing "you" (Gr. hymeis) in the emphatic position in the Greek text, Jesus was stressing the unique calling of His disciples (cf. Matthew 5:14). Salt was important in the ancient Near East because it flavored food, retarded decay in food, and in small doses fertilized land. [Note: Eugene P. Deatrick, "Salt, Soil, Savor,"... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Matthew 5:13

5:13 earth; (a-7) Or 'land.' read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:1-48

The Sermon on the MountJohn 5:1 to John 7:29. The Sermon on the Mount: see Luke 6:20. This sermon is so similar to the sermon reported by St. Luke (Luke 6:20), that it is best to regard them as identically the same. It is true that it has been plausibly suggested that our Lord during His preaching tours often repeated nearly the same sermon to different audiences, and that St. Matthew has given us the sermon as delivered at one place and St. Luke as delivered at another, but the resemblances... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 5:13

(13) Ye are the salt of the earth.—The words are spoken to the disciples in their ideal character, as the germ of a new Israel, called to a prophetic work, preserving the earth from moral putrescence and decay. The general reference to this antiseptic action of salt is (as in Colossians 4:6, and possibly in the symbolic act of Elisha, 2 Kings 2:21) enough to give an adequate meaning to the words, but the special reference to the sacrificial use of salt in Mark 9:49 (see Note there) makes it... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 5:1-48

The Beatitudes Illustrated By Events in the Passion Matthew 5:0 1. Christ condemned. Pilate washes his hands and declares Christ innocent. 'Blessed are the pure in heart.' 2. Christ takes up the cross. 'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake.' 3. Christ falls under the weight of the cross. 'Blessed are they that mourn.' 4. Christ meekly allows another to share His cross. 'Blessed are the meek.' 5. Christ comforts the women. 'Blessed are the merciful.' 6. Christ stripped... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:1-48

Chapter 7The Gospel of the Kingdom("Sermon on the Mount") - Matthew 5:1-48; Matthew 6:1-34; Matthew 7:1-29IT may seem almost heresy to object to the time-honoured title "Sermon on the Mount"; yet, so small has the word "sermon" become, on account of its application to those productions of which there is material for a dozen in single sentences of this great discourse, that there is danger of belittling it by the use of a title which suggests even the remotest relationship to these ephemeral... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Matthew 5:1-48

5. The Proclamation of the King concerning His Kingdom. Chapters 5-7 1. The Characteristics of the heirs of the Kingdom.(Matthew 5:1-16 .) 2. The Confirmation of the Law and its Expansion.( Matthew 5:17-48 .) CHAPTER 5 In the closing of the last chapter we saw our Lord Jesus Christ surrounded by a great multitude of people, which followed Him and who were attracted by the King’s presence, before whom the various diseases had to flee. If we turn to the eighth chapter we find the... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Matthew 5:13

5:13 Ye {2} are the salt of the {d} earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be {e} salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.(2) The ministers of the word especially (unless they will be the most cowardly of all) must lead others both by word and deed to this greatest joy and happiness.(d) Your doctrine must be very sound and good, for if it is not so, it will be not regarded and cast away as a thing unsavoury and... read more

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