Matthew 5:1-2. He opened his mouth

Matthew 5:1-2

1 On seeing the crowds, he went up into a mountain. When he was ready, his disciples gathered around him.
2 He then opened his mouth, and taught them, with these words:

The Sermon, as the writer saw it, was meant for new students who had flocked to learn from a remarkable teacher, though it was also overheard by a large crowd of others straining to listen in.

Matthew indicates in the opening statement of the Sermon that anyone is welcome to listen, while making clear that the teachings are aimed at those who would be true followers of Jesus.

The Semitic phrase he opened his mouth is meant to indicate the importance of what follows, that Jesus was uttering the very word of God. He has authority to speak the truth. In many places, Jesus prefaces his teaching with an Aramaic word variously translated as amen, truly, very seriously and so forth. This preface tells the perceptive listener that The Truth is about to come forth from God.

In other words, Jesus is invoking his standing as spokesman for God. In many cases, the following statement is not a specifically asserted truth of Old Testament Scripture -- but it is Scripture now! Even when an amen or truly statement carries an allusion to an Old Testament Scripture, the truth revealed is new or renewed. These are new revelations from God. The Jews hadn't read them or heard them before or if they had, the sense was different.

When Jesus cites Deuteronomy's insistence that every word that proceeds from God's mouth is life-giving, he is implying that you had best heed his amen or truly statements in particular, because they are words proceeding from God's mouth.

"I and my Father are one," says Jesus (John 10:30).

[Please see Felix Just's page on amen sayings.]

But, it was those called to be his students who could begin to absorb such a revelation, not the masses. The worldly person, whether Jew or Gentile, cannot really comprehend such a doctrine. What doesn't seem like gibberish may easily strike his as wildly unreasonable. Airy fairy stuff for kooky do-gooders.

How many times have we heard people say they have "a problem with the church" because it teaches "hellfire and brimstone"? This happens because they haven't understood the real message, and turn away in disgust from "religion," which they feel wants to put their lives in a strait jacket. And sometimes they have a point. They have been receiving the legalistic teachings of a religion rather than hearing the call of Jesus, who is not a religion; he is the Savior.

In any case, according to Shaye J.D. Cohen, the disciple method of education was well-known in the Graeco-Roman world. "In the disciple school, a handful of disciples grouped around a master. The disciples were apprentices who learned by constant attendance upon the master. They watched his every action and listened to his every word. The disciple circle existed as long as the master remained active." [HOM.1*] Upon his death or retirement the school ceased to exist, Cohen points out.

Such an end is not the case for the disciples of Christ, of course. Not only are there written accounts by disciples for future generations, but we should acknowledge here the delayed-reaction effect. The word goes out to people preoccupied with their immediate affairs who barely hear anything. But in time of distress, some may turn to what they heard and some of that teaching might penetrate. Whatever does penetrate, even in unregenerate man, helps the world rather than hurts it.

Moreover, because Jesus is alive and well, his disciples – anyone who seeks to follow him – have access to his teaching via the Holy Spirit, which is given to anyone who puts his trust in Jesus. Of course, at the time of the Sermon, the Spirit had yet to be poured out on "all flesh" (anybody and everybody rather than an occasional exceptional Jewish prophet), so that the eager listeners were getting a taste of God's kingdom against the day when some of them would enter it.

Though probable that the Sermon's composer wove these sayings together from a collection compiled by early Christians, we need not doubt that these sayings came from Christ. Their spiritual impact is far too strong to have emanated from an ordinary human teacher, as will become evident as we read further.

Plainly, Jewish culture of the period permitted only men to be specified disciples (=students) of a religious teacher, who was inevitably male. Yet, no doubt women listened in and gathered "crumbs from the table." But though Matthew simply reflects the way things were, as is clear from Shaye Cohen's history [1*], the good news appealed greatly to those of low estate, which certainly included nearly all women.

And their interest was well-founded, because once Jesus was resurrected, the Spirit would empower them, just as he did the male disciples, making them the spiritual equals of men, if not necessarily the traditional equals.

WOMEN ARE EQUAL IN CHRIST
The Sermon plainly shows that Jesus is directly addressing his male disciples. The Judea of his day was assuredly a man's world; women had few rights. Yet let us bear in mind some important points:

¶ At Jacob's well in Samaria, Jesus broke social etiquette and spoke directly to a woman, offering her eternal life. She immediately ran off and told the townspeople, making her one of the earliest evangelists (John 4:4-42). This reminds me of the Jewish woman who was suddenly saved and ran and told her Jewish neighbors the marvelous news, and they were also suddenly saved.  She went on to become a very persuasive radio evangelist. (I cannot recall her name nor find mention of her on the internet.)
¶ Jesus granted the requests of women, such as the Syrophoenician woman with the demon-possessed daughter (Matthew 15:21-28) and Martha whose brother, Lazarus, Jesus raised from death (John 11:1-45).
¶ Jesus granted anyone who put faith in him as Messiah and Lord the right to be called sons of God. That includes women. Women who are born again are "sons of God."

Galatians 3:26-29

26 For ye are all the children [or sons] of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In this connection, we may observe that the principal writer of Luke was a "people person," who spotlighted the Lord's concern for individuals, including the often-overlooked women. In his account, women play a major role. Notice that in general they were drawn to the role of personal care of Jesus and the male disciples. They were following their bent, just as so many women today are drawn to nursing. That doesn't mean none can be doctors; in fact quite a few are physicians these days, thanks to the seed of equality planted by early Christians (though fought by traditionalists).

Luke 8:1-3

1 It happened that he went through every city and village, proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom. And the twelve accompanied him,
2 as well as certain women, who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities. Among them were Mary, the Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 and Joanna, wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and many others who served him from their substance.

The church – that is, the born-again believers – is the bride of Christ. We, who are sons of God are also God's girlfriends. Some find this hard to accept. But, who can play the man next to God? We are his lovers, individually and collectively. Hence men, who have the rule in this world, nevertheless are on the same plane as women in the world of Christ: God's kingdom, which is for the believer here and now, as well as in future – with Jesus making everything better and better. In this world, Adam rules Eve, despite feminist complaints. But that isn't the plan. The plan is for us to all be equal in Christ, no matter what we happen to be doing.

Even though we run into the war between the sexes everywhere, that struggle is much muted among the truly born again. Christians, in loving one another, will seek to defer to one another. A woman may believe she would make a good church leader or pastor without needing to prove it. She is able to accept some other position where her service is much valued. Similarly, a man is able to accept a low-status role in his church, having been convinced that he should not seek his own glory. Yes, even born-again people are human and don't always meet the mark, but the struggle for dominance – so prevalent in the world and even in many churches – is something born-again people must put aside if they are to stay with the teachings of Jesus.

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Mt. 5:3-12. The beatitudes