Matthew 5:1

Wednesday, 6 November 2024

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Matthew 5:1

“And having seen the crowds, He ascended to the mountain, and He, having sat down, His disciples – they came to Him” (CG).

Chapter 4 finished with the note that great multitudes followed Jesus from many locations. With this great throng about him, Chapter 5 begins with, “And having seen the crowds, He ascended to the mountain.”

Matthew identifies the mountain with the definite article, but gives no more explanation. Because of this, the article seems more of a designation of the time in which the event occurs rather than a particular mountain in relation to the people.

In other words, it is as if God had appointed a mountain for this sermon to take place, and the timing for which that event to take place had now come to pass. We may say something like this about a great event that we participated in, “This was the moment, and this was the spot where it all came to pass.”

Because Matthew is writing in relation to a singular historical event that has defined the ministry of Jesus for millennia, this appears to be a proper explanation of why it says, “the mountain.” Once He had so ascended, it next says, “and He, having sat down.”

This was the standard form of teaching at the time. Today, someone will go to a podium or pulpit, or he may stand on a stage. If it is a more formal setting with an aged and respected person, there may be chairs and a moderator asking questions of the teacher. However, in the Jewish culture, one sat on the ground while others gathered around.

Maimonides actually gave a description of this type of learning –

“The master sits at the head, or in the chief place, and the disciples before him in a circuit, like a crown; so that they all see the master, and hear his words; and the master may not sit upon a seat, and the scholars upon the ground; but either all upon the earth, or upon seats: indeed from the beginning, or formerly, "the master used to sit", and the disciples stand; but before the destruction of the second temple, all used to teach their disciples as they were sitting.”

Once Jesus had sat, it next says, “His disciples – they came to Him.” 

This is the first use of mathétés, disciple, in the New Testament. It is derived from math which is using the mental effort necessary to think through something. Thus, it speaks of a learner, or a student who increases his knowledge.

This is the point where the teaching began. Some of the words here are mirrored in other discourses recorded in the gospels. This doesn’t mean they have to be the same discourse and that the surrounding details contradict.

Rather, just as any preacher will repeat and restate points of doctrine, Jesus would have done so too. He would have weaved these thoughts into the greater idea being presented at the time. As such, it is a way of unifying various concepts to show that the theology is consistent while repeating thoughts for the sake of remembrance through repetition.

Life application: At times, a preacher may speak for an hour on a single verse of Scripture. Later, he may begin a sermon on a completely different point of theology, but he will use thoughts from his previous sermon to make a point.

There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, it is often necessary to show how divergent thoughts in the Bible are not at odds with one another but are rather both tenets that reveal a harmony that is actually united by a single theology.

As this is true with sermons today, it would be dishonest to try to find a contradiction in Scripture because Jesus said something in one location, and then someone else records that He said the same thing in another location. Rather, He is using words to explain key points at various times, which will inevitably overlap with other key points at other times.

Don’t rush to believe people who supposedly find contradictions in the Bible. Rather, be diligent in determining why different stories or details are actually a harmonious outcropping of what God is telling us in the pages of Scripture.

Glorious God, it sure is great to read Your word and discover its wonderful secrets. Information from Your mind is being transmitted to us when we read the Bible. May we always consider it this way and treat the word with respect, just as if You are speaking directly to us because we know that You are. Amen.