Go to Related Reading
About this book

Matthew

About this book
Chapter 5

1 When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them by saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.⁠ 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.⁠ 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.⁠ 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.⁠ 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.⁠ 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.⁠ 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.⁠ 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.⁠ 11 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.⁠ 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people!⁠ 14 You are the light of the world.⁠ A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.⁠ 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.⁠ 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.⁠ 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them.⁠ 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place.⁠ 19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! 21 “You have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’⁠ 22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment.⁠ And whoever insults a brother will be brought before the council, and whoever says ‘Fool’ will be sent to fiery hell.⁠ 23 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you,⁠ 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift. 25 Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny! 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.⁠ 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.⁠ 31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’⁠ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.⁠ 33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’⁠ 34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all—not by heaven, because it is the throne of God,⁠ 35 not by earth because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36 Do not take an oath by your head because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’⁠ More than this is from the evil one.⁠ 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’⁠ 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.⁠ 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your coat also. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.⁠ 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’⁠ 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you,⁠ 45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven,⁠ since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.⁠ 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they?⁠ 48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.⁠

Texts in conversation

Compare Matthew 5:8 and Pirkei Avot 2:9

New Testament · Rabbinic

Share:

Summary

In Matthew, Jesus’ beatitude about the pure in heart seeing God is similar to Rabbinic tradition, found in Pirkei Avot, where those with a good heart are praised for their generosity and integrity.

Passages

Matthew 5:8

New Testament
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
70–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Matthew

Pirkei Avot 2:9

Rabbinic · Mishnah
9 He said to them: go out and see which is the right way to which a man should cling. Rabbi Eliezer said, a good eye; Rabbi Joshua said, a good companion; Rabbi Yose said, a good neighbor; Rabbi Shimon said, foresight; Rabbi Elazar said, a good heart. He said to them: I prefer the words of Elazar ben Arach, for in his words your words are included. He said to them: go out and see which is the evil way that a man should shun. Rabbi Eliezer said, an evil eye; Rabbi Joshua said, an evil companion; Rabbi Yose said, an evil neighbor; Rabbi Shimon said, one who borrows and does not repay, for one who borrows from man is as one who borrows from God, blessed be He, as it is said, "the wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous deal graciously and give" (Psalms 37:21); Rabbi Elazar said, an evil heart. He said to them: I prefer the words of Elazar ben Arach, for in his words your words are included.
190–230 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Pirkei Avot

References

"... The rabbis, like Jesus, also contrasted a good eye to an Evil Eye (Pirkei Avot 2:9, 11; 5:13, 19) ... The structure and thrust of the saying, as it encourages the generous sharing of resources, is consistent with emphases of the immediate and broader contexts of Matthew’s Gospel. The immediate context (6:19–24) presents Jesus’s instruction on the proper handling of wealth and setting of priorities (6:19, 24). The connection of 6:22–23 with 6:19–21 reflects the conceptual link of eye (verses 22–23) and heart (verse 21); see also Matthew 5:8. The terms “treasure,” “lay up treasure” (6:19, 20, 21) are a motif in the Evil Eye saying of Tobit (4:7–11), to which Matthew 6:22–23 is closely related; they show the logic behind Matthew’s connection of verses 22–23 with verses 19–21. Laying up imperishable treasures in heaven refers to the sharing of material resources. The connection of an Evil Eye (verses 22–23) with mammon (verse 24) is illustrated by a Jewish midrash on the book of Numbers: “The wealthy person whose Eye is Evil and his mammon go out of this world” (Sifre Numbers 110). God vs. mammon mirrors integral vs. Evil Eye. All three sayings contrast positive and negative actions concerning the management of possessions. The antitheses of earth vs. heaven (verses 19–21) and God vs. mammon (verse 24) suggest that the antithesis of integral vs Evil Eye (verses 22–23) also implies attitude and action consistent or inconsistent with commitment to God ..."
John H. Elliott, Beware the Evil Eye: The Evil Eye in the Bible and the Ancient World (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2016), 3:183–184.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Tags

Your feedback

Matthew 5:8 and Pirkei Avot 2:9

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library