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.
Date: 70-90 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Pirkei Avot 2:9
Mishnah
Rabbinic
9 He [Rabban Yohanan] said unto them: go forth and observe which is the right way to which a man should cleave? 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 [Rabban Yohanan] said to them: I prefer the words of Elazar ben Arach, for in his words your words are included. He [Rabban Yohanan] said unto them: go forth and observe which is the evil way which 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 he that 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 [Rabban Yohanan] said to them: I prefer the words of Elazar ben Arach, for in his words your words are included.
Date: 190-230 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
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Notes and 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).147 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 Evil (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 ..."
Elliott, John Hall
Beware the Evil Eye: The Evil Eye in the Bible and the Ancient World, Volume 3
(pp. 183-184) Cascade Books, 2016
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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