Devine Scripture

Matthew 5:1

What does Matthew 5:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 5:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 5:1 means

Jesus, observing the large crowds gathered around Him, ascended a mountainside. This action set the scene for a formal teaching session, reminiscent of Moses delivering the Law from Mount Sinai. Once seated, a customary posture for teaching in that culture, His disciples drew near to Him, indicating their readiness to learn. While the multitude was present, the direct recipients of this profound instruction were His closest followers, who would carry His message forward.

Matthew 5:1 in context

Matthew 5 — The Beatitudes

Jesus opens his Sermon on the Mount with eight pronouncements that turn the world's value system upside down. Blessing belongs not to the proud and self-sufficient but to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. In a few sentences he sketches the character of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and then calls them salt of the earth and light of the world.

  • Kingdom ethics
  • Inner righteousness
  • True blessedness
  • Light and salt

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And seeing great masses of people he went up into the mountain; and when he was seated his disciples came to him.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And having seen the multitudes, he went up to the mount, and he having sat down, his disciples came to him,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But seeing the crowds, he went up into the mountain, and having sat down, his disciples came to him;

Context

This verse marks the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus' most extensive recorded discourse. It establishes the setting and the audience. Jesus' movement to the mountain, followed by His taking a seat, signifies the start of a significant teaching event, leading directly into the profound Beatitudes and the rest of the sermon.

v.1This passage

v.2and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 4:25

    And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judæa and from beyond the Jordan.

  • Matthew 13:2

    And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.

  • Mark 4:1

    And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.

  • Luke 6:13

    And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles:

  • Matthew 10:2

    Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James thesonof Zebedee, and John his brother;

  • John 6:2

    And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick.

Sermon ideas from Matthew 5:1

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Matthew 5:1 teaches us about kingdom ethics

  • What Matthew 5:1 teaches us about inner righteousness

  • What Matthew 5:1 teaches us about true blessedness

  • What Matthew 5:1 teaches us about light and salt

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