Devine Scripture

Matthew 5:2

What does Matthew 5:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 5:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 5:2 means

Having gathered His disciples around Him on the mountain, Jesus began to teach them with authority and intentionality. The phrase "opened his mouth" signifies a formal and significant discourse, not a casual conversation. What follows is the core of the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching outlining the character and ethics of those who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. This verse sets the stage for the substance of Jesus' message.

Matthew 5:2 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 he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And with these words he gave them teaching, saying,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having opened his mouth, he was teaching them, saying:

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And opening his mouth he taught them, saying:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and, having opened his mouth, he taught them, saying,

Context

Following the scene-setting in verse 1, where Jesus gathers His disciples on the mountain, this verse introduces the actual commencement of His teaching. It acts as a direct preamble to the Beatitudes, indicating that the profound statements about blessings are about to begin, establishing the authoritative tone of His sermon.

v.1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him:

v.2This passage

v.3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Cross references

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

  • Proverbs 31:8

    Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.

  • Acts 10:34

    And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

  • Luke 6:20

    And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessedare ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

  • Matthew 13:35

    that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.

  • Ephesians 6:19

    and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

  • Acts 18:14

    But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

Sermon ideas from Matthew 5:2

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

  • What Matthew 5:2 teaches us about kingdom ethics

  • What Matthew 5:2 teaches us about inner righteousness

  • What Matthew 5:2 teaches us about true blessedness

  • What Matthew 5:2 teaches us about light and salt

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