Beatitudes and Woes

Mountain or Plain? Standing or Sitting?

Gospel for Today: Matthew 5:38-48

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also...

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you ...

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

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Long as I’m musing this early Sunday predawn I might as well muse a Sunday School Lesson. Two questions to start then: where was Jesus for this Sermon, on a mountain or on a level place? And was Jesus standing or sitting as he spoke?

The gospel for today is two teachings from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” which is not, as is commonly supposed, just the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) but runs three chapters of teachings or sayings, Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. The Beatitudes are only the opening lines of the sermon. We call it the Sermon on the Mount because of Matthew’s introduction:

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

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

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew marks the close of his Sermon on the Mount with a conclusion at the end of Matthew chapter 7:

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Many don’t realize that Luke’s gospel has the same sermon, at Luke 6 through the first verse of Luke 7. Each gospel writer collects various teachings, sayings of Jesus into their sermon for orderly presentation. The fact that the sermon appears in both Luke and Matthew but not Mark (or John) causes Bible scholars say the gospel writers got their material from the so-called “Q Gospel” or simply “Q.” (“Q” is for Quelle, a German word that means “source.” Q is a constructed document made up of sayings in both Matthew and Luke but not in Mark). Luke being shorter suggests that Luke’s sermon might be closer to the original words of Jesus than Matthew’s expanded version. At any rate, it’s the same Sermon, reported differently by the two different gospel writers.

Luke’s version is called the “Sermon on the Plain,” again because of Luke’s introduction; and as you will see, Luke has Jesus standing to speak while Matthew has him sitting to speak:

LUKE 6

And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, ... And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, ...

Although those two differences, mountain or plain, sitting or standing, may be trivial, there are differences of substance. Matthew’s presentation is much longer. Matthew’s sermon begins with eight Beatitudes, qualified somewhat (e.g,, “in spirit”). (Beatitude is from Latin and is translated “blessed” or “happy.” As in “he had a beatific smile!” The New Testament Greek word is μακαριοι -- makarioi -- which does not mean blessed in a sanctified sense, but happy, content). The difference of substance is that Luke, as well as four of the “blesseds” that Matthew presents, also quotes Jesus saying four contrasting “woes” or curses or damns. (Lk 6:20-26). So:

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,

Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.

Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger.

Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

While competent scholars generally concur that both Matthew and Luke had Q as their source for the Sermon, scholars are not unanimous about Luke’s source for the “woes,” and many conclude that they did not come from the lips of Jesus.

Finally, as with Matthew, Luke marks the end of his Sermon on the Plain (Luke 7:1):

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

Sunday School class discussion questions:

Both Matthew and Luke are reporting the same Sermon, which scholars say is based in the so-called “Q Gospel.” Luke includes the “Woes” but Matthew does not. Why do you suppose Matthew does not have them? Why do you think Luke includes them? Does the inclusion or omission of the “Woes” seem to serve the agenda of either gospel writer? Do you prefer the sermon with the Woes or without? And do you think Jesus actually said the Woes, or not?

Go in Peace!

Tom+