Matthew 5:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He began to speak, as the Evangelist notes, and imparted His teachings. Why mention that He opened His mouth? It indicates that His teaching transcended mere words; He conveyed wisdom not just through speech but also through His actions. When you hear the phrase “Teaching them,” understand that He is not addressing solely His apostles, but that through them, His message reaches everyone. However, since the crowd lacked formal education and was still settled, He called His disciples closer, directing His discourse to them. In this manner, He engaged in a dialogue that made profound teachings accessible to those nearby, who were largely unprepared to absorb His messages. Reflecting this, Luke notes that He directed His conversation towards the disciples. Similarly, Matthew recounts: His disciples approached Him, and He taught them. This positioning necessitated that the others pay greater attention than if He had spoken to all present.

What is the purpose of the phrase ‘opening His mouth’? At first glance, it may appear unnecessary. However, it holds significance, as He conveyed teachings without uttering a word, illustrated through His actions and miracles. Now, His teachings are articulated through speech. He instructed not only His followers but also the multitude. He commenced with the beatitudes, mirroring the beginnings of David's own proclamations.

The phrase 'And He opened His mouth' subtly implies through its pause that the discourse may be more extended than usual. This may be understood in the context that now He indicates the opening of His own mouth, while historically, it was the practice under the old covenant for Him to open the mouths of the prophets.

Then Matthew the evangelist proclaimed, “He opened His mouth, which signifies the treasury of divine wisdom and knowledge (cf. Col. 2:3). He unveiled the sacred inner chamber of His temple. Likewise, you should open your mouth, but first entreat that it might be opened! If even the apostle Paul sought assistance for his speech (see Eph. 6:18-19), how much more earnestly should you plead for it. The key to the understanding with which you should speak was revealed by the prophet: Open your mouth with the word of God (Proverbs 31:9). The word of God serves as the key for your speech; it unlocks knowledge; through it, the shackles of silence are removed, and the blinds of ignorance are drawn back.

Why did He mention opening His mouth? Even without uttering a word, He instructed them through His actions. He addresses His disciples specifically so that He does not seem unclear to the masses, yet His message is intended for everyone and each person uniquely.

Our Lord and God, the only-begotten Son of the Most High Father, who humbled Himself by becoming human and transitioned from Master to Teacher, gathered with His disciples—the apostles—when numerous individuals from various regions came together. He ascended a mountain, opened His mouth, and imparted wisdom, declaring, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." In this way, the Savior presents a pathway adorned with precious stones, providing steps for holy and faithful souls to ascend toward the ultimate good, which is the Kingdom of Heaven. Here, dear brethren, I intend to briefly highlight the characteristics of these steps; let your mind and spirit remain attentive, for all that concerns God holds the highest significance.

He, having begun to speak, taught not just with His words but also through the example of His holy life and the miracles He performed. In the past, He inspired the prophets to speak, and now, He Himself has begun to share His wisdom, in which are found all the riches of knowledge (Colossians 2:3). He initially directs His message to His followers, yet He communicates in a manner that captivates every listener, generously offering His remarkable teachings to anyone eager to hear Him (Colossians 2:3). He conveyed His lessons to them through discourse.

He then joined the people and delivered an extensive speech. As the members of this new Israel are not defined by earthly lineage but by spiritual rebirth, the Lord intended to highlight in His discourse certain traits of the children of the new Israel. He largely referenced the guidelines and examples of piety exhibited by Israel at that time, contrasting the unworthy attributes with those of true goodness, elevating the good to its utmost perfection. The Savior's teachings were not solely directed at His chosen disciples; however, since they were nearly alone among the members of this new kingdom, destined to assume prominent roles within it and having distinct relationships as Apostles, His words profoundly resonated with them more than with others.

In Matthew 4:17, the Evangelist captures the essence of Jesus' message through His proclamation, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew systematically presents the words and actions of the Lord, illustrating the relationship between His teachings and His miracles. Following this, he offers a discourse that outlines the fundamental principles of Christ's kingdom. This teaching is known as the Sermon on the Mount. The context and details surrounding this event are elaborated by Luke, who notes that the Lord spent a night in prayer prior to selecting the twelve Apostles (Luke 6:12-16). According to Matthew 5:1-2, when the crowds approached Jesus, He ascended a mountain, and as He settled down, His disciples gathered around Him.

The moment had arrived for the open declaration of the truths of the new covenant, and the Savior, surrounded by dedicated disciples and followers committed to being the heralds of the kingdom of heaven, was eager to disclose all the mysteries and treasures of God's kingdom on earth that He had established. He did this in detail during the renowned Sermon on the Mount, which serves as a comprehensive explanation of the New Testament law in contrast to the Old Testament law. This sermon was delivered on a mountain, from which it derives its name, and tradition specifically identifies this location as the mountain known as the 'Horns of Hattin,' located two hours from Tiberias.

Instruction. In Matthew's account, it seems that this entire dialogue (chapters 5-7) took place all at once on the mountain (see Matt. 5:1-8); however, Luke presents the various segments of this dialogue as having been delivered at different times and locations (Luke 6:20-49; Matt. 6:9ff.). For comparison, see Lk. 11:1 ff.; Matt. 6:25 ff.; and Lk. 12:22 ff.; Matt. 6:7 ff.; as well as Lk. 8:34 ff. To clarify this matter, it is often suggested that the Evangelist Matthew has woven different speeches, spoken at various times and settings, into one extended address, as Luke indicates, or that portions of this mountain discourse were later reiterated by the Lord on other occasions (the latter seems more likely).

After establishing the foundation of His church through the selection of the twelve apostles, the Lord aimed to unveil the essence and purpose of His teachings. Among the people, there was a widespread expectation of the Messiah’s earthly dominion, with hopes that He would vanquish all foes and restore Israel to the former glory reminiscent of the days of David and Solomon. Jesus Christ sought to demonstrate that the kingdom He would establish on earth would be spiritual and moral, distinct from earthly ambitions.