Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:1
Verse 1. And seeing the multitudes] touv oclouv, these multitudes, viz. those mentioned in the preceding verse, which should make the first verse of this chapter. He went up into a mountain] That he might have the greater advantage of speaking, so as to be heard by that great concourse of people which followed him. It is very probable that nothing more is meant here than a small hill or eminence. Had he been on a high mountain they could not have heard; and, had he been at a great distance, he would not have sat down. See the note on "ver. 14".
And when he was set] The usual posture of public teachers among the Jews, and among many other people. Hence sitting was a synonymous term for teaching among the rabbins.
His disciples] The word maqhthv signifies literally a scholar. Those who originally followed Christ, considered him in the light of a Divine teacher; and conscious of their ignorance, and the importance of his teaching, they put themselves under his tuition, that they might be instructed in heavenly things. Having been taught the mysteries of the kingdom of God, they became closely attached to their Divine Master, imitating his life and manners; and recommending his salvation to all the circle of their acquaintance. This is still the characteristic of a genuine disciple of Christ.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. And seeing the multitudes , etc.] The great concourse of people that followed him from the places before mentioned, he went up into a mountain ; either to pray alone, which was sometimes his custom to do, or to shun the multitude; or rather, because it was a commodious place for teaching the people: and when he was set : not for rest, but in order to teach; for sitting was the posture of masters, or teachers, (see Matthew 13:2) ( Luke 4:20 5:3 John 8:2). The form in which the master and his disciples sat is thus described by Maimonides f241 . The master sits at the head, or in the chief place, and the disciples before him in a circuit, like a crown; so that they all see the master, and hear his words; and the master may not sit upon a seat, and the scholars upon the ground; but either all upon the earth, or upon seats: indeed from the beginning, or formerly, bwy brh hyh the master used to sit, and the disciples stand; but before the destruction of the second temple, all used to teach their disciples as they were sitting.
With respect to this latter custom, the Talmudists say f242 , that from the days of Moses, to Rabban Gamaliel (the master of the Apostle Paul), they did not learn the law, unless standing; after Rabban Gamaliel died, sickness came into the world, and they learnt the law sitting: hence it is a tradition, that after Rabban Gamaliel died, the glory of the law ceased. His disciples came unto him ; not only the twelve, but the company, or multitude, of his disciples, ( Luke 6:17) which he made in the several places, where he had been preaching; for the number of his disciples was larger than Johns.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1, 2 - None will find happiness in this world or the next, who do not seek i from Christ by the rule of his word. He taught them what was the evi they should abhor, and what the good they should seek and abound in.
Greek Textus Receptus
ιδων 1492 5631 V-2AAP-NSM δε 1161 CONJ τους 3588 T-APM οχλους 3793 N-APM ανεβη 305 5627 V-2AAI-3S εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN ορος 3735 N-ASN και 2532 CONJ καθισαντος 2523 5660 V-AAP-GSM αυτου 846 P-GSM προσηλθον 4334 5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω 846 P-DSM οι 3588 T-NPM μαθηται 3101 N-NPM αυτου 846 P-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. A mountain (to orov). The Rev. recognized the force of the definite article, and renders "the mountain," that particular mountain in the place where Jesus saw the multitudes. The mountain itself cannot be identified. Delitzsch calls the Mount of Beatitudes "The Sinai of the New Testament."When he was set (kaqisantov), following Tyndale. Rev., more literally, when he had sat down (compare Wyc., when he had set). After the manner of the rabbis, he seated himself ere he began to teach.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:1 {He went up into the mountain} (anebe eis to oros). Not "a" mountain as the Authorized Version has it. The Greek article is poorly handled in most English versions. We do not know what mountain it was. It was the one there where Jesus and the crowds were. "Delitzsch calls the Mount of Beatitudes the Sinai of the New Testament" (Vincent). He apparently went up to get in closer contact with the disciples, "seeing the multitudes." Luke (#Lu 6:12) says that he went out into the mountain to pray, Mark (#Mr 3:13) that he went up and called the twelve. All three purposes are true. Luke adds that after a whole night in prayer and after the choice of the twelve Jesus came down to a level place on the mountain and spoke to the multitudes from Judea to Phoenicia. The crowds are great in both Matthew and in Luke and include disciples and the other crowds. There is no real difficulty in considering the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew and the Sermon on the Plain in Luke as one and the same. See full discussion in my _Harmony of the Gospels_.
