John Wesley's Notes:
  And he opened his mouth-A phrase which always denotes a set and solemn discourse; and taught them-To bless men; to make men happy, was the great business for which our Lord came into the world. And accordingly he here pronounces eight blessings together, annexing them to so many steps in Christianity. Knowing that happiness is our common aim, and that an innate instinct continually urges us to the pursuit of it, he in the kindest manner applies to that instinct, and directs it to its proper object.

Though all men desire, yet few attain, happiness, because they seek it where it is not to be found. Our Lord therefore begins his Divine institution, which is the complete art of happiness, by laying down before all that have ears to hear, the true and only true method of acquiring it.

Observe the benevolent condescension of our Lord. He seems, as it were, to lay aside his supreme authority as our legislator, that he may the better act the part of: our friend and Saviour. Instead of using the lofty style, in positive commands, he, in a more gentle and engaging way, insinuates his will and our duty, by pronouncing those happy who comply with it.
 

 The Orientals... use the term that designates the opening or expanding of a flower.

When we listened to Jesus Christ before, he was preaching, now he is teaching... Now he changes the tone:  he sits down and teaches, explains, simplifies, draws the listeners into confidence and sympathy with himself, and makes them co-partners of the infinite secret of the divine truth and love.

The words of Jesus Christ go everywhere, and fall into all languages with infinite ease.  He speaks of light, love, life, truth, peace, God, home.  There cannot be a language without these words having some distinct share in it.  He sits down upon every mountain and breathes through every language his most ineffable gospel.

His words are addressed to his disciples.

[For Matthew] Jesus is the second Moses, the giver of the new law.

Jesus could not not help but offend the teachers of the Law, for he was not content to propose his interpretation alongside theirs but taught the people "as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."   In Jesus, the same Word of God, that had resounded on Mount Sinai to give the written Law to Moses, made itself heard anew on the Mount of the Beatitudes.  Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it by giving its ultimate interpretation in a divine way.

Matthew regarded the Sermon on the Mount as an epitome of Jesus' Teaching, of which His whole ministry was an illustration.  Containing, as it does, the very Heart of Jesus's Teaching, we may think of the Sermon on the Mount as being to the New Testament what the Ten Commandments were to the Old Testament.

It is probable that the teaching [the Sermon on the Mount] gives was repeated on other occasions.

He taught, when, being led as a lamb to the slaughter, he opened not his mouth, but now he opened his mouth, and taught, that the scriptures might be fulfilled (Proverbs 8:1, 2, 6).... He taught them what was the evil they should abhor, and what the good they should abide and abound in;  for Christianity is not a matter of speculation, but is designed to regulate the temper of our minds and the tenour of our conversations.

1599 Geneva Bible Notes
Christ teaches that the greatest joy and happiness is not in the conveniences and pleasures of this life, but is laid up in heaven for those who willingly rest in the good will and pleasure of God, and endeavour to profit all men, although they are cruelly vexed and troubled by those of the world, because they will not adapt themselves to their ways.
 

- Adam Clarke, Commentary 
(No comment on this verse)
 

Family Bible Notes
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