Discovery BoxMatthew 5:3 
Context5:3 “Blessed 1 are the poor in spirit, 2 for the kingdom of heaven belongs 3 to them.
Matthew 5:8
Context5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 6:27
Context6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? 4
Matthew 7:9
Context7:9 Is 5 there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Matthew 10:17
Context10:17 Beware 6 of people, because they will hand you over to councils 7 and flog 8 you in their synagogues. 9
Matthew 23:28
Context23:28 In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 26:70
Context26:70 But he denied it in front of them all: 10 “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
1 sn The term Blessed introduces the first of several beatitudes promising blessing to those whom God cares for. They serve as an invitation to come into the grace God offers.
2 sn The poor in spirit is a reference to the “pious poor” for whom God especially cares. See Ps 14:6; 22:24; 25:16; 34:6; 40:17; 69:29.
3 sn The present tense (belongs) here is significant. Jesus makes the kingdom and its blessings currently available. This phrase is unlike the others in the list with the possessive pronoun being emphasized.
4 tn Or “a cubit to his height.” A cubit (πῆχυς, phcu") can measure length (normally about 45 cm or 18 inches) or time (a small unit, “hour” is usually used [BDAG 812 s.v.] although “day” has been suggested [L&N 67.151]). The term ἡλικία (Jhlikia) is ambiguous in the same way as πῆχυς (phcus). Most scholars take the term to describe age or length of life here, although a few refer it to bodily stature (see BDAG 436 s.v. 3 for discussion). Worry about length of life seems a more natural figure than worry about height. However, the point either way is clear: Worrying adds nothing to life span or height.
5 tn Grk “Or is there.”
6 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
7 sn Councils in this context refers to local judicial bodies attached to the Jewish synagogue. This group would be responsible for meting out justice and discipline within the Jewish community.
8 tn BDAG 620 s.v. μαστιγόω 1.a states, “of flogging as a punishment decreed by the synagogue (Dt 25:2f; s. the Mishna Tractate Sanhedrin-Makkoth, edited w. notes by SKrauss ’33) w. acc. of pers. Mt 10:17; 23:34.”
9 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.
10 tn Grk “he denied it…saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
