Gentile coming to the faith of Israel, as Elohim does not have a "separate" revelation and faith for the Gentile
world – there is one Elohim for both Jew and Gentile.
5:2-3 Kingdom of Heaven
―(2) And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, (3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven‖.
The term ―heaven" is a euphemism for "YHWH‖. Matthew uses this about ninety percent of the time in his
Gospel. Judaism makes use of multiple ways of referring to YHWH, including: HaShem (meaning ―the
name‖), Adonai, Elohim, El, Yah, Eloah and others.
5:3-10 Blessed are...
―(3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are they that mourn: for
they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (6) Blessed are they which
do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy. (8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for
they shall be called the children of God. (10) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven‖.
―Blessed‖ is Asher (Ah-Share) in Hebrew, and has a combined meaning of ―happy and fortunate‖. With that
in mind, let‘s look at the various ―happy and fortunate‖ groups of people:
...the poor in Spirit (re: Isaiah 57:15 ―For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose
name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive
the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones‖, and Isaiah 66:2 ―For all those things
hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to
him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word‖.)
...the mourners who will be comforted (re: Isaiah 61:2 ―To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the
day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn‖; and Isaiah 66:10 and 13: ―Rejoice ye with
Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: ... As
one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem‖.)
...the meek who inherit the land (re: Psalm 37:1 ―But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight
themselves in the abundance of peace‖.)
...they will be satisfied (re: Isaiah 66:11- 12 ―That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her
consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. (12) For thus saith the
LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then
shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees‖.)
...merciful who obtain mercy (re: Psalm 18:26 ―With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward
thou wilt shew thyself froward‖. And 2 Sam 22:26 ―With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with
the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright‖.)
...pure in heart (re: Psalm 22:4 ―Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them‖, and
Psalm 51:10 ―Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me‖, and Psalm 73:11 ―And
they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?‖)
...persecuted for righteousness for theirs is the kingdom (re: Isaiah 66:5 ―Hear the word of the LORD, ye that
tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD
be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed‖.)
"Blessings" as such are also found in the Qumran (Dead Sea) scrolls. In the following portion, wisdom is
clearly exalted. Wisdom and the law are viewed as inseparable. (Missing scroll portions are bracketed):
4Q525, Fragment 2, Column 2: ―[Blessed is the one who...] with a clean heart and does not slander with his
tongue. Blessed are those who hold fast to its statutes and do not hold fast to the ways of injustice. Ble[ssed]
are those who rejoice in it, and do not burst forth on paths of folly. Blessed are those who seek it with pure
hands, and do not search for it with a deceitful [he]art. Blessed is the man who obtains wisdom, and walks in
the way of the law of the Most High; establishes his heart in its ways, restrains himself by its corrections, is
continually satisfied with its punishments, does not forsake it in the face of [his] trials, at the time of distress
he does not abandon it, does not forget it [in the day of] terror, and in the humility of his soul does not abhor
it. But he meditates on it continually, and in his trial he reflects [on the law, and with al]l his being [he gains
understanding] in it, [and he establishes it] before his eyes so as not to walk in the ways [of injustice, and...]