Tag Archives: Matthew 5:1

The Mountain Scene: Literary and Theological Context of Matthew 5:1

Matthew 5:1 — Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος· καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ· (“And seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain; and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.”)

This verse opens the famous Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7), establishing both its setting and its theological significance. The grammar of Matthew 5:1—through participial sequencing, narrative aorists, and dative constructions—frames Jesus’ action in ways that recall Mosaic imagery, highlight his authoritative teaching role, and invite the reader into a scene of eschatological instruction.… Learn Koine Greek