ESTUDIO DEL CAPÍTULO
Matthew 5 — The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5 opens the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, calls disciples salt and light, and presents Jesus as the authoritative interpreter of Torah through a series of 'You have heard… but I say' contrasts.
Escritura
- 1.Viendo la multitud, subió al monte; y sentándose, vinieron a él sus discípulos.And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him:
- 2.Y abriendo su boca les enseñaba, diciendo:and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
- 3.Bienaventurados los pobres en espíritu, porque de ellos es el reino de los cielos.Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- 4.Bienaventurados los que lloran, porque ellos recibirán consolación.Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
- 5.Bienaventurados los mansos, porque ellos recibirán la tierra por heredad.Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
- 6.Bienaventurados los que tienen hambre y sed de justicia, porque ellos serán saciados.Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
- 7.Bienaventurados los misericordiosos, porque ellos alcanzarán misericordia.Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
- 8.Bienaventurados los de limpio corazón, porque ellos verán a Dios.Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
- 9.Bienaventurados los pacificadores, porque ellos serán llamados hijos de Dios.Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.
- 10.Bienaventurados los que padecen persecución por causa de la justicia, porque de ellos es el reino de los cielos.Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- 11.Bienaventurados sois cuando por mi causa os vituperen y os persigan, y digan toda clase de mal contra vosotros, mintiendo.Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
- 12.Gozaos y alegraos, porque vuestro galardón es grande en los cielos; porque así persiguieron a los profetas que fueron antes de vosotros.Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.
- 13.Vosotros sois la sal de la tierra; pero si la sal se desvaneciere, ¿con qué será salada? No sirve más para nada, sino para ser echada fuera y hollada por los hombres.Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.
- 14.Vosotros sois la luz del mundo; una ciudad asentada sobre un monte no se puede esconder.Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
- 15.Ni se enciende una luz y se pone debajo de un almud, sino sobre el candelero, y alumbra a todos los que están en casa.Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house.
- 16.Así alumbre vuestra luz delante de los hombres, para que vean vuestras buenas obras, y glorifiquen a vuestro Padre que están los cielos.Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- 17.No penséis que he venido para abrogar la ley o los profetas; no he venido para abrogar, sino para cumplir.Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.
- 18.Porque de cierto os digo que hasta que pasen el cielo y la tierra, ni una jota ni una tilde pasará de la ley, hasta que todo se haya cumplido.For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.
- 19.De manera que cualquiera que quebrante uno de estos mandamientos muy pequeños, y así enseñe a los hombres, muy pequeño será llamado en el reino de los cielos; mas cualquiera que los haga y los enseñe, éste será llamado grande en el reino de los cielos.Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
- 20.Porque os digo que si vuestra justicia no fuere mayor que la de los escribas y fariseos, no entraréis en el reino de los cielos.For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- 21.Oísteis que fue dicho a los antiguos: No matarás; y cualquiera que matare será culpable de juicio.Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
- 22.Pero yo os digo que cualquiera que se enoje contra su hermano, será culpable de juicio; y cualquiera que diga: Necio, a su hermano, será culpable ante el concilio; y cualquiera que le diga: Fatuo, quedará expuesto al infierno de fuego.but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.
- 23.Por tanto, si traes tu ofrenda al altar, y allí te acuerdas de que tu hermano tiene algo contra ti,If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,
- 24.deja allí tu ofrenda delante del altar, y anda, reconcíliate primero con tu hermano, y entonces ven y presenta tu ofrenda.leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
- 25.Ponte de acuerdo con tu adversario pronto, entre tanto que estás con él en el camino, no sea que el adversario te entregue al juez, y el juez al alguacil, y seas echado en la cárcel.Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
- 26.De cierto te digo que no saldrás de allí, hasta que pagues el último cuadrante.Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.
- 27.Oísteis que fue dicho: No cometerás adulterio.Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
- 28.Pero yo os digo que cualquiera que mira a una mujer para codiciarla, ya adulteró con ella en su corazón.but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
- 29.Por tanto, si tu ojo derecho te es ocasión de caer, sácalo, y échalo de ti; pues mejor te es que se pierda uno de tus miembros, y no que todo tu cuerpo sea echado al infierno.And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.
- 30.Y si tu mano derecha te es ocasión de caer, córtala, y échala de ti; pues mejor te es que se pierda uno de tus miembros, y no que todo tu cuerpo sea echado al infierno.And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.
- 31.También fue dicho: Cualquiera que repudie a su mujer, dele carta de divorcio.It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
- 32.Pero yo os digo que el que repudia a su mujer, a no ser por causa de fornicación, hace que ella adultere; y el que se casa con la repudiada, comete adulterio.but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.
- 33.Además habéis oído que fue dicho a los antiguos: No perjurarás, sino cumplirás al Señor tus juramentos.Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
- 34.Pero yo os digo: No juréis en ninguna manera; ni por el cielo, porque es el trono de Dios;but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;
- 35.ni por la tierra, porque es el estrado de sus pies; ni por Jerusalén, porque es la ciudad del gran Rey.nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
- 36.Ni por tu cabeza jurarás, porque no puedes hacer blanco o negro un solo cabello.Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.
- 37.Pero sea vuestro hablar: Sí, sí; no, no; porque lo que es más de esto, de mal procede.But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.
- 38.Oísteis que fue dicho: Ojo por ojo, y diente por diente.Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
- 39.Pero yo os digo: No resistáis al que es malo; antes, a cualquiera que te hiera en la mejilla derecha, vuélvele también la otra;but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
- 40.y al que quiera ponerte a pleito y quitarte la túnica, déjale también la capa;And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
- 41.y a cualquiera que te obligue a llevar carga por una milla, vecon él dos.And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.
- 42.Al que te pida, dale; y al que quiera tomar de ti prestado, no se lo rehúses.Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
- 43.Oísteis que fue dicho: Amarás a tu prójimo, y aborrecerás a tu enemigo.Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:
- 44.Pero yo os digo: Amad a vuestros enemigos, bendecid a los que os maldicen, haced bien a los que os aborrecen, y orad por los que os ultrajan y os persiguen;but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
- 45.para que seáis hijos de vuestro Padre que está en los cielos, que hace salir su sol sobre malos y buenos, y que hace llover sobre justos e injustos.that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.
- 46.Porque si amáis a los que os aman, ¿qué recompensa tendréis? ¿No hacen también lo mismo los publicanos?For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
- 47.Y si saludáis a vuestros hermanos solamente, ¿qué hacéis de más? ¿No hacen también así los gentiles?And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?
- 48.Sed, pues, vosotros perfectos, como vuestro Padre que está en los cielos es perfecto.Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Qué significa este pasaje
Verses 3–12 present nine Beatitudes, each beginning with the Greek word μακάριοι (makarioi), often rendered 'blessed.' The word denotes a state of deep flourishing granted by God, not a feeling produced by circumstance. Each beatitude pairs a present condition (poor in spirit, mourning, meek) with a promised eschatological outcome (the kingdom, comfort, inheritance). The series builds from inward disposition toward visible witness and ends with persecution, showing that the community shaped by these virtues will inevitably clash with the world.
Verses 13–16 deploy two compact metaphors—salt (ἅλας) and light (φῶς)—to describe the disciples' social function. Salt preserves and flavors; a city on a hill cannot be hidden. The call is not to seek visibility but to recognize that faithful existence is inherently visible. The purpose stated in verse 16 is doxological: human good works are meant to redirect attention to 'your Father who is in heaven.'
Verses 17–48 form a single literary unit in which Jesus reframes six traditional teachings. The formula 'You have heard… but I say to you' does not nullify the law (verse 17: 'fulfill,' πληρῶσαι); it deepens it by moving from outward action to inward intention—anger, lust, divorce, oath-keeping, retaliation, enemy-love. The chapter closes with the command to be 'perfect' (τέλειοι) as the heavenly Father is perfect, where τέλειοι means complete or mature rather than sinless in an absolute sense.
Contexto
Matthew 5–7 forms the first of five teaching blocks in Matthew and opens Jesus' public ministry with a sustained discourse. The setting—Jesus on a mountain, seated while disciples approach—echoes Moses at Sinai (Exodus 19–20), presenting Jesus as a new lawgiver whose teaching both continues and transcends the Mosaic Torah. The crowds (ὄχλοι, verse 1) are present as audience; the disciples are the addressed recipients, a pattern Matthew sustains throughout the sermon.
Scholarly discussion often asks whether Jesus is contradicting or interpreting the law in 5:17–48. The text itself resolves this by stating the law will not pass away (verse 18) while demanding a righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees (verse 20). The 'but I say to you' formula points to authoritative exegesis of scriptural intent, not abrogation—a distinction respected across the major interpretive traditions.
Palabras clave del original
- G3107 μακάριοι (makarioi): rendered 'blessed' or 'happy'; denotes a God-given state of flourishing, not subjective emotion. It is the structural keyword of the Beatitudes (5:3–11).
- G4239 πραεῖς (praeis): the meek or gentle; in Matthew 5:5 it carries the sense of strength under control, not weakness. The promise to 'inherit the earth' echoes Psalm 37:11.
- G4434 πτωχοὶ (ptōchoi): the poor; in 'poor in spirit' it describes spiritual dependence on God rather than economic poverty alone, matching Isaiah 66:2 (cf. cross references).
Versículos relacionados
- Luke 14:34 Luke's parallel to Matthew 5:13 confirms the salt saying circulated as an independent logion; both versions treat flavorless salt as fit only to be discarded.
- Isaiah 66:2 The 'poor in spirit' of 5:3 echoes Isaiah 66:2's contrite and humble person, rooting the first Beatitude in the prophetic tradition rather than in mere economic imagery.
- 1 Peter 2:12 Peter echoes 5:16's pattern: good works observed by outsiders lead them to glorify God, showing that Matthew's light metaphor shaped later Christian ethics.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is Jesus abolishing the law in Matthew 5:17–20?
No. Verse 17 says he came to 'fulfill' (πληρῶσαι) the law, not destroy it, and verse 18 insists that not even a jot or tittle will pass away. What follows is a deeper, intention-focused interpretation of the law's demands, not its cancellation.
How many Beatitudes are there in Matthew 5:3–12?
Most count nine statements beginning with 'Blessed are' (μακάριοι). Verses 3 and 10 both promise 'the kingdom of heaven,' which some scholars read as a literary frame around eight Beatitudes; others treat them as nine distinct statements. The exact count is not fixed in the tradition.
What does 'perfect' mean in Matthew 5:48?
The Greek τέλειοι (teleioi) means complete or mature, not sinless in an absolute sense. The verse calls disciples to mirror the Father's indiscriminate love (verses 44–45) as the trajectory of growth, a goal rather than a finished state.