Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

Matthew 5:2

Next

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

And {G2532} he opened {G455} his {G846} mouth {G4750}, and taught {G1321} them {G846}, saying {G3004},

and he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

and He began to teach them, saying:

and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

Commentary

Matthew 5:2 serves as the introductory phrase to the most iconic and foundational discourse of Jesus Christ: the Sermon on the Mount. This verse sets the stage for the profound teachings that follow, particularly the Beatitudes.

Context

This verse immediately follows Matthew 5:1, which describes Jesus ascending a mountain, and His disciples coming to Him, followed by a great multitude. The act of Jesus "opening his mouth" signifies a deliberate, solemn, and significant moment. It’s not a casual remark but the commencement of an authoritative and extensive teaching session. This mountain setting often symbolizes a place of divine revelation, reminiscent of Moses receiving the Law on Mount Sinai, thus subtly highlighting Jesus as the new Lawgiver or interpreter of God's will. The audience included both His dedicated disciples and the curious crowds, indicating the universal relevance of His message.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority: The phrase "he opened his mouth, and taught them" underscores Jesus' inherent authority as a teacher. Unlike the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus taught with an authority that astonished the people, as noted at the conclusion of the sermon (Matthew 7:28-29).
  • Preparation for Revelation: This verse acts as a solemn preamble, preparing the listeners for the radical and transformative truths about the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus is about to unveil, starting with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3.
  • Intentional Instruction: The deliberate action implies that Jesus was not merely conversing but was intentionally imparting foundational principles for righteous living and understanding God's heart.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "opened his mouth" is anoigo to stoma (ἀνοίγω τὸ στόμα). While seemingly a common action, in biblical Greek, this idiom often introduces a weighty, formal, or significant discourse. It suggests that what follows is not merely conversation but a profound declaration or a lengthy, important teaching. We see similar usage when Peter begins his sermon in Acts 10:34 ("Then Peter opened his mouth, and said..."). This emphasizes the gravity and importance of the Sermon on the Mount.

Practical Application

Matthew 5:2 reminds us to approach God's Word with reverence and an expectation of profound truth. Just as the disciples and crowds gathered to hear Jesus, we too should actively seek to listen and learn from His teachings, which remain timeless and transformative. This verse calls us to prepare our hearts and minds to receive and apply the spiritual principles that follow, recognizing that Jesus' words are not just advice, but divine instruction for life in His kingdom.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 8:35 (5 votes)

    Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

  • Luke 6:20 (4 votes)

    ¶ And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed [be ye] poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

  • Luke 6:26 (4 votes)

    Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

  • Acts 10:34 (3 votes)

    ¶ Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

  • Matthew 13:35 (1 votes)

    That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

  • Acts 18:14 (0 votes)

    And when Paul was now about to open [his] mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O [ye] Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

  • Ephesians 6:19 (0 votes)

    ¶ And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,