Note 1 at Mt. 5:1: This sermon was delivered by Jesus on a mountain. Compare with the sermon Jesus preached on the plain in Luke 6:17-49. The content of these two messages is the same, but to maintain the harmony of these gospels, it must be understood that this sermon was delivered on two different occasions that we have recorded in two different places.

Note 2 at Mt. 5:1: Jesus had not yet ordained the twelve special disciples which He called apostles (Lk. 6:13-compare placement of sermon on the mount with the placement of the twelve being ordained on the chronological chart, p. iv). So this is in reference to His many followers (v. 1--"multitudes"), which included the twelve but was not limited to them. The Greek word for "disciple" is "mathetes," which literally means "a learner," and indicates "learning by endeavor" or what we would call "on-the-job training." Jesus said in John 8:31, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." Anyone who meets this criterion is Jesus' disciple.