Bible Students

A. Be gentle with one another, that you may inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

The Christian must love others, for those who love others in the little things will be trusted to love others in the big things (in essence, to love the whole world which has been given to them for that very purpose). Christians are here given the promise that gentleness is a necessity even of those who rule the world, so gentleness is worthy of being used in the small things. 

B. Make peace with one another, that you may be called the sons of God (Matthew 5:9).

The attribute which is associated with being a son of God is peacefulness. Those who are peaceful will be known as children of their Father. Peace is a necessary quality of Christians, as those who desire to be Christ-like must bring the same sort of peace He brings. This is not peace between light and dark or sin and righteousness, but between people, bringing others to repentance through peacefulness as opposed to harshness. 

C. Reconcile with one another, that you may be fit to worship and serve the Lord (Matthew 5:23-24).

Here Christians are called to be reconciled to one another, in order that they would be able to be presented fit before the Lord. Negatively, the one who divides themself from others will not be presented fit before God, and therefore be divided before Him. Those who divide will be divided from God. Those who unite will be united to God. Similarly to peacefulness, the Christian must bring the same attempt for unity between people as Christ, which leads to repentance. 

D. Give to him who asks of you (Matthew 5:42a).

The Christian is called to give to him who asks of him. This is the gift of generosity. Christians must be generous because Christ has first been generous to them. In the same way as the previous callings, the Christian is called to do what the Lord has first done for them. Christians must be giving because they have been given much. The Christian who is stingy will be treated in a likewise manner by God. 

E. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44).

The Christian is called to love their enemies so much that they even pray favorably for the ones who hate and persecute them. The opposite of this would be to hate their enemies and to curse those who persecute them. However, Christ, the example for Christians, loved those who persecuted Him. Therefore, all Christians are called to love like Christ even toward those who hate them. 

F. Forgive others that God may forgive you (Matthew 6:14-15).

Similarly to many other references from Matthew, the Christian must do the thing they believe God has done for them. If God has forgiven them, they must also forgive. If they choose not to forgive, it may be that God has not forgiven them. The forgiveness of God leads to forgiveness of others because the debt owed to God is far greater than the debt owed to the individual Christian. The Christian who knows their own brokenness must pardon the brokenness of others. 

G. Do not judge others that you may not be judged (Matthew 7:1-2).

In the same manner, those who condemn may be condemned themselves. Christians must love others and seek the repentance of others, just as God sought their own repentance. The love and forgiveness of the Lord must permeate the Christian in order for them to love the other. 

H. Treat others the same way that you want them to treat you (Matthew 7:12).

Again, if the Christian desires to be treated well in life, they must treat the lives of others well also. The Christian must give what they expect to get. If the Christian expects to get forgiveness on the final judgment, they should start by giving that same forgiveness. This is not a works-based salvation, but an acting out of the forgiveness which has been given to the person. If the Christian desires to be treated favorably by God, they should show themselves approved by God by treating others favorably. 

I. Reprove your brother so that he may be reconciled with you and with the Lord (Matthew 18:15-17).

The Christian should seek the repentance of others, in order that they would be brought back into community with themself and the Lord. Those who desire the condemnation and the unrepentance of others may not have repented themselves. 

J. Serve one another, following the example of Christ (Matthew 20:26-28; John 13:13-17).

Again, the Christian must follow the example of Christ by doing what Christ has first done for them. The Christian is called to serve because Christ first served them. If the Christian is unwilling to serve, it may be that they do not know the Lord. Servanthood comes from an appreciation of what Christ has done. 

K. Love others as you do yourself so they may know that you are one of Christ’s disciples (Matthew 22:39; John 13:34).

Lastly, an explanation for all of the previous commandments is given: Do what Christ has done in order that is may be known that the Christian is one of Christ’s disciples. Christ’s disciples do what Christ did. If the Christian does not love, they are not like Christ, and therefore are not Christians. The one who knows the Lord must attempt to be like Him. This is the case for all of the previous points as well.