A collection of Jesus Christ's teaching on the theme of discipleship. It deals with the righteousness required of disciples, the way they are to perform their religious duties, and the blessing and persecution they will know as followers of Christ. It can be seen as a manifesto setting out the nature of life in the kingdom of God.
The setting of the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:1; Luke 6:17 Either Jesus Christ taught similar material in two different locations, as is common in preaching, or else Luke more specifically identifies that he taught on a level place or plateau on the mountainside.
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount
The blessings of being in the kingdom
See also Matthew 5:3–12 parallel Luke 6:20–23
Jesus Christ's disciples are to have a positive influence on the world
The relationship between Jesus Christ's message and the law
Jesus Christ's disciples are to exhibit a new depth of righteousness
Matthew 5:20 See also Matthew 5:48
For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The righteousness required of Jesus Christ disciples
Not only murder but also anger and broken relationships are wrong: Matthew 5:21–24; Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:25–26 parallel Luke 12:58–59; Matthew 5:27–30; Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:31–32 faithfulness in marriage is called for; Matthew 5:33–37 faithfulness in speech is called for; Matthew 5:38–48 Retaliation must be abandoned, and enemies as well as neighbours must be loved.
Jesus Christ's disciples are to seek only God's approval in their religious duties
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
How religious duties are to be performed
See also Matthew 6:2–4 Giving to the poor is to be done secretly; Matthew 6:5–8 Prayer is not to become a public display; Matthew 6:16–18 Fasting is to be done without show.
The kingdom is to be valued above material possessions
Matthew 6:19–21 See also Matthew 6:24–34 parallel Luke 12:22–31
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus Christ's disciples are to avoid being judgmental
Matthew 7:1–2 See also Matthew 7:3–5 parallel Luke 6:41–42
“Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Jesus Christ's disciples should pray, confident of an answer
Matthew 7:7–8 parallel Luke 11:9–10 See also Matthew 7:9–12 parallel Luke 11:11–13
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
A pattern for prayer
Matthew 6:9–15 parallel Luke 11:2–4
True disciples will obey Jesus Christ teaching
Matthew 7:21 See also Matthew 7:15–20, Matthew 7:24–27 parallel Luke 6:47–49
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Characteristics of Jesus Christ's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.