Sermon of the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount (found in Matthew chapters 5-7) is one of the most profound and foundational teachings of Jesus Christ. It is not merely a set of rules, but a radical description of the character, values, and lifestyle of a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.

It begins with Jesus seeing the crowds, going up on a mountainside, and His disciples coming to Him. He then begins to teach them.

Here is a breakdown of its key sections and their meaning.

The Structure and Meaning of the Sermon

1. The Beatitudes (The "Blessed Ares" - Matthew 5:3-12) Jesus begins by describing the character of His followers.He turns the world's values upside down, showing that true happiness and blessing (makarios - a deep, spiritual joy and fulfillment) are found in things the world sees as weak.

· The Poor in Spirit: Those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy.

· Those Who Mourn: Those who grieve over their own sin and the brokenness of the world.

· The Meek: Not weakness, but strength under control; trusting God's justice rather than asserting one's own.

· Those Who Hunger for Righteousness: Who desperately desire to see God's will done on earth.

· The Merciful, The Pure in Heart, The Peacemakers: Those who reflect the character of God Himself.

· The Persecuted: Those who are insulted for their allegiance to Christ.

2. The Identity of Believers: Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16) Having described their character,Jesus declares our purpose: to preserve goodness in the world (salt) and to reveal the truth of God to the world (light). This is done through good deeds that point people to God.

3. The Fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20) Jesus makes it clear He did not come to abolish the Old Testament law but tofulfill it. He will show that the law's requirements go far beyond external actions to the internal attitudes of the heart.

4. The Six Contrasts: "You have heard... but I say..." (Matthew 5:21-48) Jesus takes six key areas of the law and radicalizes them,showing that God's standard is perfect inward righteousness.

· Murder → Anger & Reconciliation (v. 21-26)

· Adultery → Lust & Purity (v. 27-30)

· Divorce → Fidelity (v. 31-32)

· Oaths → Simple Honesty (v. 33-37)

· Retaliation → Radical Grace (v. 38-42)

· Loving Neighbor → Loving Enemies (v. 43-48) The climax is the command to"be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

5. The Practice of True Righteousness (Matthew 6:1-18) Jesus warns against performing religious acts for public praise.He instructs on doing them "in secret" for God's eyes only.

· Giving (v. 2-4)

· Prayer (including The Lord's Prayer) (v. 5-15)

· Fasting (v. 16-18)

6. Eternal Priorities (Matthew 6:19-34) Jesus calls for a shift in focus from earthly treasures to heavenly treasures,warning that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This leads to the famous command to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" and to not worry about tomorrow, trusting in our Heavenly Father's provision.

7. Warnings and Conclusion (Matthew 7)

· Do not judge hypocritically (v. 1-6).

· The simplicity of asking, seeking, and knocking from a good Father (v. 7-11).

· The Golden Rule: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" (v. 12).

· The Narrow and Wide Gates: Warning that the easy path leads to destruction, but the hard path leads to life (v. 13-14).

· Warning about False Prophets: They are known by their fruit (v. 15-23).

· The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders: The sermon concludes with a powerful call to not just hear these words, but to put them into practice. Obedience is the only foundation that can withstand the storms of life.

A Summary Poem of the Sermon

"The Kingdom Manifesto"

He climbed the hill, His disciples near, To speak the words we’d need to hear. He spoke of blessings,strange and deep, For those who mourn and gently weep.

“You are the salt, you are the light, To make the wrong and darkness right. Your life must be a brighter flame, That glorifies your Father’s name.”

He took the Law and made it full, Exposing every heart’s dark pull. “Not just the act of murderous hands, But angry words your God demands. Not just the act of faithless lust, But every glance that breaks your trust.”

“So do your deeds for God alone, Let His approval be your throne. When you give,fast, and when you pray, Seek not the praise that comes man’s way.”

“Lay up your treasure in the air, And live a life from worldly care. Just see the birds,the flowers dressed, By God they’re fed and fully blessed. So seek ye first the Kingdom’s way, And trust your Father for your day.”

“The gate is narrow, the road is hard, But walk with Me,be on your guard. For trees are known by fruit they make, And hollow words for heaven’s sake, Will not withstand the judgment’s wake.”

“So hear these words of Mine,” He said, And build your life on what you’ve read. The rain will fall,the winds will blow, The only house that stands below, Is one on practiced truth,you know.”

The storms will come to every soul, But Christ the Rock will make you whole. So do not merely hear and nod, But build your life upon our God.

The Sermon on the Mount is not a list of rules to earn salvation, but a description of the transformed life that results from receiving salvation by grace through faith. It shows us our inability to meet God's standard in our own strength and points us to our desperate need for a Savior—which is exactly who Jesus is.