Jesus’ Teachings The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

The Sermon on the Mount is the lesson that Jesus teaches in the Gospel of Matthew. The Sermon on the Mount is the most famous speech Jesus ever gave.

SETTING The first few lines: "Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them..."

The Sermon on the Mount, by Carl Heinrich Bloch, Danish painter, d. 1890

Moses / Jesus Cosimo Rosselli's “The Sermon on the Mount,” 1481 (Sistine Chapel)

The Beatitudes Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

The Beatitudes Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

New Law vs. Old Law Do not think that I came to abolish the Law* or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven…. – the laws of the Torah, including the Ten Commandments

New Law vs. Old Law For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees* and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. -- Pharisees were a group of Jews who Jesus often criticized as obsessed with man- made rules. Jewish scholars, however, reject this portrayal of the Pharisees.

Commandment #7: Murder "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin.* But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. -- “Raca” means roughly “loser” or “good-for-nothing” -- Sanhedrin is the ancient Jewish court system

Commandment #8: Adultery You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

Go the Extra Mile You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Love Your Neighbor You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven…. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? * -- Gentile means “non-Jew”

Give Without Selfishness Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites* do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. -- a hypocrite is someone who puts on a false appearance of virtue

Pray in Secret When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Money 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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Do not judge Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

The Golden Rule In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

The “New Covenant” brought by the “Messiah” (or Savior) Jews did not accept Jesus as their prophesied “Messiah” because: (1) He was not the powerful political leader that the Torah predicted would rescue the Jews, restore Israel, and save Jerusalem. (2) His titles (“King of the Jews” and “Son of God”) angered some powerful Jewish leaders. (3) He seemed to imply that the laws/rituals of Judaism were not enough; being “good” is a much more internal effort.