What is the Sermon on the Mount?

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most profound and significant discourses delivered by Jesus Christ, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5 through 7. This sermon, given on a mountainside to His disciples and a large crowd, is often considered the cornerstone of Christian ethics and spirituality. It encapsulates the essence of Jesus' teachings and provides a comprehensive guide to living a life that is pleasing to God.

The setting of the sermon is crucial to its interpretation. Jesus, seeing the crowds, went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them (Matthew 5:1-2). In the Jewish tradition, mountains were often places of divine revelation. Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai, and now Jesus, the new Moses, delivers His interpretation of the Law on a mountain. This parallel underscores the authoritative nature of Jesus' teachings.

The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), a series of blessings that describe the characteristics and rewards of those who are part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Each Beatitude begins with "Blessed are..." and presents a paradoxical statement that challenges conventional wisdom. For example, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). This statement suggests that spiritual poverty, or recognizing one's need for God, is a prerequisite for entering God's kingdom. The Beatitudes collectively paint a picture of the values and attitudes that should characterize followers of Christ.

Following the Beatitudes, Jesus uses two metaphors to describe the role of His followers in the world: salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). "You are the salt of the earth," He says, emphasizing the preservative and flavor-enhancing qualities of salt. Christians are called to preserve moral integrity and add godly flavor to the world. "You are the light of the world," He continues, highlighting the illuminating and guiding role of light. Believers are to shine the light of Christ in a dark world, leading others to glorify God.

Jesus then addresses the Law and the Prophets, affirming that He has not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-20). He emphasizes the enduring relevance of the Law and calls for a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. This sets the stage for a series of antitheses, where Jesus contrasts traditional interpretations of the Law with His deeper, more radical teachings.

In these antitheses (Matthew 5:21-48), Jesus reinterprets six specific commandments, revealing their deeper spiritual intent. For example, regarding the commandment "You shall not murder," Jesus teaches that even harboring anger against a brother or sister is subject to judgment (Matthew 5:21-22). Similarly, He expands the commandment against adultery to include lustful thoughts (Matthew 5:27-28). These teachings emphasize the importance of inner purity and the transformation of the heart, not just outward compliance with rules.

The sermon continues with teachings on various aspects of personal piety and religious practice. Jesus addresses giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting, urging His followers to practice these acts of devotion in secret, without seeking public recognition (Matthew 6:1-18). The Lord's Prayer, found within this section (Matthew 6:9-13), serves as a model for how believers should pray, emphasizing themes of reverence, dependence on God, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil.

Jesus also speaks about material possessions and anxiety, encouraging His followers to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (Matthew 6:19-24). He assures them of God's provision and care, urging them not to worry about their basic needs but to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:25-34). This teaching challenges the materialistic mindset and calls for a life of trust and dependence on God.

In the final chapter of the sermon, Jesus addresses judgment, relationships, and the narrow path of discipleship. He warns against hypocritical judgment, urging His followers to first examine their own lives before judging others (Matthew 7:1-5). He also teaches the Golden Rule, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12), summarizing the Law and the Prophets in one simple yet profound principle.

The sermon concludes with a series of warnings and exhortations. Jesus speaks of the narrow gate that leads to life and the wide gate that leads to destruction, emphasizing the difficulty and cost of true discipleship (Matthew 7:13-14). He warns against false prophets and the dangers of superficial faith, urging His followers to bear good fruit and build their lives on the solid foundation of His teachings (Matthew 7:15-27). The imagery of the wise and foolish builders, with one building on rock and the other on sand, underscores the importance of putting Jesus' words into practice.

The reaction of the crowd to Jesus' sermon is telling: "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law" (Matthew 7:28-29). Jesus' authority, derived from His unique relationship with the Father, sets His teachings apart from those of other religious leaders.

In summary, the Sermon on the Mount is a comprehensive and transformative guide to Christian living. It calls for a radical reorientation of values, attitudes, and behaviors, centering on the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus' teachings challenge conventional wisdom and religious formalism, calling His followers to a deeper, more authentic righteousness that flows from a transformed heart. The sermon remains a timeless and compelling blueprint for discipleship, inviting believers to live out the values of God's kingdom in a world that desperately needs the light and salt of Christ.