Rather than a presentation of a new list of rules to follow, the Sermon on the Mount is an invitation into the very heart of God. Jesus gently moves us from a shallow reading of what we should do to the true fulfillment of the law — who we should be. This transforms our understanding of blessing and identity from external indicators to an internal and eternal perspective.
What is the Sermon on the Mount?
The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of teachings attributed to Jesus Christ, found in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 5-7). It includes the Beatitudes and covers topics like love, forgiveness, and ethical behavior. It’s important to Christians as a foundational guide for moral and spiritual living, reflecting Jesus’ teachings on how to live a righteous life and build a relationship with God.
How Jesus’ reveals the identity of His followers
The Beattitudes describe the character of God’s people
As God’s people, we understand the poverty of our sinful condition, and therefore we mourn as those who are without hope. However, God comforts us with the sure hope of His Gospel of reconciliation. As sinners, saved by grace, we become meek by nature, never demanding our rights from the world. Yet, we passionately pursue a righteousness of our own that comes from God. We are merciful to others, because we have experienced God’s mercy, and we strive to make peace wherever possible since we are at peace with God. Our hearts are becoming pure, and we are willing to suffer persecution on account of righteousness and for Christ’s sake. (See Matthew 5:1-10.)
Jesus’ followers are the salt and light of the world
The Sermon on the Mount is less about telling His disciples what to do than describing to them who they really are. We can recognize His followers by looking at their character. Consequently, in Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus reveals their identity as salt and light.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5: 14-16
Good and evil originate from the condition of the heart
Jesus further reveals that His disciples are a people who understand that murder comes from anger.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. …”
Matthew 5:21-22
Adultery comes from lust.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28
And divorce arises out of a broken commitment.
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
Matthew 5:31-32
Jesus also warns us against swearing oaths that we don’t always keep and because our word is good.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all … All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:33-34, 37
Jesus’ disciples are also commanded to love and pray for their enemies and those who persecute them. Therefore, they are warned not to retaliate against them. This includes not striking back at them if they strike you, and giving to them even more than they ask! And not to refuse those who want to borrow from them.
Warning against religious hypocrisy
In the matter of relious activities, such as giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting, Jesus warns against showing off before others. Otherwise, they will have received their reward in full and will not receive their reward from their father in heaven. So, Jesus commands His people to do the following:
Giving to the needy. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:2-4).
Prayer. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
Fasting. “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18).
The Importance of our priorities
Jesus tells us we cannot serve two masters. Either we will hate the one and love the other, or we will be devoted to the one and despise the other (Matthew 6:24). Therefore, he said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Jesus also encourages His people not to worry about the essentials of life, what we will eat, what we will drink, or what will we wear (Matthew 6:25). For our heavenly Father knows we need these things. Therefore, we should not worry about such things. Instead, we should focus our primary attention on seeking His kingdom and His righteousness, knowing that all these other things will given to us as well.
Who are we to judge?
Jesus warns us, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2).
As Christians, we are not called to judge the appearance or outward perception of someone. Rather, we are called to exhort and build up the church, humbly confront sin, and always seek reconciliation. We are not called to judge people who are not self-proclaiming Christians. God is the judge of all and will judge those outside the church. However, we are called to judge the sin of believers inside the church.
Ask, seek, knock
Who should expect anything from God, if he will not ask Him for it? God expects us to be active participants in His provision for us. Therefore, Jesus said, “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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
Enter through the narrow gate
The way to eternal life is narrow. Jesus explained, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
To begin with, the way to eternal life is restricted to just one means—Jesus Christ. Many will try to enter in other ways, such as through manmade rules and regulations, through false religion, or through self-effort. But these other ways are a dead-end.
Also, those who seek to enter the narrow gate must do so by struggle and strain. It’s like a running athlete straining toward the finish line, all muscles taut and giving his all in the effort. With that being said, however, no amount of effort saves us, because salvation is by the grace of God through the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). No one will ever earn their way to heaven by striving for it. But entering the narrow gate is still difficult because of our human pride, our natural love of sin, and the opposition of Satan and the world in his control, all of which battle against us.
Watch out for false prophets
Jesus asks if people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. While the answer is obvious, some people act like they can gather wisdom by listening to false prophets. The Lord is clear that good trees can only bear good fruit, and bad trees can only bear bad fruit. Therefore, you will recognize them by the fruit that they bear.
The wisdom of putting Jesus’ words into practice.
The truth does us no good if we don’t build the foundation of our lives upon it. Jesus contrasts two ways of responding to Jesus’ preaching by comparing it to a wise man and a foolish one. The wise man, who put into practice Jesus’ teaching, built his house on the rock. So, it withstood the ferocity of the winds that came against it. But the foolish man is like the one who doesn’t put the words of Jesus into practice. He is like the one who built his house on sand. So, when the winds came, his house came crashing down.