The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most famous teachings of Jesus Christ. It is found in two places in the Bible: Matthew 5–7 and Luke 6:17–49. Not only does it provide valuable insight into Jesus’s words and teachings, but it also offers a comprehensive overview of what it means to live a righteous life according to God’s laws. Let’s take a closer look at this sermon and what it can teach us about living out the Christian life.
The Sermon on the Mount starts with an introduction that sets out its foundation – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” In this statement, Jesus is telling us that our true happiness will come when we seek after righteousness above all else. We must strive to be holy, compassionate, generous, and loving if we want to experience joy in our lives. He then goes on to talk about how those who are poor in spirit are blessed; those who mourn are blessed; those who are meek are blessed; those who hunger for righteousness are blessed; those who show mercy are blessed; those who have a pure heart are blessed; those who make peace are blessed; and so on. This section of scripture is often referred to as “the Beatitudes” because it outlines eight attributes or virtues that lead to true happiness and spiritual fulfillment.
After laying out these blessings, Jesus then proceeds to list warnings or “woes” that should be avoided if one wants to live a righteous life. For example, he warns against being hypocrites (Matthew 6:2), placing too much emphasis on wealth (Matthew 6:19-21) and judging others (Matthew 7:1-5). His goal here is not only to point out wrong behavior but also to encourage people towards right action through gentleness rather than judgmental harshness. He then ends his sermon with an exhortation for his followers to build their house upon a rock—or rather, their faith upon God—so that when storms come their way, they will remain standing strong (Matthew 7:24-27).
The Sermon on the Mount provides valuable insight into how we should conduct ourselves as Christians to live faithfully according to God’s laws. Through this sermon, Jesus reminds us that our true happiness comes from seeking after righteousness first and foremost, avoiding hypocritical behavior, being charitable towards others and building our faith upon God so that we can stand firm amidst life’s struggles. By reflecting on these teachings from the Sermon on the Mount and allowing them to shape our actions, we can more fully embody what it means to be followers of Christ.
For a greater understanding, join us for our series on the Sermon on the Mount.