Jesus' Sermon on the Mount: Lessons you can get

The Sermon on the Mount is a core message of Christianity. Image: Matt Thornhill|Unsplash

On a mountainside adjacent to the Sea of Galilee, Jesus Christ delivered a most important message to His disciples and followers: the Sermon on the Mount.

The authority and sovereignty of God deeply pervaded the terrain as Jesus enlightened and awed the crowd with wisdom and prophetic expression from the Bible. It is believed that thousands of people gathered to listen to Jesus’ preaching for several days.

Sermon on the Mount’s central premises

The Sermon on the Mount is a compilation of various teachings by Jesus that touches on how we should think, believe, act, and relate to others as Christians. Here are its central premises:

Jesus spoke with authority

“Because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” – Matthew 7:29

Jesus Christ preached with authority from God. Compared to the lofty and proud Pharisees and other scribes, Jesus spoke with utter humility. His words were packed with godly wisdom that often defies the culture and understanding of man.

The fulfillment of the Old Covenant

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” – Matthew 5:17

Because of the somehow strange tone and meaning of what the people were hearing from Jesus, they thought He was threatening to do away with the commandments of God. Instead, Jesus emphasized that His incarnation and teachings realized the embodiment of the Old Testament.

The introduction of the New Covenant

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” – Romans 6:14

The people watched and heard in awe as Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. For the first time, they felt and audibly heard God’s voice speaking to them in words they couldn’t imagine. Paradoxically, Jesus spoke in parables and teachings that puzzled and illuminated the believers in the crowd. Jesus set forth grace by God and salvation through faith as central cores of Christianity.

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: bible verse and summary

These are some Bible verses that sum up Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:

The Eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)

The qualities of a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ are depicted in the Beatitudes. These teachings guide us to embody humility, mercy, justice, compassion, and an eagerness for peace. Moreover, they remind believers that they will experience affliction and tribulation in pursuing the faith.

The Parable of Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)

As the “salt of the earth,” Christians are supposed to exemplify the character of Jesus and share the good news with other people. As the “light of the world,” we are called to bring hope to a world darkened by sin.

Fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20)

Jesus came to Earth to fulfill God’s commandments, not destroy them.

Murder (Matthew 5:21-26)

Jesus emphasized compassion and love for one another. He also urges us to learn to forgive our enemies.

Adultery (Matthew 5:27-30)

Marriage is sacred in God’s eyes. If a person who is married covets or lustfully gazes at another, he commits adultery.

Divorce (Matthew 5:31-32)

Jesus said that sexual immorality is the only reason for divorce.

Oaths (Matthew 5:33-37)

We are not to violate our oaths and vows to God. Jesus teaches his disciples about the importance of keeping oaths. He instructs them to let their “yes be yes” and their “no be no” and to avoid making oaths by anything else, as it can lead to dishonesty and a lack of trustworthiness.

Revenge (Matthew 5:38-42)

Jesus teaches us not to take revenge on anyone who harms us. Instead, we are to show love and compassion.

Love for enemies (Matthew 5:43-48)

Loving and praying for our foes is a virtue and command of Jesus Christ.

Giving to the needy (Matthew 6:1-4)

The Lord urges that our help to others and acts of charity should not be a public display of good works.

Prayer (Matthew 6:5-13)

The Lord’s Prayer is the embodiment and template of how we should pray. The act of praying should also not be a public display of righteousness.

Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18)

Jesus teaches His disciples about fasting, emphasizing that they should not fast to be seen by others but rather in secret as a personal spiritual discipline. He also promises that God will reward those who fast sincerely and with the right motives.

Treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-24)

Jesus teaches that instead of accumulating wealth and material possessions on Earth, we should store treasures in Heaven by doing good deeds and having a pure heart. He warns that we cannot serve God and money and that our true priorities will be revealed by where we invest our time, energy, and resources.

Do not worry (Matthew 6:25-34)

God is our Great Provider. The Bible passage in Matthew 6:25-34 encourages believers not to worry about their lives, food, or clothing because God will provide for them. The passage emphasizes the importance of trusting God and seeking His Kingdom first.

Judging others (Matthew 7:1-6)

We should not judge others because this is the domain of God. Jesus warns against judging others and highlights the importance of examining our faults before pointing out the flaws of others. He also cautions against giving what is holy to those who will not appreciate it, as they may turn and attack us.

Ask, seek, knock (Matthew 7:7-12)

Jesus encourages his followers to ask, seek, and knock, promising they will receive, find, and open doors. He explains that just as earthly fathers give good things to their children, God desires to give even greater gifts to those who ask Him.

The narrow and wide gates (Matthew 7:13-14)

Jesus tells a parable about life and death. Jesus admonishes His disciples to ‘seek life by entering through the narrow gate that contradicts the popular but destructive ways of the world,’ as mentioned by The Bible Says website.

True and false prophets (Matthew 7:15-20)

We are even warned about false prophets who claim to be Christians but whose lives don’t reflect God’s values and true conversion. Prophets and ministers are to be evaluated by their fruits—their actions and the results of those actions.

True and false disciples (Matthew 7:21-23)

Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is one. True obedience and humility are the marks of a faithful follower of Christ.

The wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27)

We must choose God as the bedrock of our lives. Our spiritual foundation is secure and robust when we live according to God’s Word.

The Sermon on the Mount and God’s Kingdom

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 14-17

The teachings of the Almighty and the sermons of Jesus Christ embody the precepts of God’s Kingdom. They emphasize love, modesty, leniency, purity of heart, and peacemaking, presenting a solid alternative to the cynicism and selfishness that frequently symbolize modern civilization.

Another defining message of the Sermon on the Mount is its regard for social justice and charity for the indigents and less privileged. Jesus tells His disciples to live for the service of others.

He also urges them to thrive by the indwelling grace of the Holy Spirit than pursue the accumulation of wealth, possessions, and power at the expense of others. These doctrines remain relevant as they were two thousand years ago, as we grapple with poverty, inequality, and injustice.

The central message of the Sermon on the Mount is to live humbly and righteously in our earthly tent as we await the promised eternal life.