What was the Sermon on the Mount?
The Sermon on the Mount stands as one of the most significant and influential teachings of Jesus in the Bible. Found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5 through 7, this sermon encapsulates the spiritual heart of Jesus’ mission and message. It is the foundation of how we are to live as followers of Christ, shaping Christian thought, inspiring countless believers, and challenging the world with its radical vision of righteousness, love, and the kingdom of God. This article will explore the context, content, and theological significance of the Sermon on the Mount, drawing on the biblical text and considering its enduring relevance.
Context and Setting of the Sermon on the Mount
The Gospel of Matthew introduces the Sermon on the Mount early in Jesus’ public ministry. After describing Jesus’ baptism, temptation, and the calling of his first disciples, Matthew records that “he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them” (Matthew 5:1-2). The setting on a mountainside is significant, evoking Old Testament imagery of Moses receiving the law on Mount Sinai. In this way, Matthew presents Jesus as the new and greater lawgiver who teaches with authority, fulfilling and transcending the Mosaic law.
The audience for the Sermon on the Mount is both the disciples and the crowds who began to follow Jesus. While the immediate context is first-century Galilee, the sermon’s message is universal, addressing all who would enter the kingdom of God. The themes Jesus addresses are timeless: righteousness, mercy, prayer, and the heart’s orientation toward God.
What Did Jesus Say in the Sermon on the Mount?
The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes (“Blessings”) and concludes with a call to action. It covers a wide range of topics, including the nature of true blessedness, the fulfillment of the law, ethical conduct, religious devotion, and the priorities of the kingdom of God.
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) are some of the most profound and popular teachings of Jesus that all believers should prayerfully study because of their transformative nature. The sermon opens with a series of blessings pronounced upon those who embody the values of the kingdom. Jesus declares, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3), and continues with blessings for those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Remarkably, all the spiritual qualities preached by Jesus contradict the world’s standards and expectations. Because God’s kingdom is not of this fallen world, it stands above the world as a light to those searching for freedom in Truth.
Following the Beatitudes, Jesus addresses the identity and mission of his followers, calling them “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16). He urges them to let their light shine before others, so that their good works may glorify God.
A pivotal section of the sermon concerns Jesus’ relationship to the Old Testament Law and the Prophets. He asserts, “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). Jesus then intensifies the demands of the Law, moving from external compliance to internal transformation. He teaches that anger is as serious as murder (Matthew 5:21-22), lust as serious as adultery (Matthew 5:27-28), and that love must extend even to enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). In each case, Jesus exposes the heart as the true battleground of righteousness.
The sermon also addresses religious practices such as giving, prayer, and fasting. Jesus warns against hypocrisy, urging his followers to practice their righteousness “in secret” before God, rather than for human approval (Matthew 6:1-18). The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is given as a model prayer, emphasizing dependence on God, the coming of his kingdom, daily provision, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil.
Material concerns are also addressed with a call to trust in God’s provision. Jesus instructs, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). He warns against the trap of anxiety, reminding his listeners of God’s care for the birds and lilies, and says, “…Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:26-27). He points out a lack of faith in this kind of anxious thinking. Ultimately, we obey the Lord by releasing our anxieties to him, not holding our heart hostage to the world’s stresses. Jesus concludes, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
Christ’s sermon concludes with exhortations to avoid judgmentalism, to pray persistently, and to treat others as one would wish to be treated–the so-called “Golden Rule” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus warns of the narrow gate that leads to life, the dangers of false prophets, and the necessity of building one’s life on the solid foundation of his Word (Matthew 7:13-27).
What is the Main Point of the Sermon on the Mount?
The main point of Sermon on the Mount is to proclaim the values and realities of the kingdom of God. Jesus’ teaching reveals the character of those who belong to the kingdom and the nature of the righteousness that God requires. This righteousness is not superficial or external but penetrates to the motives and desires of the heart.
One of the central themes of the Sermon on the Mount is the contrast between the righteousness of the religious scribes and Pharisees and the greater righteousness required by Jesus. “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). This statement would have shocked Jesus’ original audience, as the Pharisees were regarded as models of religious observance. Yet Jesus insists that true righteousness is a matter of the heart, not just outward conformity.
Jesus’ sermon also emphasizes the radical nature of love in the kingdom. Jesus’ command to love one’s enemies (Matthew 5:44) is perhaps the most countercultural aspect of his teaching. This love is not based on reciprocity or merit, but reflects the character of God, “who makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). The call to “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) sets an ideal that can only be approached through Christ’s gospel of grace.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount also addresses the dangers of religious hypocrisy. Jesus repeatedly warns against practicing righteousness for the sake of human approval, whether in giving, prayer, or fasting. Instead, he calls for sincerity and integrity before God, who “sees in secret” (Matthew 6:4, 6, 18).
Ethics and The Golden Rule
The ethical demands of the Sermon on the Mount are both convicting and inspiring. Jesus’ teaching on anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and love for enemies sets a standard that exposes human sinfulness and the need for grace. The sermon does not offer a list of rules to be mechanically followed, but a vision of life transformed by the Spirit of God.
The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) summarizes the ethical teaching of the sermon: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” This principle, rooted in love and empathy, is the foundation of our duty here on earth: to bring others to Christ’s eternal freedom not by fear and works, but through humility and selfless love.
At the same time, the sermon’s closing parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27) underscores the necessity of obedience to the Word of God. It is not enough to admire Jesus’ teaching; one must put it into practice. The call to build on the rock of Jesus’ words is a call to discipleship and wholehearted commitment.
Conclusion
So, what was the Sermon on the Mount? It was the foundational text for understanding the world-changing message and mission of Jesus Christ. It reveals the heart of God, the nature of true righteousness, and the values of the kingdom of heaven. Its teachings are both a comfort and a challenge, calling believers to a life of radical love, integrity, and obedience. As Jesus concluded, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). The enduring relevance of Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount lies in its power to transform lives, churches, and communities, as its words are read, believed, and obeyed.