Jesus, Sermon

on the Mount
Study Guide by Course Hero

but scholars estimate it was composed between 50 CE and

What's Inside 100 CE. The sermon is one of the five major sections of
Jesus's teachings recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. In the
sermon, Jesus teaches about how the Kingdom of God will
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 operate and presents a new way of living. The 1st-century
Jewish audience would have been familiar with the notion of
a Main Ideas .................................................................................................... 1
the Kingdom of God. According to Jewish teaching, God
d In Context .................................................................................................... 2 promised to set up the kingdom on Earth. The Jews likely
expected this to be a political kingdom that would provide
a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 5 rescue from the oppressive Roman government. The gospel
reports that crowds who listened responded with amazement
h Key Figures ................................................................................................. 5
because Jesus spoke with authority even though he was not
one of the recognized religious leaders of the day. Today the
k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 7
Sermon on the Mount is accepted as part of the biblical canon.
c Chapter Summaries ................................................................................ 9 As such, it forms part of Christian doctrine and is considered a
guide for living a moral life.
g Quotes ......................................................................................................... 12
ABOUT THE TITLE
m Glossary ...................................................................................................... 14 The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus's (c. 6–4 BCE to c.
30 CE) primary teachings about the Kingdom of God. For the
b Metaphors .................................................................................................. 15
Jewish Christians, who were the primary audience for
Matthew's gospel, this sermon (or collection of sermons) and
its setting would call to mind the Hebrew Bible's account of

j Book Basics Moses (c. 13th century BCE), who was given the Ten
Commandments on Mount Sinai. Whereas the Ten
Commandments taught the Israelite community how to live on
AUTHOR
Earth, according to God's rules, the Sermon on the Mount
Jesus
teaches Jesus's disciples how to live as citizens of God's
kingdom.
YEARS WRITTEN
1st to 2nd centuries CE

GENRE
Religion a Main Ideas
AT A GLANCE
The Sermon on the Mount is recorded in the New Testament
Gospel of Matthew. Though the authorship of the gospel is The Recipients of Blessing
uncertain, it has historically been attributed to Matthew (1st
century), a former tax collector who became one of the 12 Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God operates differently
apostles of Jesus. The date of the book's writing is uncertain, from earthly kingdoms. Earthly kingdoms privilege wealth,
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide
power, and position. The Gospel of Mark indicates Jesus's
disciples assumed the Kingdom of God would operate the
same way. In Mark 10:35–45 James and John ask Jesus to give
them positions of power in his kingdom. The other apostles get
angry because they want such positions for themselves.
Perhaps as part of Jesus's inner circle of disciples, these
apostles felt they deserved such an honor. In the Sermon on
the Mount, however, Jesus indicates that in the Kingdom of
God the lowly will be blessed. He identifies eight kinds of
people who deserve blessing: the poor in spirit, those who
mourn, the meek, those who pursue righteousness, the
merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the
persecuted. The eight beatitudes do not indicate eight discrete
groups of people, but rather the overall character befitting
citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Living for a Greater
Righteousness
The Law given to Moses centuries earlier guided the lives of
the Jews in Jesus's day. Some zealous religious leaders like
the Pharisees interpreted the biblical Law in practical ways,
introducing guidelines to help people avoid inadvertently
breaking it. In the gospel tradition, Jesus denounces these rule
followers as hypocrites who seek prestige as a result of their
pious actions. Jesus teaches he has not come to abolish the
Law but to show that even this level of obedience falls short of
pleasing God. In God's kingdom, not only do actions matter, but
the attitude of the heart does as well. Jesus's disciples need
not concern themselves with winning arguments, getting even,
or storing up worldly provisions. Instead, they should focus on
storing up treasures in heaven by communing with God,
pursuing righteousness, and treating others with the
compassion and grace they have received.
Jesus uses two metaphors to illustrate the roles of his
disciples. First, they are to be "the salt of the earth." This
comparison suggests Jesus's disciples are to make Earth a
better place to live through their righteous, kingdom-focused
living. Second, they are to be "the light of the world." Righteous
living is not to be pursued to show off to others as the
Pharisees did but rather to please God. In this way others are
shown the way to God, rather than shining a spotlight on
themselves.
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In Context 2
The Kingdom of God Is at Hand
For centuries the Jews had looked forward to the Kingdom of
God, the period during which God would dwell with the people.
Jesus's teaching indicates the kingdom is no longer in the
future but present. Though he does not directly claim to be
God in this passage, Jesus indicates he controls the entrance
to the Kingdom of God in Matthew 7:21–23. He states, "Many
will say to me, 'Lord, Lord' ... and then will I declare to them, 'I
never knew you; depart from me.'" The crowd's response of
amazement at his authority suggests they realize he is claiming
to be more than just a religious teacher. If Jesus is God, rather
than merely speaking on God's behalf, then indeed the
Kingdom of God—God's presence with the people—is at hand.
The structure of the Sermon on the Mount suggests the focus
of the discourse is God's communion with his people. If the
discourse in Matthew Chapters 5 through 7 is viewed as a
pyramid, the first part is the ascent. The ascent begins with the
promise of blessing and the call to a higher standard of
righteousness. The pinnacle is the Lord's Prayer, through
which Jesus teaches his disciples how to commune directly
with their heavenly Father. The descent includes admonitions
and warnings. Jesus's disciples are to stay focused on
communing with God, living as citizens of the heavenly
kingdom, even while on Earth, by storing up rewards of eternal
rather than temporal value. They also need to be wary of false
teachers who promise an easier way into the Kingdom of God.
d In Context
The Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew is one of four gospels in the New
Testament that describes the life and teachings of Jesus (c.
6–4 BCE to c. 30 CE). Each of the four gospels differs in focus.
The Gospel of Matthew features Jesus as king, the fulfillment
of the Hebrew Bible's promised Messiah. In the chapters
preceding the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew makes an
argument for Jesus's kingship, first tracing his lineage to King
David of Israel (c. 1000 BCE) and then reporting the visit by the
wise men, astrologers who worshipped the infant Jesus as
king.
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide
The author's references to the kingdom of the Hebrew Bible
and how Jesus fits the prophecies mentioned in the Hebrew
Bible suggest that Matthew was writing primarily to an
audience of Jewish Christians who would have been familiar
with these religious traditions.
The date of the writing of the Gospel of Matthew is unknown
but assumed to be between 50 CE and 100 CE, at least 30
years after Jesus's death. Jewish tradition held memorization
in high regard, and it was commonly used as a teaching tool.
The structure of Jesus's discourse lent itself to memorization
and helped to preserve the integrity of Jesus's teachings even
though many years passed before being recorded in writing.
Matthew's gospel includes narratives about Jesus's life and
ministry as well as five major discourses, one of which is the
Sermon on the Mount. This particular discourse employs the
literary style of the Wisdom books of the Hebrew Bible,
including parallelisms, metaphor, imagery, figurative language,
hyperbole (exaggeration), and proverbs.
The Nation of Israel according
to the Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible, a text that Matthew knows and uses, tells
the story of the relationship between God and the nation of
Israel. God engaged in a covenant relationship with this chosen
group of people and promised to bless the world through them.
God promised to care for the Israelites, and they in turn were
to obey God's commands. Five books of the Hebrew
Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy—are commonly referred to as the books of the
Law. They include over 600 commandments. Obedience to the
commandments reflects the Jews' reverence for God.
However, rather than being burdensome, the intent of the Law
was to protect and bless the Jewish people.
The Hebrew Bible tells of Israel's repeated failure to keep the
covenant. Influenced by pagan nations, the Israelites often
turned to the false gods of the cultures around them, violating
the covenant with God, who required their exclusive worship.
Israel engaged in a cycle of disobedience, warnings by the
prophets, judgment, repentance, and deliverance. Though God
did not tolerate the sin of the chosen nation, and Israel often
reaped the consequences of their disobedience in the form of
conquest by another nation, God always responded to Israel
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In Context 3
with mercy and compassion, as well as the promise that one
day God would dwell with them in a peaceful kingdom under
divine rule. The Sermon on the Mount is presented as the new
Law of this peaceful kingdom.
The prophets of the Hebrew Bible spoke of a "new covenant"
in which God's Law would be written on the hearts of the
people, facilitating their obedience. Christians believe this new
covenant came to pass when Jesus came to Earth, died as a
sacrifice for human sin, and rose to life again. Following the
resurrection, Jesus gave his spirit to those who followed him.
This spirit, known as the Holy Spirit, helps people in their
efforts to resist temptation. Unlike Christians, Jews do not
identify Jesus as a deity or Messiah, and so continue to
anticipate the new covenant.
Judaism at the Time of Jesus
Common Religious Practices of the
Jews during Jesus's Day
The temple played an essential role in the history of Israel and
in the lives of 1st-century Jews. Temple worship and Sabbath
observance were key religious practices. Jews gathered for
readings of the Hebrew Bible and prayers. Sins of the people
were atoned for through sacrifice. Local gatherings occurred
in the community synagogue, the center for education and
civic activity.
The temple was not only a place of worship but also an
exclusive symbol of pride and national identity. Only Jews
could enter. Gentiles (non-Jews) were excluded from all but
the temple's outer area. Although the Babylonians had
destroyed the legendary temple of Solomon (c. 974–26 BCE)
in 587 BCE, it was later rebuilt. In 20 BCE Herod the Great
(73–4 BCE), king of Judea, began construction on another
temple, which was still under construction during Jesus's life.
This second temple was destroyed in c. 68–70 CE by Roman
forces.
The Pharisees were one group of religious leaders among
Jews in the 1st century. Many scribes, who were responsible to
transcribe as well as interpret the Law, were also Pharisees.
This group added many legal traditions to the Law to keep
Jews from inadvertently breaking a law. The Pharisees
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide
separated themselves from anything or anyone considered
unclean, to maintain religious purity. Though Jesus regards
them as hypocrites, many Jews of Jesus's day respected the
Pharisees for their dedication to obeying God's Law.
Sadducees, the other main group of Jewish religious leaders
during this time, were more well connected with the Roman
ruling class; believed in following the written Hebrew Bible only,
not the oral tradition as the Pharisees did; and they did not
believe in immortality of the soul, bodily resurrection after
death, or the existence of angels. The Sadducees followed
Mosaic Law strictly and were often in conflict with the
Pharisees.
Beliefs about the Kingdom of God
The nation of Israel was frequently oppressed, a circumstance
that the Hebrew Bible authors depict as a result of their
disregard for God's Law. However, through the prophets, God
is revealed to be compassionate and merciful. When the
Israelites repent of their sin, God forgives and delivers them.
The prophets communicated that God is in charge, and the
people need to turn from practices God deems offensive.
According to the Hebrew Bible, sin must be judged, but there is
always hope for deliverance. Hope culminates in the promise
of a future kingdom where God and God's people live in
perfect covenant relationship. God rules, and the people live in
obedience. The prophet Isaiah states that a Messiah (anointed
one) from the Davidic line will ultimately rule God's people
forever.
Many Jews of Jesus's day, inspired by the notion of Jesus as
Messiah, anticipated that he would take the stance of a
warrior-king, like King David, or a deliverer from oppression,
like Moses (c. 13th century BCE). They hoped Jesus would
rescue them from the Romans.
The Political Context
By the 1st century CE Israel was no longer a nation but rather a
dispersed people. Rome controlled much of the known world,
including the province of Judea (modern-day Israel and
Palestine) where Jesus lived. Tensions between the Roman
government and the Jews ran high. Not only were the Jews
heavily taxed, but also the Roman government even interfered
with religious life by appointing temple high priests.
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In Context 4
Who Was Jesus?
Like Jewish rabbis of the day, Jesus was a religious teacher
with a following of disciples. He chose 12 to be his inner circle,
often referred to as apostles. Jewish disciples dedicated their
lives to emulating their teacher, adopting not only his teachings
but also his attitudes and behaviors. Jesus's knowledge of the
Hebrew Scriptures—even from a young age—astounded the
religious leaders and inspired disciples. Later, as mentioned at
the end of the Sermon on the Mount, people responded with
amazement at the authority with which he spoke about spiritual
things.
Perhaps what set Jesus apart most from the other religious
leaders was his love. The Gospel of John (c. 100) and much of
the New Testament speaks about the love and grace exhibited
by Jesus. Whereas the religious leaders separated themselves
from people considered unclean, Jesus reached out to them.
Those guilty of gross sin, such as prostitutes, were met with
love and forgiveness rather than the condemnation and the
punitive practices of the religious leaders, such as stoning.
Jesus and his followers claimed he was God's son or God in
human form. This claim is clear from his cryptic statement in
John 8:58: "Before Abraham was, I am." Jesus did not make a
grammatical slip but an intentional claim of unity with the God
of Israel. When the prophet Moses went before Pharaoh as
recorded in the book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible, God told
Moses to tell Pharaoh he was sent by "I AM," indicating God's
character as an omnipresent, omnipotent being. Jesus's use of
the term I AM indicates not only his claim to omnipresence
(being in existence before the time of Abraham) but more
important, his claim to be the God and king of Israel. Also,
Jesus makes frequent references to his "Father" in heaven,
indicating his claim to his position as God's son. The religious
leaders considered his claims blasphemous.
Although many religious leaders viewed Jesus as a strange
figure and a potential threat to their authority, some, such as
Nicodemus (1st century), a Pharisee of high standing in the
religious order, considered Jesus's claim to authority
legitimate.
John the Baptist (1st century), who claimed his role was to
prepare the way for the Messiah, identified Jesus as the Son of
God, the redeemer of the nation of Israel. He called on the
people to repent of their sin, in preparation for the coming
kingdom. John believed Jesus would usher in the kingdom.
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide
Crowds followed Jesus wherever he went. Some sought
physical healing; others just wanted to see him perform
miracles. Some believed he would set up his kingdom on Earth
and rescue Israel from the oppression of the Romans. Some,
like Matthew, the tax collector, saw Jesus as Messiah and left
everything to follow him.
a Author Biography
Origins of the Gospel of
Matthew
Though the author of the Gospel of Matthew does not identify
himself, the book has traditionally been attributed to Matthew
(1st century), a former tax collector who became one of the 12
apostles of Jesus. If this is correct, Matthew himself witnessed
Jesus's ministry. Called by Jesus, Matthew belonged to Jesus's
inner circle of disciples.
There is some evidence that suggests Matthew could have
written the text. A 2nd-century Church father refers to the
gospel's writer as Matthew. Also, the Gospel of Matthew is well
organized, which would be consistent with Matthew's position
as tax collector. Furthermore, the Gospel of Matthew refers to
money more than the other gospels and uses financial terms,
where similar accounts do not. However, the most persuasive
argument for Matthew as the author is that the early Church
considered him the author. Since Matthew is not an otherwise
prominent figure in Church history, the apostles and early
bishops may have had evidence for attributing the book to him.
Some scholars argue against Matthew's authorship because of
the gospel's similarity to the Gospel of Mark. However, drawing
on the work of another writer was not only acceptable at the
time of the writing but also encouraged. The use of another's
work in composing a new work was considered complimentary
and a sign of respect to the writer.
From Tax Collector to Disciple
Before becoming one of Jesus's 12 apostles, Matthew was a
tax collector. Although attention to detail, organization, and
record-keeping expertise would be valuable skills for a writer
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Author Biography 5
of a gospel account, 1st-century tax collectors were regarded
with disdain by their fellow Jews. Tax collectors had a
reputation for being greedy money lovers who took advantage
of their countrymen for personal gain. They were often from
wealthy families and stood to gain even more power and
wealth in their position. Backed by Roman soldiers, tax
collectors could add fees for themselves on top of the high
taxes they collected for the Roman government.
Devout Jews separated themselves from people and practices
that did not align with Jewish law. Because tax collectors
associated with the Romans, those in the profession were
viewed as unclean. Not only were tax collectors assumed to be
greedy, but the courts barred their testimony because of their
reputation for deceit. Tax collectors were considered beyond
hope of moral and spiritual redemption.
Jesus's choice of Matthew as one of his closest disciples was
not only surprising but also called Jesus's credibility into
question. Matthew left behind his life of greed, deceit, and the
pursuit of wealth to follow Jesus. His life changed radically. He
dedicated himself to introducing others to Jesus.
h Key Figures
God
The God of Israel is the focus of the Hebrew Bible. According
to the Bible, God is Creator of all things, all knowing, all
powerful, and omnipresent, as well as a holy, loving, protective,
and merciful father to human beings. According to the New
Testament, God sent his son Jesus to Earth to rescue humans
from their sinful condition. The New Testament authors teach
that by believing in Jesus, both Jews and gentiles (non-Jews)
have the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God Jesus
preaches about in the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus
Jesus, a 1st-century Jewish teacher, has 12 apostles
(disciples), though many others gather to follow him and hear
his teachings. The gospel claims that crowds view his
teachings as more authoritative than the teachings of scribes
and Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day. This authority,
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide Key Figures 6

which the gospel links to Jesus's claim to be the Son of God,

creates conflict with the Jewish religious leaders who consider
this claim blasphemy.

Matthew
As one of Jesus's 12 apostles, Matthew is likely in attendance
during the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew, a Jew by birth,
collected taxes for the Roman government, which was
oppressing the Jews. Tax collectors were assumed to be
dishonest, profiting for themselves at the expense of their
fellow Jews. Matthew left his former life behind to follow Jesus.

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Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide Plot Summary 7

Full Key Figure List In Jewish history prophets were

responsible for communicating messages
Prophets from God to the Israelites. Jesus asserts
he did not come to do away with the
Key Figure Description
message of the prophets.

God is the object of Israel's worship and in

God The scribes of Jesus's day are responsible
covenant relationship with God's people.
for transcribing, as well as interpreting,
Scribes
religious law. The gospel authors report
Jesus (c. 4–6 BCE to c. 30 CE) is the that the scribes fiercely oppose Jesus.
Jesus
teacher of the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew, a former tax collector, became a

Matthew disciple of Jesus and is assumed to be the
writer of the Gospel of Matthew.
k Plot Summary

The apostles are Jesus's inner group of 12

Apostles
disciples. He directs much of his teaching The Gospel of Matthew:
to this group, who will later carry his
message throughout the world.
Chapter 5
The crowd that comes to hear Jesus
teach includes his disciples—those who The Sermon on the Mount, one of the longest of Jesus's
follow him regularly—but also others who recorded discourses, explains the Kingdom of God to his
Crowds come to hear him. Some of the outsiders apostles and disciples. Jesus begins with encouragement.
may have come hoping to see a miracle.
Some may have been curious about the Contrary to the way earthly kingdoms operate, where wealth
teacher who was gaining notoriety. and power bring privilege, God promises that in the Kingdom of
God, the lowly, who exhibit qualities such as meekness and
In Jewish history prophets were mercy, will be blessed.
responsible for communicating messages
from God to God's people, the Jews. False Next, Jesus explains the role of his disciples as "the salt of the
False prophets are those who claim to be from earth" and "the light of the world." By living righteous, kingdom-
prophets God but are not. They mislead the people.
Jesus warns about false prophets who focused lives, Jesus's disciples will make the world a better
come offering an easier way into the place and point others to God.
Kingdom of God.
Jesus affirms the "laws" of the Kingdom of God are not
Gentiles are those born outside the contrary to the Law given to Moses by God. Instead, Jesus's
Jewish faith. The Jews believe gentiles to teachings show that even the best attempts to live in
be excluded from admission into the
obedience to the Law fall short of God's expectations, and he
Gentiles Kingdom of God, with only a few
exceptions. Some prophets in the Hebrew presents his instructions as intensifying and fulfilling biblical
Bible, such as Isaiah, teach that God's Law. In the Kingdom of God the attitude of the heart matters
kingdom will include gentiles.
as much as the action. Therefore, anger is just as sinful as
murder, and lust is just as sinful as adultery.
The Pharisees are a group of religious
leaders who attempt purity by obeying the
Jewish religious laws in every respect and
separating themselves from people and The Gospel of Matthew:
Pharisees practices considered unclean. They hold
the Hebrew Bible as authoritative
teaching, but they also interpret the
tradition in order to live out religious law in
everyday life.

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Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide Plot Summary 8

Chapters 6 and 7
Jesus exhorts his disciples to pursue heavenly rewards rather
than earthly gain. Heavenly rewards result from righteous
actions done with a pure heart for God's approval rather than
the praise of men. He exhorts his disciples to treat others as
they would like to be treated.

Finally, Jesus warns his disciples about false teachers who

propose a way into the Kingdom of God contrary to his
teachings. Those who follow his teachings are wise, building
their lives on a firm foundation. The people respond with
amazement to the authority with which Jesus speaks about the
Kingdom of God.

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Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide
c Chapter Summaries
Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5
Summary
The primary audience is Jesus's apostles, though "the
crowds" may have been within hearing distance.
Jesus identifies the type of people who will be blessed in
the Kingdom of God: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the
meek, those who desire righteousness, the merciful, the
pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.
Jesus declares his disciples "the salt of the earth" and "the
light of the world."
Jesus says he has not come to do away with the Law and
the teachings of the Jewish prophets. According to Jesus,
the Law must be obeyed to the standard of perfection in the
Kingdom of God—and even the Pharisees fail in this regard.
In the Kingdom of God the previous legal standard of not
murdering is superseded by Jesus's command not even to
hate another. Conflict is to be resolved quickly.
The legal standard of not committing adultery is superseded
by Jesus's command not to look upon a person with lust. He
implores his disciples not to give in to temptation. He says it
is better for a person to cut out a part of their own body,
even their "right eye," if it is causing them to sin, than it is to
remain in a state of lustfulness.
Though divorce was permitted in the past, couples should
remain married except in cases of adultery.
According to the Law, people were not to break oaths.
Jesus instructs them to be faithful to their word whether it is
declared with or without an oath.
According to the Law, a victim could require restitution.
Jesus instructs his disciples to "turn the other" cheek and
give freely, even to those who would take advantage.
Jesus commands his disciples to love their enemies.
Analysis
Although initially it was an oral discourse, Matthew presents
the Sermon on the Mount in written form as part of his gospel
account. The focus of Matthew's account is to present Jesus
as the Messiah promised by God to the Jews centuries earlier.
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Chapter Summaries 9
Matthew begins the book with a genealogy tracing Jesus's
roots to the royal line of David, the great king of Israel and the
line through which the Messiah was prophesied to come.
Matthew's account of Jesus's birth includes a reference to the
gifts of the wise men, gifts appropriate for a king. Next,
Matthew explains the role of John the Baptist in identifying
Jesus as God's son and calling the people to repent of their
sin, "For the kingdom of heaven has come near." Matthew tells
of Jesus traveling about the area, performing miracles and
proclaiming the news that the Kingdom of God is at hand. The
Jews understood the Kingdom of God as a period when God
would dwell with God's people.
A brief description of the setting prefaces the Sermon on the
Mount. Jesus ascends a mountain and sits down, and his
apostles gather around. These men were the 12 he had called
to be his inner circle. However, Matthew 7:28 indicates that
crowds gathered within hearing distance. The crowds likely
included the curious, those hoping to see a miracle, and
Jesus's other regular disciples. Jewish readers of Matthew's
gospel would likely make a connection between Jesus
ascending the mountain to lay out the way the Kingdom of God
works and Moses (c. 13th century BCE) ascending Mount Sinai
in Exodus and receiving the Ten Commandments, which were
laws about how God's people were to conduct themselves as a
people in covenant relationship with God.
Jesus opens his discourse with eight statements of blessing.
These are parallel in structure, a common form used by Jewish
poets and writers of the Wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible.
In addition, teachers used the structure to aid disciples in
remembering the content of their instruction. Jewish culture
valued memorization, and Jewish children were taught from an
early age to memorize a teacher's words.
The eight statements of blessing, referred to as the
Beatitudes, describe the type of people who will inhabit the
Kingdom of God. The character qualities, as well as the
blessings, are collective. Rather than indicating eight different
types of people who will be blessed, the intent is to describe
the qualities characteristic of those in the kingdom. Similarly,
the blessings are collective, with one individual being able to
receive all of the blessings.
This opening section of the discourse is meant to encourage
the people. The intent is not to present a list of moral
imperatives necessary to gain entrance into the kingdom.
Jesus's disciples, as well as many of Matthew's readers, would
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide Chapter Summaries 10

likely assume the heavenly kingdom would operate like earthly Structurally, if the Sermon on the Mount is viewed as a
kingdoms, where wealth and prestige lead to positions of pyramid, Chapter 5 is the ascent leading to the pinnacle of
power. Jesus's description of the type of people who will be communion between God and man, which will occur in Chapter
honored by God likely sounded strange to his listeners. The 6.
Gospel of Mark indicates that even Jesus's apostles jockeyed
for position in the kingdom, hoping to gain coveted seats of
honor. Hearing that God will honor the lowly may have been Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6
surprising even to the disciples, but it was likely welcome news
to the oppressed Jewish people.

After describing the inhabitants of the kingdom, Jesus uses

Summary
metaphors to illustrate the roles of kingdom citizens. He likens
Jesus instructs his disciples to seek the praise of God alone
them to salt and light. Salt is a seasoning that enhances flavor
as they perform acts of righteousness. Prayer and fasting
as well as preserves. Kingdom citizens are to make the world a
performed for public demonstration will not be rewarded by
better place through righteous living. Light indicates that
God.
Jesus's disciples are to help show others the way to God by
Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray:
righteous living characterized by the grace and compassion
modeled for them by Jesus. The present tense used here
indicates the Kingdom of God is no longer future but has Our Father in heaven, / hallowed
already begun.
be your name. / Your kingdom
Jesus uses a series of contrasts between what the people
have heard and what he is now proclaiming. Jesus prefaces
come. / Your will be done, / on
this section with an assurance that he is not suggesting they earth as it is in heaven. / Give us
do away with the Law of the Hebrew Bible. This type of
introductory statement was common among Jewish teachers;
this day our daily bread. / And
they anticipated any gross misconceptions and addressed it forgive us our debts, / as we also
before moving forward. Jesus's reference to what the people
had heard rather than what was written indicates that the have forgiven our debtors. / And
problem is not with the Law but instead with the religious do not bring us to the time of trial,
leaders' interpretation of the Law. For example, "an eye for an
eye" was designed to restrict the wronged person's revenge, / but rescue us from the evil one.
to limit retribution to the level of the original offense. However,
Jesus suggests that people have distorted this, using it to Jesus's disciples are warned not to live for money and the
condone vengefulness. treasures of the world but rather to seek rewards in heaven
through righteous living.
Jesus uses hyperbole, a gross exaggeration, to make an
Jesus encourages his disciples not to worry about their
important point, when he speaks of cutting out a part of the
physical needs but rather to focus on righteous living,
body to avoid being in a state of lustfulness. He is not
trusting their heavenly Father to care for their needs.
encouraging his disciples literally to cut out body parts to avoid
giving in to temptation but rather to understand the importance
of not giving in to temptation.
Analysis
Overall, Jesus calls for the citizens of the Kingdom of God to
When the Sermon on the Mount is viewed as a pyramid-shaped
be radically different from citizens of Earth. They are to be
structure, the pinnacle of the pyramid is the prayer found in
righteous, not only in outward behavior but in thought and
Matthew 6:9–13, commonly referred to as the Lord's Prayer.
attitude as well. Because God is holy, God's people must be
The Sermon on the Mount describes the Kingdom of God, the
holy if they are to dwell in the kingdom.
essence of which is God dwelling with the people. Jesus

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Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide
models for his disciples how to commune with God through
prayer. This prayer asks for God's will to be accomplished on
Earth, just as is the order of things in heaven. Also, the prayer
asks God to supply daily needs, in the sense of both food and
forgiveness as well as help to resist temptation. The need for
forgiveness is essential given that God is holy. The only way for
a holy God to dwell among people is if their sin is forgiven.
This prayer indicates that God's kingdom is not limited to a
future with God in heaven but exists in the present, amid
physical needs for food and the presence of sin. In previous
chapters the gospel writer Matthew makes the case that Jesus
is the promised Messiah, asserting that the promised kingdom
has arrived in the form of Jesus living among them. For
example, Matthew 1:23 refers to the infant Jesus as
"Immanuel," which means "God with us." And Matthew records
the words the Spirit of God spoke when Jesus was baptized,
affirming Jesus's deity (Matthew 3:17).
The Lord's Prayer occurs within a description of righteous
practices, including giving to the needy and fasting. Jesus
exhorts his disciples not to act like the hypocritical religious
leaders who perform righteous actions for personal gain. This
observation indicates that Jesus sees past the outward
behavior into the heart, evidence of his identity as God rather
than a mere human being. In addition, communion with God
results from inner, as well as outer, righteousness. More
important, the description of righteous practices indicates the
characteristics of those who belong to the Kingdom of God,
rather than some other "ticket," or superficial way, for
entrance. Inhabitants of the kingdom are to treat others with
the compassion and grace they themselves have been shown
by the king, Jesus.
Money is a recurring topic in this section, which lends some
support to the argument for Matthew the former tax collector
as the author of the gospel. (A similar passage in the Gospel of
Luke puts less emphasis on the topic.) The writer also refers to
sin as "debt" in the Lord's Prayer.
In addition to modeling how to commune with God through
prayer, Jesus uses multiple teaching techniques in the
passage. For example, he uses metaphors to illustrate key
concepts through the use of familiar objects. Jesus speaks of
storing "treasure" in heaven. Treasure refers to that which is
valued, indicating the value of gaining heavenly rewards for
righteous acts done to please God. He speaks of the eye as
"the lamp of the body," indicating that what a person focuses
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Chapter Summaries 11
attention on impacts their whole being. He also uses the notion
of masters and slaves to illustrate the need to be solely
devoted to serving God. Another technique Jesus uses is to
provide examples, as he does in his argument against worry.
He describes the care birds and flowers receive from God,
their Creator, as evidence that citizens of the Kingdom of God
need not worry about their daily provisions, as they are much
more valuable to God than birds or flowers.
Finally, Jesus draws on the structure of the Wisdom literature
of the Hebrew Bible, presenting the proverb, "For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also." Proverbs are
generally true statements that point the way to wise living.
They need to be interpreted in light of the broader context of
the literature, which in this case is the description of how
things operate in the Kingdom of God. Jesus's disciples are
being exhorted to focus on communing with God, valuing God's
presence in their lives. As a result, they will not just act in ways
that are righteous (as the religious leaders do), but their whole
being will be transformed.
Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 7
Summary
Jesus instructs his disciples not to judge others but rather
to engage in self-examination.
Jesus's disciples are encouraged to act toward others just
as they would want to be treated.
Jesus warns that the way into the Kingdom of God is
narrow.
Jesus warns about false prophets and encourages his
disciples to discern false teachers by examining the fruit of
their lives. Such teachers will not enter the Kingdom of God.
Jesus advises that the person who puts his teachings into
practice is wise, providing a good foundation for living.
The crowds responded to Jesus's teaching with amazement
because, the text says, he taught with much greater
authority than the religious leaders of the day.
Analysis
Viewing the structure of the Sermon on the Mount as a
pyramid, Chapter 7 is the descent from the pinnacle of daily
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide
communion with God. If the Kingdom of God represents God
dwelling with God's people, communion with God through
prayer and behavior motivated by a desire to please God alone
(in contrast to acting to please other people) should bring
about changes in a person's whole being and be evident in
relationships with others.
The standard for God's kingdom is righteousness in both
outward behaviors and the inner heart—an unattainable goal.
However, God grants forgiveness to those who ask, as
mentioned in Matthew 6:12. This action of grace sets the stage
for the remainder of the discourse. Jesus's disciples are not to
judge but are to extend to others the grace they have received.
The "Golden Rule" found in Matthew 7:12 illustrates the way
relationships work in the Kingdom of God. Because citizens of
the kingdom have received grace, they can extend it to others,
treating others the way they would want to be treated. Jesus
acknowledges that living according to these rules of the
kingdom is a challenge. He assures his disciples God's help is
theirs for the asking.
Jesus again uses hyperbole to warn his disciples about the
folly of judging others. He contrasts the image of a speck of
sawdust in a brother's eye with having a log in one's own eye to
show that people tend to be blind to their own faults, often
minimizing them.
Jesus uses a variety of images to show the compassion and
love of God as a father toward God's children. He uses the
familiar image of knocking on a door and asking for bread to
show that God would never turn away a child in need. Just as a
father would not give a hungry child a stone instead of bread
or a snake instead of a fish, God can be depended on to meet
disciples' needs.
The metaphor of a gate illustrates that not everyone will enter
God's kingdom—only those who obey Jesus's teaching. Jesus
affirms he is in charge of the gate, a claim to his authority and
divine identity. This claim is not lost on the crowd, as they
respond with surprise at his authoritative stance.
The imagery of a wolf in sheep's clothing indicates the true
character of false teachers who appear kind and loving but
seek to satisfy personal desires. The image of a fruit tree
illustrates the means of determining which messengers speak
the truth and which ones are deceivers.
Jesus uses a final image to indicate the contrast between the
wise person and the fool. This contrast is one the crowd would
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Quotes 12
have been familiar with, as the Wisdom literature of the
Hebrew Bible commonly cites the differences between the
actions of the wise person and the fool. In this case the wise
person is the one who heeds Jesus's teaching about the
Kingdom of God, realizing it is present here and now, marked
by his divine presence among them.
g Quotes
"Blessed are the poor in spirit."
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5
Jesus introduces his discourse about the Kingdom of God by
explaining the types of people who will be honored. In contrast
to earthly kingdoms where wealth, position, and power are
privileged, God honors the lowly in his kingdom.
"You are the salt of the earth."
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5
Jesus challenges the crowds to live out his message of
righteous living. In doing so, they will make the world a better
place and point others to God.
"Unless your righteousness
exceeds that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you will never enter the
kingdom of heaven."
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5
Jesus challenges his disciples to an even higher standard of
righteousness than the Pharisees attempted, asserting that
following the Law to the letter is not good enough. The heart
must be right as well. This quotation and others like it set up a
sharp contrast between Jesus's teachings and the existing
Jewish tradition of his time.
Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide Quotes 13

please God alone. Actions done to bring glory to oneself will

"You have heard that it was said ...
not be honored by God.
But I say to you."

— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5
Jesus says he has not come to abolish the Law the Israelites
have lived by for centuries but rather to show that actions in
and of themselves are insufficient in God's kingdom. Jesus
declares that anger is as offensive to God as murder and lust
is as offensive to God as adultery.
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for
a tooth."
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5
"Pray then in this way: Our Father
in heaven."
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6
Jesus models for his disciples how to talk to God the Father in
heaven. Positioned in the center of the discourse, this model
prayer is the pinnacle of his teaching about the Kingdom of
God. Jesus is teaching his disciples that the Kingdom of
God—that is, God's presence with his people—is not just for
the future but begins now, as he is in their midst. He shows his
disciples the way to commune daily with God.

Jesus quotes the Law given to Moses centuries ago. The

"For where your treasure is, there
Israelites were permitted to exact retribution when they were your heart will be also."
wronged. However, Jesus claims to show them a new way of
living. They should no longer concern themselves with such
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6
things. Rather, they should treat others with grace and
compassion.
Jesus exhorts his disciples to focus on heavenly treasures
gained through righteous living and communion with God. He
assures them the heavenly Father will provide for his children
"Love your enemies."
both now and in the future, so they have no need to worry
about provisions or to pursue earthly wealth.
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5

Jesus presents a radical idea by which the Kingdom of God "So do not worry."
operates: compassion for all. Jesus challenges his disciples to
love even their enemies. This is the antithesis of human nature,
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6
indicating the Kingdom of God operates according to a new
set of rules that may seem foreign to human reasoning.
Jesus reassures his disciples that God the Father loves and
cares for his children. They need not concern themselves with
daily needs and worries. They are free to pursue
"Beware of practicing your piety
righteousness, focusing only on pleasing God.
before others."

— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6 "Do not judge."

Jesus warns that righteous actions should be performed to — Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 7

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Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide Glossary 14

Jesus warns his disciples not to judge others. The Kingdom of

words ... will be like a wise man."
God is ruled by grace and compassion, as indicated by the
blessings promised in the opening Beatitudes. Since God
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 7
treats his children with grace, they are to treat others likewise.

Jesus closes his teaching with a claim that obedience to his

"Ask, and it will be given you." instruction about the Kingdom of God is wise. Only a fool
would do otherwise.

— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 7

Jesus encourages his disciples to ask God to supply any needs m Glossary
they have. He assures them of the love and grace of their
heavenly Father. This compassionate God rules the Kingdom
alms (n) a kind act, usually of generosity, motivated by
Jesus has been speaking of.
compassion

apostle (n) follower of Jesus sent out in the world to teach his
"Do to others as you would have lessons

them do to you." beatitudes (n) eight blessings Jesus declares result from eight
virtuous characteristics
— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 7
blessed (adj) favored, happy

Jesus sums up the teachings of the Jewish law and the covenant (n) sacred, formal contract between God and God's
prophets: to treat others with love and grace, since no one can people
live up to the standard of perfection. This indicates God
disciple (n) a dedicated follower of a teacher
understands the human condition and gives grace to his
children. He expects them to do likewise. gentiles (n) non-Jews

hallowed (adj) holy and set apart

"Not everyone who says to me, hyperbole (n) a type of figurative language that uses
"Lord, Lord," will enter the exaggeration for emphasis

kingdom of heaven." Law (n) commandments given by God to Moses governing

Jewish life

— Jesus, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 7

Messiah (n) the expected deliverer and king of the Jewish
people
Jesus warns his disciples about false teachers who preach a
way into the Kingdom of God that is contrary to his instruction. oath (n) a promise backed by an appeal to deity

Jesus is proclaiming his instruction as truth directly from God.

Pharisees (n) a group of Jewish religious leaders in Jesus's
He also sets himself up as the gatekeeper of the Kingdom,
day
indicating his oneness with God.
piety (n) devotion to religious matters

prophet (n) one who speaks for God

"Everyone then who hears these

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Jesus, Sermon on the Mount Study Guide Metaphors 15

scribe (n) in 1st-century Judaism, one who is responsible for

Eye as the Lamp of the Body
transcribing and interpreting the Law
Jesus likens the eye to a lamp for the whole body. This
suggests that what a person focuses attention on impacts the
b Metaphors whole being. By seeking communion with God, a person is
transformed from the inside out. The discourse sets this in
contrast to the religious leaders who sought to become

Narrow Gate acceptable to God through acts of righteousness.

Jesus teaches his disciples that the gate into the Kingdom of
God is "narrow." Jesus's use of this image suggests that not
Treasure
everyone will enter heaven. Rather, the Kingdom of God will be
Treasure is that which a person values. Jesus encourages
inhabited by a select group of those who believe in him and
people to store up "heavenly treasure." Jesus is encouraging
follow his teachings.
the people to value God's approval, which results in spiritual
rewards that last for eternity, rather than the approval of

Salt others, which is fleeting.

Jesus challenges his disciples to be the "salt of the earth." Salt

is a seasoning used to preserve as well as to enhance flavor.
Salt was also used medicinally and ritualistically in ancient
times, for cleansing or as a disinfectant and to signify a
covenant between persons or between God and Israel. The
use of this metaphor suggests Jesus's disciples are to
influence the world they live in, making it a better place as they
practice, as well as instruct others about Jesus's teachings.
Salt could also be taken to signify something rare and valuable
in this context. Most important, perhaps, the metaphor
suggests that the disciples' enthusiasm for God should never
waver.

Light
Jesus's disciples are to be "light" in the world. By living
righteous lives, Jesus's disciples not only make the world a
better place but they also show others the way to God.

Log and Speck

Jesus uses the image of a person having a log in their eye,
which they are oblivious to, while they concern themselves with
a "speck" in their neighbor's eye. These images indicate the
tendency to be blind to one's own major faults but quick to find
the minor faults in others.

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