📚 The Sermon on the Mount
Teachings on love, forgiveness, and living faithfully.
ℹ️ Story Information
💎 Key Verse
"Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
🌍 Story Background
The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most comprehensive and revolutionary teachings of Jesus Christ, delivered early in His ministry on a mountainside near the Sea of Galilee. This sermon, recorded in Matthew 5-7, represents Jesus' most extensive teaching on the nature of the Kingdom of God and how His followers should live. The sermon begins with the famous Beatitudes, which describe the character and blessings of those who belong to God's kingdom. Jesus then addresses various aspects of kingdom living, including the law, anger, lust, marriage, oaths, retaliation, love for enemies, giving, prayer, fasting, wealth, worry, and judgment. Throughout the sermon, Jesus contrasts the external, legalistic approach of the religious leaders with the internal, heart-based approach that God desires. This teaching shows that true righteousness goes beyond outward behavior to the transformation of the heart and mind, and that the kingdom of God operates on principles that are often opposite to the world's values.
👥 Characters
Jesus Christ
Teacher and Messiah
The Son of God who delivers the revolutionary teaching on kingdom living
Wise, authoritative, compassionate, revolutionary, challenging
The Disciples
Students and followers
Jesus' closest followers who received this teaching
Learning, growing, committed, sometimes confused
The Crowds
General audience and witnesses
The large crowds who gathered to hear Jesus teach
Curious, amazed, sometimes confused
The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law
Religious opponents and contrast
The religious leaders whose teaching Jesus contrasts with His own
Legalistic, external, judgmental, self-righteous
God the Father
The one to be imitated and worshipped
The heavenly Father whose character and ways Jesus reveals
Perfect, loving, merciful, just, holy
📖 Story Plot
Jesus Goes Up the Mountain
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
Shows Jesus' intentional teaching and authority
The Disciples Come to Him
His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
Shows the primary audience for this teaching
The Beatitudes Begin
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Shows the revolutionary nature of kingdom values
The Mourners and Meek
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Shows God's care for the broken and humble
The Hungry and Merciful
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Shows the importance of spiritual hunger and mercy
The Pure and Peacemakers
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Shows the value of inner purity and peacemaking
The Persecuted
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Shows that following Jesus may bring persecution
Salt and Light
You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.
Shows the influence and responsibility of believers
Jesus Fulfills the Law
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.
Shows Jesus' relationship to the Old Testament
The Higher Standard
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Shows the internal nature of true righteousness
Anger and Reconciliation
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.
Shows that sin begins in the heart
Lust and Adultery
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.
Shows the importance of controlling our thoughts
Divorce and Oaths
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.
Shows the sacredness of marriage
Retaliation and Love
You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
Shows the revolutionary nature of kingdom love
Love Your Enemies
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Shows the radical nature of God's love
Be Perfect
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Shows the high standard of kingdom living
Giving in Secret
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets.
Shows the importance of pure motives
The Lord's Prayer
This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'
Shows the model for prayer
Forgiveness and Fasting
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Shows the connection between forgiveness and receiving forgiveness
Treasures in Heaven
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.
Shows the importance of eternal perspective
Do Not Worry
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.
Shows God's care and our need for trust
Seek First the Kingdom
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Shows the priority of God's kingdom
Do Not Judge
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged.
Shows the danger of hypocritical judgment
The Golden Rule
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Shows the summary of all ethical teaching
The Narrow Gate
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
Shows the difficulty and importance of following Jesus
False Prophets
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Shows the need for discernment
By Their Fruit
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Shows how to recognize true and false teachers
Not Everyone Who Says Lord
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Shows that words are not enough; obedience is required
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Shows the importance of putting Jesus' teaching into practice
The Crowds' Amazement
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority.
Shows the impact of Jesus' teaching
💡 Key Lessons
The kingdom of God operates on different values than the world
True righteousness begins in the heart, not just outward behavior
Jesus calls us to a higher standard than religious legalism
Love for enemies is a distinctive mark of kingdom living
Our motives matter as much as our actions
God's kingdom should be our first priority in life
We are called to be salt and light in the world
Forgiveness is essential for receiving God's forgiveness
Worry shows lack of trust in God's care
Hearing and doing God's word is essential for spiritual stability
🔍 Symbolism & Meaning
The Mountain
Represents the place of divine revelation and authority, like Mount Sinai
Salt and Light
Represent the influence and witness of believers in the world
The Narrow Gate
Represents the difficult but necessary path of following Jesus
The Rock Foundation
Represents the solid foundation of putting Jesus' words into practice
The Beatitudes
Represent the revolutionary values and blessings of God's kingdom
⏰ Historical Context
Cultural Setting
Approximately 27-30 AD, early in Jesus' public ministry
Roman rule, Jewish religious leadership, peasant society
Religious Practices
Jewish law, Pharisaic traditions, temple worship
Galilee, Roman-occupied Palestine, Jewish religious context
✝️ Theological Themes
The Kingdom of God
Jesus reveals the nature and values of God's kingdom, which operates differently from earthly kingdoms
True Righteousness
Jesus shows that true righteousness goes beyond external behavior to the transformation of the heart
The Law Fulfilled
Jesus fulfills and transforms the Old Testament law, showing its true meaning and purpose
🚀 Modern Applications
Learning to live by kingdom values in a world that opposes them
Developing inner righteousness that goes beyond outward behavior
Practicing forgiveness and love for enemies
Making God's kingdom our first priority
Being salt and light in our communities
❓ Discussion Questions
Personal Application
Which of the Beatitudes do you find most challenging?
How can you be salt and light in your community?
What does it mean to seek first God's kingdom?
Biblical Understanding
Why do you think Jesus chose a mountain for this teaching?
What does this sermon teach us about the nature of God's kingdom?
How does this teaching contrast with worldly values?
Cross References
Luke 6:20-49
"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God"
James 1:22
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says"
1 Peter 2:9
"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation"
Personal Reflection
Consider the Beatitudes
Which of the Beatitudes do you need to develop in your life?
Reflect on being salt and light
How can you better influence your world for Christ?
Memory Verses
Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"
👨👩👧👦 Family Activities
Beatitudes Study
Study and discuss each of the Beatitudes
Salt and Light Discussion
Discuss how to be salt and light in your community
The Lord's Prayer
Learn and practice the Lord's Prayer together
🔬 Further Study Resources
The Sermon on the Mount
by John Stott
Comprehensive study of Jesus' most famous sermon
Living the Sermon on the Mount
by Various Authors
Practical guide for applying Jesus' teaching
Kingdom Living: Understanding the Beatitudes
by Various Authors
In-depth study of the Beatitudes and kingdom values
🙏 A Prayer for Reflection
"Heavenly Father, as we reflect on the story of Cain and Abel, help us to examine our own hearts.
Teach us to bring our best offerings to You with a spirit of worship and gratitude.
Guard our hearts against jealousy and anger, and help us to rule over sin when it crouches at our door.
Remind us that we are indeed our brother's keeper, called to love and care for one another.
Thank You for Your warnings, Your mercy, and Your protection.
In Jesus' name, Amen."
Take a moment to reflect on this story and how it applies to your life today.