Sermon on the Mount: Matthew’s Message

Matthew 5:1-2

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

Grab your coffee, take a seat, and get comfy, because this is a good one here. If you have never read the Gospel of Matthew (Chapters) 5-7, then prepare to be inspired through the words of the Lord, like never before. Jesus’ disciples not only followed him spiritually, but physically traveled with him, and recorded the events that they witnessed during their time with him. These recordings of history are so much more than just an account of events of the past. Though there are so many important stories, lessons, and events that Jesus’ disciples wrote about, it is Matthew 5-7 we are going to look at today. Matthew’s recording of the Sermon on the Mount is perhaps what many people consider to be a keystone of Christianity today.

According to Christian tradition, Jesus’ famous speech took place most likely in northern Israel on the Korazim Plateau, which many refer to as “Mount of Beatitudes.” It was there that thousands of people that came from near and far to hear this holy man of miracles, who many believed to be the Messiah, speak of his wisdom of God, and the word of God. Jesus addresses his disciples and the large, growing crowd, with what we all know as The Beatitudes. A path carved out with devout words to all, who’s hearts and souls will listen, to find God and His Kingdom.

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

    for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The words of Jesus were strong, God’s will, and God’s word. He spoke of all topics. He spoke of fulfillment of God’s law, of murder, of divorce, adultery, and an eye for an eye.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 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. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

There was not a topic Jesus left unturned. In Matthew Chapter 6, Jesus was determined to inspire, lead, and change the world to reach every person who would invite God into their hearts. He spoke of giving to the needy, fasting, treasures in heaven, and even about worrying.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

And in Matthew Chapter 7, in Jesus’ final topics of his sermon, he spoke of many important things. He spoke of judging others, asking and seeking, narrow and wide gates, true and false prophets and disciples, and wise and foolish builders.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21 “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. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

What a mighty powerful and virtuous sermon this was for the world to hear. In fact, it was this Sermon on the Mount that founded the very standard of prayer as we know it today. In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses the topic of prayer, and lays out what praying is all about.

And it went something like this:

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

There are some differences here and there with substitution of words depending on your churches version they may use. But The Lord’s Prayer, as we have all come to know it as, is one of the most simple, powerful, and comforting prayers for the soul. The Lord knows our wants, or needs, and everything in between. Do not doubt that He does not provide for you. He knows the when, where, and how before you do. Trust in Jesus, and have faith in Our Heavenly Father, and live life with goodness always.

Matthew 7:28-29

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

In the end, I want to express the true gratitude I personally have for the art of writing, the dedication of Jesus’ disciples, and the life of Matthew. For without any of this, Christianity would not be what we know it as today. The impact of Jesus’ life, the Son of God, would have been lost and buried. But, just as life finds a way, God will always find a way to show us His Glory. So today, let us rejoice in the glorious messages from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. His messages emphasizing morality for humanity, the path he shows us to righteousness, and the undeniable need to seek God’s Kingdom first, and always.

Thanks be to God.