The Sermon on the Mount

Illustration of The Sermon on the Mount

The most famous sermon ever preached, in which Jesus lays out the character and ethics of the kingdom of heaven. It opens with the Beatitudes' surprising blessings on the poor in spirit and the meek, then calls disciples to be salt and light, to surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees, to love enemies, to give and pray in secret, and to build their lives on the rock of his words.

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Strongest connections in Scripture
Matthew 5

Key Passages

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus opens the sermon with the Beatitudes, pronouncing the kingdom's blessing on the poor in spirit, the meek, and the persecuted.

A1nd seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousnessโ€™ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

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Did You Know?

1

It is the longest continuous teaching of Jesus recorded in the Gospels.

2

It opens with the Beatitudes - eight surprising 'blessed are' statements.

3

The Lord's Prayer sits at its very center.

4

It ends with the wise and foolish builders - hearing versus doing.