Sermon on the Mount
These posts are a series that walks through the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7. Each post covers a single topic in the sermon.
- An Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount - The sermon on the mount is a collection of Jesus' teachings about life in the kingdom. This post is the first in a series on these teachings.
- Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:3-12 - In the beatitudes Jesus identifies 8 or 9 people who are blessed. The world does not appreciate them. But the Kingdom of God is theirs.
- Sermon on the Mount: Salt and Light – Matthew 5:13-16 - Jesus identifies his followers as the salt and light of the world. This is reflection of the influence we should have on those around us.
- Sermon on the Mount: Understanding the Law – Matt. 5:17-20 - Before Jesus expounds on some teachings of the Law, he first helps his hearers to understand his relationship to the Law.
- Sermon on the Mount: Resolving Conflict – Matthew 5:21-26 - Jesus expands on the Law's prohibition against murder to include all kinds of conflict. We need to work at resolving that conflict quickly.
- Sermon on the Mount: Committing Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 - Jesus here tells us that adultery is not just a physical action, but is also a matter of the heart. And he calls us to be pure in all we do.
- Sermon on the Mount: Divorce – Matthew 5:31-32 - Included in the Sermon on the Mount is a short piece on divorce. And in it Jesus has some pretty explicit things to say about the topic.
- Sermon on the Mount: Taking Oaths – Matthew 5:33-37 - Jesus challenges us to be people of our word. Let our yes and no mean just that. We should not have to make elaborate oaths.
- Sermon on the Mount: Turn the Other Cheek – Matt. 5:38-42 - Turning the other cheek is an example of the upside nature of the Kingdom of God. So unlike the retribution that we more commonly practice.
- Sermon on the Mount: Love Your Enemies – Matthew 5:43-48 - Jesus call to love our enemies is indeed a challenging one. But he calls us to rise above the rest of the world and to be like our Father.
- Sermon on the Mount: Give to the Needy – Matthew 6:1-4 - Jesus assumes that we will be giving to the poor and needy among us. His challenge to us as we do that, is to do it quietly and secretly.
- Sermon on the Mount: How to Pray – Matthew 6:5-8 - During the course of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, and how not to pray. Prayer is for God, not for acclaim.
- Sermon on the Mount: the Model Prayer – Matthew 6:9-15 - What many have called the Lord's Prayer is actually a model Jesus gave to teach us how to pray, not what to pray. It is best used as a guide.
- Sermon on the Mount: Fasting – Matthew 6:16-18 - Jesus concluded his teaching about our acts of righteousness with fasting. Fasting, like giving and prayer, should be done in secret.
- Sermon on the Mount: Treasure in Heaven – Matthew 6:19-24 - Jesus tells us to store up treasure in heaven, rather than worldly wealth. By serving God faithfully now, we are depositing for eternity.
- Sermon on the Mount: Do Not Worry – Matthew 6:25-34 - There are so many things that we could worry over, and be consumed by. But Jesus tells instead to not worry, but trust in God's provision.
- Sermon on the Mount: Do Not Judge – Matthew 7:1-6 - Jesus instruction is clear. Do not judge other people. That belongs to God alone. Yet we are to be discerning and not accept just anyone.
- Sermon on the Mount: Ask, Seek, and Knock – Matthew 7:7-12 - Jesus promises that if, as God's children, we ask, we will receive. If we seek, we will find. And if we knock, the door will be opened.
- Sermon on the Mount: Narrow and Wide Gates – Matt. 7:13-14 - The narrow gate leads to life while the wide gate leads to destruction. Jesus invites us to travel the narrow road that he traveled.
- Sermon on the Mount: True and False Disciples – Matt. 7:21-23 - True and false disciples are distinguished, not by their church activities, but by whether or not they are doing the Father's will.
- Sermon on the Mount: Build on Rock or Sand? – Matt 7:24-27 - Have you built your life on the rock of Christ or the sand of self. The life built on Christ will survive. The life built on self will not.
