Jesus teaches the kingdom on the mountain

5:1 When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. 5:2 Then he began to teach them by saying: 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. 5:12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way. 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 5:15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven. 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. 5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place. 5:19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to an older generation, 'Do not murder,' and 'whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.' 5:22 But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults a brother will be brought before the council, and whoever says 'Fool' will be sent to fiery hell. 5:23 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 5:24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift. 5:25 Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. 5:26 I tell you the truth, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny! 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 5:30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell. 5:31 "It was said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.' 5:32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 5:33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, 'Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.' 5:34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all - not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 5:35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 5:36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 5:37 Let your word be 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no.' More than this is from the evil one. 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 5:39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. 5:40 And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, give him your coat also. 5:41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you. 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor' and 'hate your enemy.' 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 5:45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don't they? 5:47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don't they? 5:48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 6:1 "Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 6:2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. 6:3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 6:4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 6:5 "Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 6:7 When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 6:9 So pray this way: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, 6:10 may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 6:11 Give us today our daily bread, 6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors. 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 6:14 "For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins. 6:16 "When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. 6:17 When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 6:18 so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 6:19 "Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 6:20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 6:22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 6:23 But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 6:24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 6:26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than they are? 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? 6:28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 6:30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won't he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? 6:31 So then, don't worry saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' 6:32 For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 6:34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. 7:1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 7:2 For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. 7:3 Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? 7:4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye,' while there is a beam in your own? 7:5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. 7:6 Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces. 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 7:9 Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 7:11 If you then, although 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! 7:12 In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets. 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 7:14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 7:15 "Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? 7:17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 7:18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 7:20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit. 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven - only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 7:22 On that day, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?' 7:23 Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!' 7:24 "Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 7:25 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock. 7:26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 7:27 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!" 7:28 When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching, 7:29 because he taught them like one who had authority, not like their experts in the law.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Jesus goes up the mountain and teaches his disciples with authority. He blesses the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. He calls his followers salt and light. He says he came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them. He then presses God’s law into the heart, not just outward actions. He warns against anger, lust, false speech, revenge, and loving only friends. He calls for giving, prayer, and fasting in secret before the Father who sees in secret. He teaches trust in God instead of worry, warns against hypocritical judgment, calls for discernment, and ends with a strong warning that only those who hear his words and do them are safe.

Jesus begins by showing who is blessed in God’s kingdom. The poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted are called blessed because God is at work among them. Jesus then says his disciples are salt and light. Their lives should be seen, but their good works should lead people to honor the Father, not them.

Jesus then says he did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. He came to fulfill them. So he does not cancel God’s word. He brings it to its true goal. That is why he goes deeper than outward rule-keeping. He warns that anger, contempt, lust, deceit, divorce done wrongly, and oaths made carelessly all show a heart that is not right with God. He also teaches that revenge is not the way of his people. Instead, they should love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. This is how they reflect the Father, who shows kindness even to those who are evil.

In chapter 6, Jesus turns to religious practices. Giving, prayer, and fasting must not be done to impress people. The Father sees in secret and rewards what is done for him. Jesus gives his disciples a model prayer that honors God’s name, seeks his kingdom and will, asks for daily bread, asks for forgiveness, and asks for protection from evil. He also gives a serious warning about forgiveness: those who forgive others show kingdom life, but those who refuse to forgive should not expect the Father’s forgiveness.

Jesus then warns about treasure and worry. Earthly wealth can be lost, so his followers should store up treasure in heaven. A person’s heart follows what he values most. No one can serve both God and money. For that reason, disciples should not be ruled by anxiety over food, drink, or clothing. The Father knows what they need. They should seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and trust him with the rest.

In chapter 7, Jesus warns against judging others in a self-righteous way. He is not forbidding all discernment, because he also speaks about false prophets and bad fruit. He is warning against hypocrisy. He then calls his disciples to ask, seek, and knock in prayer, and he assures them that the Father gives good gifts. He sums up the law and the prophets with the golden rule: treat others as you want to be treated.

Jesus ends with strong warnings. There is a narrow gate and a hard way that leads to life, and a wide road that leads to destruction. False prophets may look harmless, but their fruit will show what they are. Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom, but only the one who does the Father’s will. Then Jesus tells the parable of the two builders. The one who hears his words and does them is like a man who builds on rock. The one who hears and does not obey is like a man who builds on sand. When the storm comes, only the house on rock stands. The crowds are amazed because Jesus teaches with real authority.

• Jesus teaches with authority and his words must be obeyed.
• The Beatitudes describe the kind of people God calls blessed in the kingdom.
• Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, not abolish them.
• Kingdom righteousness reaches the heart, not just outward actions.
• True piety is for the Father’s eyes, not human praise.
• Jesus calls for trust in God instead of anxiety over daily needs.
• Hearing Jesus without doing his words leads to collapse and judgment.

• Blessed are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.
• Let your light shine before people so they may glorify your Father in heaven.
• Do not think Jesus came to abolish the Law or the Prophets.
• Be reconciled quickly to your brother.
• Do not look with lust or nurture sin in your heart.
• Do not take revenge; love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
• Do your giving, prayer, and fasting in secret before the Father.
• Do not store up treasures on earth; store up treasure in heaven.
• Do not worry about your life; seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
• Do not judge hypocritically.
• Ask, seek, and knock.
• Enter through the narrow gate.
• Watch out for false prophets.
• Do the will of the Father.
• Hear Jesus’ words and do them.

This sermon shows God’s kingdom life under Jesus’ authority. Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets and reveals their true goal. The Father is the one who sees in secret, gives good gifts, forgives, judges, rewards, and cares for his children. The sermon points ahead to final judgment, where people are shown by their fruit and by whether they obey Jesus’ words.

Examine your heart, not only your outward behavior. Make peace quickly. Treat lust, anger, hypocrisy, and unforgiveness as serious sins. Practice giving, praying, and fasting for God, not for attention. Trust the Father with your needs instead of living in anxiety. Test your life by the fruit it bears. Build on Jesus by hearing his words and doing them.

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