Sermon on the Mount
by Krysta Cardinale“Jesus Man of Nazareth”
The Sermon on the Mount was given by Jesus of Nazareth in about 30 AD. This sermon is according to the Gospel of Matthew. It was in the early days of his ministry that Jesus spoke to his disciples and gave the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus spoke on a mountainside overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
The most popular piece of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was the “Beatitudes.” The Beatitudes are the parts found at the beginning of the section including the “Lord’s Prayer,” as well as Jesus’ version of the “Golden Rule.” It is believed by many Christians that the sermon is an explanation of the Ten Commandments, and contains the most centered discipleship of the Christian Religion.
An excerpt from the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount writes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Judge not that ye be not judged, for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.” This particular portion of the Beatitudes does not condemn judging all together. Instead, this teaching tells to judge one’s self first before judging others otherwise lies, deceit, and a chain of gossip occurs.
The Structure of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount makes up the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. The sermon can be divided into five sections.
1. The Beatitudes: These are teachings that begin with “blessed,” and were meant to comfort suffering believers.
2. The Expounding of the Law: This is a reinterpretation of the Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments
3. The Discourse on Ostentation: This contains the Lord’s Prayer. It explains and condemns materialism, and the motives for fasting and giving gifts.
4. The Discourse on Judgementalism: These are the teachings that explain how one should not judge someone else until they judge themselves first.
5. The Discourse on Holiness: This summarizes and concludes the sermon, gives warning, and emphasizes to do what is right.
It is said by the Christian faith that the Sermon on the Mount is a presentation of discipleship and can be wrought in the soul of an individual only by the power of God. Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount after a group of people gathered around because of rumors that he could heal the sick. With his disciples there also, Jesus went on the mountainside by the Sea of Galilee. There, Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, which is often referred to as the most popular piece of reading in the Christian Religion.
