In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and
glorify your Father in heaven. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 5:16; 6:33.
INTRODUCTION
After Jesus’s time in the desert, He launched into His public ministry by proclaiming the
message that the kingdom of God was at hand, choosing His disciples, and preaching to and
healing the crowds. With Matthew 5, the Gospel shifts to the record of Jesus’s Sermon on the
Mount – His teaching on how citizens of the kingdom of God should conduct themselves. The
sermon begins with the Beatitudes; blessings God gives to people who cultivate certain spiritual
attributes. They emphasize inner motives rather than mere outward conformity. Jesus then
shifted His message to the issue of behaviour. Jesus addressed several Jewish laws and helped
His disciples understand how right behaviour is never the ultimate indicator. A person must
have the right heart motive too. The commands of God remind us that He has a plan for how
we ought to live our lives, and that plan is based on who He is and how He’s treated us.
Ultimately, we must remember that the God who demands perfection has already provided a
means through the perfect sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.
As Salt and Light, we believe in the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus’s Kingdom values for
everyday living. We would like to share this again since it is still relevant to us today.
Introduction to The Sermon on The Mount – Matthew 5:1-48
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples
came to Him, and He began to teach them.
THE BEATITUDES
He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those
who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the
merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against
you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same
way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. -Matthew 5:1-12
SALT AND LIGHT
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a
lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in
the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good
deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:13 – 16
CHRIST CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish
them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota,
not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of
the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the
kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:17 – 20
ANGER
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders
will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[c] will
be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says,
‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar
and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms
quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over
to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will
never get out until you have paid the last penny. – Matthew 5:21-26
LUST
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that
everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in
his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that
you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right
hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your
members than that your whole body go into hell. – Matthew 5:27-30
To be continued!
Stay blessed!
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