The Sermon on the Mount
Jesus delivers His greatest sermon, teaching about true blessedness, righteousness, loving enemies, prayer, trusting God instead of worrying, and building one's life on the solid rock of obedience to His words.
Matthew 5:1-48, Matthew 6:1-34, Matthew 7:1-29
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The Story
When Jesus saw the multitudes, He went up into a mountain, and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him. There, He delivered what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount—the most comprehensive summary of Christian ethics ever recorded. Jesus began with the Beatitudes: '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.' He declared His followers to be salt of the earth and light of the world. He taught radical responses to evil: turn the other cheek, go the extra mile. Most revolutionary: 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.' He taught them to pray: 'Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven...' Jesus commanded not to lay up treasures on earth but in heaven. His disciples should take no thought for their life—God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.' He taught, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' He encouraged persistent prayer: 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find.' He summarized the Law in the Golden Rule: 'Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.' Jesus concluded with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. Whoever hears His sayings and does them is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock. But whoever hears and does not obey is like a foolish man who built upon sand—when storms came, the house fell. The people were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught them as one having authority.
Jesus' Mountain Sermon
Kids Version
One day, Jesus saw huge crowds of people coming to hear Him teach. He walked up on a mountainside, sat down, and His disciples gathered around Him. Then Jesus taught them the most important lessons about how to live for God. Jesus started by teaching about who is truly blessed, or happy. He said, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' Blessed are those who are kind, who want to do what's right, who show mercy, who have pure hearts, and who make peace. Jesus told His followers, 'You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.' Christians should make the world better and help others see God's love. Then Jesus taught about treating others with love. If someone is mean to you, don't be mean back. Most surprising of all, Jesus said, 'Love your enemies. Pray for people who are mean to you.' Jesus taught His followers how to pray: 'Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread...' Jesus didn't want people to worry. He said, 'Look at the birds! They don't plant gardens, but God feeds them. You're much more important than birds! If God takes care of birds and flowers, He'll definitely take care of you!' Jesus also said we shouldn't judge other people for their mistakes when we make mistakes too. At the end of His sermon, Jesus told a story about two builders. One man built his house on a rock. When storms came, the house stayed strong. Another man built his house on sand. When the storm came, the house crashed down! Jesus said listening to His words and obeying them is like building on a rock. When Jesus finished teaching, the people were amazed. He spoke with power and authority because He is God's Son!
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Scripture — Matthew 5:1-48 (KJV)
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake . falsely: Gr. lying
12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. a bushel: the word in the original signifieth a measure containing about a pint less than a peck
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: by: or, to
22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Raca: that is, Vain fellow
23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. offend: or, do cause thee to offend
30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31It hath been said , Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool : neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Memory Verse
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:”
— Matthew 5:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Sermon on the Mount” in the Bible?
Jesus delivers His greatest sermon, teaching about true blessedness, righteousness, loving enemies, prayer, trusting God instead of worrying, and building one's life on the solid rock of obedience to His words. This story is found in Matthew 5:1-48, Matthew 6:1-34, Matthew 7:1-29.
Where is “The Sermon on the Mount” found in the Bible?
“The Sermon on the Mount” is found in Matthew 5:1-48, Matthew 6:1-34, Matthew 7:1-29, in the book of Matthew.
What can children learn from “The Sermon on the Mount”?
This story teaches children about Kingdom Living, Righteousness, Prayer, Trust in God, True Discipleship, Obedience. Jesus teaches a huge crowd on a mountainside about how to live for God—loving enemies, not worrying, praying to our Heavenly Father, and building our lives on obeying His words.