The Sermon on the Mount

            Article From:  Museum of The Bible

The Sermon on the Mount is the first, the longest, and indisputably the most influential of Jesus’s teaching in the Gospel of Matthew. The story goes like this. Jesus has been teaching and healing the sick throughout Galilee. Seeing large crowds following him, he climbed a mountain to teach them.

According to tradition, it was a place on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It’s debated if the author of Matthew placed multiple teachings into a single narrative moment, or if it was originally one sermon. Whatever the case, it contains some of the most renowned of Jesus’s teachings.

Beginning with the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the meek,” the sermon also includes the Lord’s Prayer and the Golden Rule. It teaches to turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, “seek first the kingdom of God,” and love your enemies. If that’s not enough, it also includes, “Ask and it will be given to you,” and “Seek and you will find.”

The Sermon on the Mount has had a profound impact. Leo Tolstoy was captivated by the sermon and its nonviolent precepts. It also inspired Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance of British rule in India and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s struggle for civil rights in America. Such is the legacy of a simple story of a sermon, set on a hilltop in Galilee.

 It starts with the Beatitudes:

  How To Be Blessed

Many of us hear or use the phrase “be blessed” but do we really know what it means? Jesus uses the term “blessed” in his most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, in a section often called the “Beatitudes.” In the Beatitudes, Jesus totally shocks us with a much different version of a blessing than many expect. He shows us how being blessed is much different than everything going well for us. In fact, we can be blessed even when everything seems to be going wrong.

From a Christian perspective, the Beatitudes teach that people are blessed even in hard times because they will receive eternity in heaven. Also, we are blessed for having honorable qualities such as being meek, righteous, merciful, pure, and peacemakers.

 Short Commentary Introduction

By Bridges Community Church Team 2022

The commentary below is on the Miracle of Jesus Feeding the 4,000+ earlier as written in Mark and then the 5,000+ at The Sermon on the Mount. This doesn’t count Women and Children so it could have been upwards of 20,000 +

The point is that these are two separate events. And the most clear evidence of this is that Jesus himself, in Mark chapter eight, in recounting the feeding of the 4000 for the disciples, mentioned that this was a separate event. So even Jesus himself in Mark eight points out, these are two separate things. Now, of course, we could get caught up in the trivia of all of this, but ultimately, both events stand apart as being demonstrations of God’s power through his son, Jesus. And we know that Jesus could do anything with just a word.

Also, See Tab Page:  Some Miracles of Jesus

 Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount_ Matthew 5:1-48

Full Sermon

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

3   “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

        for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4   Blessed are those who mourn,

        for they will be comforted.

5   Blessed are the meek,

        for they will inherit the earth.

6   Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

        for they will be filled.

7   Blessed are the merciful,

        for they will be shown mercy.

8   Blessed are the pure in heart,

        for they will see God.

9   Blessed are the peacemakers,

        for they will be called children of God.

10   Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

        for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11  “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely       say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

 12  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in        the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

13 “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.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17 “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. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister b c will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ d is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ e 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ f 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 

Eye for Eye

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ h 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Link includes Video

     Watch full sermon here: Do You Still Not Understand? – Mark 8:1-26

Well, hi, friends. If you joined us in my message this last Sunday, you know that one of the passages in Mark chapter eight that we took a look at is Jesus feeding of the 4000. And that may echo in our minds a little bit because just a couple chapters before Jesus feeds 5000, in Mark chapter six, just two chapters apart, a feeding of 5000. Then two chapters later a feeding of 4000. So are these the same event?

That’s what a lot of people have asked. Anytime they hear about the feeding of the 4000 they think that Mark, who’s writing all this down in the Gospel of Mark is just a little bit confused here. But I just want to point out a few different details that these are indeed separate events. And I’ll tell you why this is important in just a moment. But with the feeding of the 5000 it says that in Mark chapter six that there were 5000 men that were fed.

Now that doesn’t count the women and the children and everybody else that was there. And so experts have estimated that in the feeding of the 5000 you’re really talking about anywhere from maybe twelve to 15, maybe even 20,000 people that were fed in that one occasion. In the feeding of the 4000. In Mark chapter Eight it just says literally 4000 people total. In Mark chapter six it says that they were in the wilderness in some remote place and that Jesus fed them on the same day as after having heard some teaching.

Whereas in Mark chapter eight, the feeding of the 4000, these folks had been there for three days and they’re very very hungry. And Jesus was concerned that they would collapse on the way. And so there’s a different time period there. In the feeding of the 5000 it says that that took place in northern Galilee in the springtime. And the feeding of the 4000, it doesn’t give us a particular time period but it says it takes place in around southeast Galilee.

In the feeding of the 5000 we have the five loaves and the two fish and then afterwards there’s twelve basketfuls afterwards. In the feeding of the 4000 it says that there’s seven loaves and a few small fish and then there’s seven basketfuls after. And the feeding of the 5000, Jesus prays. It says just one time for both the bread and the fish. Whereas Jesus prayed twice in the feeding of the 4000, once for the bread, once for the fish.

The point is that these are two separate events. And the most clear evidence of this is that Jesus himself, in Mark chapter eight, in recounting the feeding of the 4000 for the disciples, mentioned that this was a separate event. So even Jesus himself in Mark eight points out, these are two separate things. Now, of course, we could get caught up in the trivia of all of this, but ultimately, both events stand apart as being demonstrations of God’s power through his son, Jesus. And we know that Jesus could do anything with just a word.

He could do it from a distance. And in these two occasions, he’s demonstrating a level of compassion and mercy that just shows a personal touch that Jesus has and feelings of love for the crowds and for the people and for their well being. But more than that, these are evidences of Jesus full fledged deity, that he is 100% fully God. And even in Mark chapter eight and in Mark chapter six, after Jesus performs these two separate miracles, people are skeptical. You have the Pharisees who are saying, we want to see a sign, Jesus, to prove that you are really who you say you are.

And Jesus is saying, I’ve already just shown you all the signs that you need to see. And even the disciples are not fully comprehending what’s going on here. And the point is that time and time again throughout the Gospels, sometimes Jesus repeats a miracle, or he’ll repeat a teaching, because we don’t always get it the first time or the second time or the 10th or the 11th time. So I hope that this encourages you to just know that God is fully all powerful. He’s always at work, and he’s able to do things, whether, again, it’s in one setting or in another setting.

And all of these things point to the purpose of Jesus coming to the earth. Ultimately, is our bread from heaven that we can partake of. And as the sign that Jesus himself, as the bread comes from heaven, Jesus himself comes from heaven. Well, I hope that that’s helpful to you. Thanks so much for joining me today.