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Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

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“And He opened His mouth and began to teach them…”
Matthew 5:2, LSB

 

 

 

Chapters five through seven of the Gospel of Matthew encapsulate what has rightly been described as the greatest sermon ever preached. Not only are its contents tremendously extensive and life-changing, they are delivered by the only perfect preacher ever to walk this earth. 

 

Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, opens His mouth to give His listeners (and now us readers) the most profound set of teachings ever recorded. In this sermon, Jesus will describe what true disciples are like (Mat 5:3-16). He will reorient our understanding of the Law (5:17-48). He will challenge self-righteous hypocrisy (6:1-18), teach us to pray to the Father (6:9-15), and reveal what it is to seek and to trust in God and His Kingdom (6:19-34). Jesus here will instruct about unrighteous judgment and about the Golden Rule (7:1-12). He will warn about the broad and narrow paths, about bearing good fruit and bad fruit, and about those who will claim to work in the name of the Lord, though He never recognizes them (7:13-23). Indeed, every one of our Lord’s listeners (including us) is instructed to build his life upon the foundation of this wonderful sermon (7:24-27).

 

 

“Every one of our Lord’s listeners (including us) is instructed to build his life upon the foundation of this wonderful sermon.”

 

 

Our study through the Sermon on the Mount proves to be a tremendous journey well worth the effort. This great sermon will teach us great truths, convict us in our sensibilities, correct our misunderstandings, and train us up in the righteousness of God, just as all Scripture is promised to do (2 Tim 3:16-17). So as we step into this study, let us pray for the Lord to meet us in our hearts and instruct us in His perfect will. If we are to “be perfect, as [our] heavenly Father is perfect” (Mat 5:48), what better place is there to begin than with the glorious teachings of Christ the Son Himself?

 

 

Soli Deo Gloria