SERMON ON THE MOUNT BIBLE STUDY

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5, 6, 7

The Ministry of Jesus

Luke 3:23 records that Jesus was about 30 years of age when he began his ministry. He was baptized, tempted, called the first four of His disciples, then began to teach.

Jesus went all about Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manners of disease among the people.

And His fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with many uncertain diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic (probably epilepsy), and those that had the palsy, and He healed them.

And there followed after Him great crowds of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He sat, His disciples came unto Him: and He opened His mouth, and taught them.

And when He ended His sermon, the people were astonished at His doctrine: For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus’ first sermon is recorded in Matthew 5, 6, and 7.

SERMON ON THE MOUNT BIBLE STUDY | THE BEATITUDES CHAPTER 5:1-12

What are the Beatitudes?

 The Beatitudes are the opening statements of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–12). Each one begins with “Blessed are…”, meaning deeply joyful, favored, or approved by God. They describe the characteristics of people who belong to God’s kingdom and the blessings God gives to them. 

·  They describe the heart of a true believer. This is what the citizens of God’s kingdom look like - not outward religion, but inner transformation.

· They show the difference between God’s values and the world’s values. The world celebrates pride, power, wealth, and self-promotion. Jesus celebrates humility, purity, mercy, and righteousness.

·  They teach what spiritual maturity looks like. This is the character Christ wants to form in us.

·  They reveal the blessings that come from following Jesus. Every Beatitude carries a promise: comfort, mercy, inheritance, seeing God, and the kingdom of heaven.

· They prepare believers for suffering. Jesus makes it clear that following Him brings both blessing and opposition - but the eternal reward is worth it.

The Beatitudes show us what kind of people God blesses and how His kingdom works.

 

They call us to:

 

·       Humility

·       Repentance

·       Gentleness

·       Holiness

·       Mercy

·       Purity

·       Peace

·       Faithfulness

 

And they reassure us that God sees, God knows, and God rewards the heart that follows Him. People whose hearts have been changed. People walking in surrender. People who look like Jesus because they know Jesus.

 

They are the character traits of a true disciple—someone in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3-12

 

Jesus’ sermon begins with the blessings that come with being a child of God. The Beatitudes help us better understand the blessings God has in store for us and what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

 

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus Christ taught His gospel and outlined how to be a disciple. In it, He also gave eight important teachings called the Beatitudes. The word beatitude means “supreme blessedness” or “exalted happiness.” The Beatitudes highlight the amazing promised blessings that come when we submit ourselves to (God’s Government) the Kingdom of Heaven and follow Jesus Christ. 

 

As followers of Jesus Christ this is what we are to be, in one word, different. As one walks through the beatitudes, they will see that Christians are to be different from the world. There should be a notable difference, a distinction.

• Matthew 5:3, ³ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The one who is blessed is not dependent upon circumstances. The one who is poor in spirit is blessed regardless of their life, their circumstances may change or remain the same, they may be better or worse, but the state of being blessed does not change. To be poor in spirit is to be in a needy condition spiritually and see that need. The poor in spirit understand their poorness, their nakedness, their complete and utter lack, and it is only God’s grace to them that they see their true condition, and act upon it. They have a humble and teachable spirit, one that humbly acknowledges their need for Jesus. 

 

When one prays and seeks the kingdom of heaven, they are also praying for the rule and reign of the kingdom of God in their lives.  The kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.  

• Matthew 5:4, ⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Ever since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, mourning was the sad legacy of every child of Adam. Deterioration, disease, death, and decay ravaged the body and spoiled the beautiful world God had created.

 

However, the mourning in this verse is primarily connected with the inner spiritual grieving of a broken and contrite heart. It is the innermost garment of a sinner, separated from God who made them. It is the acknowledgment of a person’s sin that will cause them to grieve and mourn over the sorrowful state of their sinful heart. BLESSED ARE THOSE FOR THEY SHALL RECEIVE COMFORT FROM THE LORD. 

• Matthew 5:5, ⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Meekness from a Christian perspective, is about faith. It is about trusting God to win the battle in the end instead of going to extremes to win the battle on their own. The concept is often referred to as “strength under control,” rather than “strength seeking control.”

 

To be gentle and meek while standing firmly on the truth requires great strength. But it also requires an attitude of service. The gentle or meek, who are directing their energies into service to their Master, in service to others, are blessed. They are happy and fulfilled.

 

Meekness is not a requirement for becoming a true Christian, but meekness is something which naturally comes from having a saving knowledge of Christ. THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.

• Matthew 5:6, ⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

We were born with a sin nature through Adam, and the only One that is righteous is the Lord Jesus. But to those that believe, Christ Jesus is our righteousness, and His righteousness comes to us from God on the basis of faith. He is the God of righteousness, and those who are clothed in Christ are clothed in His righteousness. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, one can be changed into His likeness and conformed more and more to His image. HOW BLESSED ARE THOSE THAT HUNGER AND THIRST FOR THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED.

• Matthew 5:7, ⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

In His mercy, God withheld the punishment that we so justly deserved. Even though we have repeatedly proved unfaithful and undependable, both individually and as a group, God has been gracious and merciful. He has repeatedly offered forgiveness, help, redemption, and salvation when we least deserved it. Rather than dealing with us strictly as the law would demand, God has dealt with us as a loving father does with his children. This unconditional love must show up in us also. How can we claim to be a child of God and not be merciful? How can we call for retribution against our brothers and sisters, when fairness would demand we pay a great penalty for our sin? In the kingdom family, mercy rules. WE ARE TRULY BLESSED WHEN WE SHOW MERCY FOR WE SHALL OBTAIN MERCY. 

• Matthew 5:8, ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

When we receive God’s great free gift for salvation we are given a new, Christ-like nature. We receive a pure heart. The moment that we are saved by grace through faith we will see God. The pure in heart are focused from the inside out on one thing - pleasing God. THOSE WHO ARE PURE IN THEIR DEVOTION TO GOD ARE BLESSED FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD.

• Matthew 5:9, ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Simply put a peacemaker is one who makes peace. There is a blessing that is pronounced on peacemakers. True peace is brought about by salvation. True peace is knowing and loving God. True peace is having faith in God. Godly peacemakers are indeed blessed when they seek to live peaceably with all men. As God directs, they follow after peace without any spiritual compromise, while binding up the broken peace of others, which is caused by depression, disease, divorce, and distress. Peacemakers show God’s peace everywhere they go. THEY ARE TRULY BLESSED FOR THEY ARE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD. 

• Matthew 5:10, ¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Here Jesus includes the possibility of “persecution for righteousness’ sake.” This arises because we live in a fallen world, and the forces that oppose God’s ways still hold power in the world.

 

Note: Persecution arising from unrighteous behavior is not blessed. If we fail through our own fault, we should expect to suffer negative consequences.

  

Jesus is talking about the BLESSING OF BEING PERSECUTED FOR DOING RIGHT. The reality in a fallen world is that if we demonstrate genuine righteousness, many will reject us. WE ARE TRULY BLESSED BECAUSE WE CAN CALL HEAVEN OUR HOME. 

• Matthew 5:11-12, ¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Jesus elaborates by pointing out that the prophets, who like Him announced God’s kingdom, were persecuted. Notice the basis for persecution. Those who belong to the kingdom of heaven will be persecuted for righteousness’ sake. People will utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on Jesus’ account. That persecution is not only torture or physical opposition, but insults and malice. Jesus is teaching the need to expect suffering for right living and for godly teaching.

 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you... One proof of being blessed is the willingness to endure unfair treatment on account of faithfully following Jesus (1 Peter 4:12-14). 

 

Rejoice... real joy is not the absence of troubles or trials, joy his knowing God! When you have faith and trust in God you can rejoice in the midst of troubles (James 1:2-3).

 

Be exceedingly glad... because of the glory and happiness that shall follow upon your suffering, for great is your reward in heaven. Christians must not expect their reward here, but hereafter, when all the riches of heaven and God Himself will be their reward. THEIRS SHALL BE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

 

Purpose of the Beatitudes

 

With each beatitude, another nail is driven into a coffin. Inside the coffin lies the corpse of a false understanding of salvation. The false understanding that says a person can be saved without being changed. Or, that a person can inherit eternal life even if their attitudes and actions are like the attitudes and actions of the world.

 

One after the other, the Beatitudes tell us that the blessings of eternity will be given only to those who have become new creatures. For example, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God... Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

 

If we don’t obtain mercy, we receive judgement. If we don’t see God, we are not in heaven. If we aren’t called the children of God, we are outside the family. These are all descriptions of final salvation, brought about by a relationship with God, and promised only to the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers.

 

From beginning to end, the Sermon on the Mount cries out, “Get a new heart! Become a new person!”

SERMON ON THE MOUNT BIBLE STUDY | CONCLUSION AND CALL TO SALVATION

Conclusion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:28-29 ²⁸ And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings (His first sermon), people were astonished at his doctrine: ²⁹ For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

 

Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5 - 7 focused on clarifying the purpose of God’s laws and commandments. He presents a vision of life in God’s Kingdom that is radically different from outward religion or rule-keeping. Jesus begins by describing the kind of people who belong to the Kingdom—those who are humble, merciful, pure in heart, and hungry for righteousness.

 

He taught a series of lessons that God not only looks at the outward behavior, but that of the inward behavior. He taught that hypocritical or performance-based shallowness is not real righteousness. God knows the difference and expects His people to do more than serve out of selfishness and pride. 

 

He then explains that true righteousness goes deeper than external obedience; it reaches the heart. Anger, lust, dishonesty, retaliation, and hatred are addressed not merely as behaviors to avoid, but as symptoms of deeper heart issues that must be transformed.

 

Throughout the sermon, Jesus contrasts superficial religion with genuine faith. He warns against practicing righteousness for human approval and teaches that prayer, fasting, and generosity are to be done in secret before God. He calls His followers to trust their heavenly Father rather than live in anxiety over material needs, emphasizing that God knows and provides for His children.

 

The sermon concludes with a call to decision. Jesus makes clear that hearing His words is not enough—His teaching must be lived out. True discipleship is shown by obedience, producing a life built on a firm foundation that withstands the storms of life. Jesus reveals that Kingdom living flows from a transformed heart, expressed through love, humility, truth, trust, and obedience to God.

 

Matthew, having finished his report of Jesus’ sermon, describes the crowd as “astonished.” The people had never heard such teaching like this before. They were genuinely surprised by what Jesus said. Rather than speaking as someone passing along the wisdom of others (such as the scribes), Jesus spoke as the Source and Authority of the things he taught. As One having authority.

 

A Call to Salvation

 

Will you truly make Jesus your Lord and Savior today? Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised. Today is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2), call on Him now in the accepted time, this is the accepted time, behold today is the day of salvation. Start today, hear and do Jesus’ words, and you will not stand before him ashamed on the day of His coming (1 John 2:28). 

 

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (1 Peter 4:7).

 

Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all the things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of man (Luke 21:36).

 

How must we be saved? Read Plan of Salvation on this blog.

 

 

 

 

SERMON ON THE MOUNT BIBLE STUDY | PLAN OF SALVATION

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

“Ye must be born again...”

Almost all denominations and religions agree you have to be born again.  The problem is they disagree on how you are to be born again. According to the Bible there is only one way to be born again and that is the same way Peter and the apostles were born again on the day of Pentecost.  

 

In the scriptures below Jesus appointed Peter to set the foundation for His church.   Jesus said “upon this rock (Peter) will I build my church”.

 

(John 1:40-42 KJV)  One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

 

(Matthew 16:17-19 KJV) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 

Keep in mind that God's church is built upon the teachings of Peter and the apostles.  

 

In the paragraph below Jesus told Nicodemus if we are not born again of the water (which is baptism of water for remission of sins) and spirit(which is the baptism of the Holy Ghost) we can not enter into heaven!

 

(John 3:3-5 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

 

Jesus commanded his apostles to go forth and teach to all nations.

 

(Matthew 28:16-20 KJV) Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.,, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

(Mark 16:15-16 KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 

The next set of scriptures state that right before Jesus was taken up into heaven he told the apostles where to go and wait for the Holy Ghost.

(Luke 24:44-53 KJV) And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

 

(Acts 1:2, 4-9 KJV)  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

 

When Jesus spoke unto the disciples it tells us in Luke 24:45 that he opened their understanding that they may understand the scriptures.  Immediately following Jesus’ resurrection they did just as He told them.  Not once in the scriptures were any of them confused about what they were to do.

 

(Acts 2:1-8, 12 KJV)  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

 

(Acts 2:14-16 KJV)  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

 

(Acts 2:37-39 KJV)  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

 

Notice: The apostles did not baptize in the titles (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). Jesus told them to baptize in the name (singular). What is the name of the Father, the name of the Son, the name of the Holy Ghost? Jesus! Read the scriptures for yourself, throughout the New Testament the apostles baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ every single time.

 

When the people standing about asked Peter “men and brethren, what shall we do?”  What did Peter tell them?  What he told them to do still applies to us today.

 

The Holy Ghost experience was not just for the apostles and their day but is also for us in this day and hour.  Peter said the promise is unto us and our children and to all…  In order to get to heaven YOU MUST repent, be baptized in JESUS Name, and receive the HOLY GHOST!

 

Read Acts 10 (whole chapter).  In this chapter we learn that Cornelius was a very devout God fearing man that paid alms and prayed ALWAYS, but still God sent an angel to tell him to send for a man (Peter) to tell him how he and his house could be saved.  They were all baptized in Jesus Name and receive the Holy Ghost and spake with tongues. It is not enough to just be a good person YOU must repent, be baptized in Jesus Name and receive the Holy Ghost!

 

In Acts 19 we find that Paul ran across some of John's disciples and they also were baptized and received the Holy Ghost!  Yes John the Baptist's disciples! If the way you were baptized does not matter then why did Paul find it necessary to rebaptize John’s disciples?  He baptized them in Jesus’ Name and they all received the Holy Ghost and spake with tongues.

 

(Acts 19:1-6 KJV)  And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

 

In Galatians the apostle Paul warned us about others coming to preach something other than what he or the other apostles taught.

 

(Galatians 1:6-9 KJV)  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

 

According to scripture you must repent, be baptized in Jesus name, and be filled with the Holy Ghost to enter into Heaven!  The scripture above tells us if any man tells you any different or preaches any other gospel let him be accursed!

 

So remember, if you have already repented and turned from sin, that’s not the final step, YOU MUST be baptized in Jesus’ Name, and receive the Holy Ghost.