Sermon on the Mount

Sermon on the Mount
source
Name	Sermon on the Mount
Caption	The Sermon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch
Attributed to	Jesus
Language	Aramaic (spoken), Koine Greek (recorded)
Written	1st century AD
Included in	Gospel of Matthew (Chapters 5–7)
Related	Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke

Sermon on the Mount. A foundational and extensive discourse delivered by Jesus of Nazareth, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 5–7). It presents a comprehensive collection of ethical teachings, spiritual principles, and interpretations of Mosaic Law, establishing a core framework for Christian ethics and discipleship. The sermon is considered a central text within Christianity, often described as encapsulating the essence of Jesus's message regarding the Kingdom of God.

Background and setting

The narrative in the Gospel of Matthew situates the discourse early in the ministry of Jesus, following his baptism by John the Baptist and a period of temptation in the Judean Desert. Upon hearing of John's imprisonment, Jesus withdraws to the region of Galilee, where he begins preaching. The specific location is described as a mountainside, traditionally associated with the area near the Sea of Galilee, possibly the Mount of Beatitudes. This setting echoes significant moments in Israelite history, such as Moses receiving the Law on Mount Sinai, positioning Jesus as a authoritative teacher. The immediate audience consisted of his newly called disciples and a larger crowd from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan River.

Content and structure

The discourse opens with the Beatitudes, a series of pronouncements blessing the poor, meek, and peacemakers. This is followed by metaphors describing followers as the salt of the earth and light of the world. A major segment addresses the Mosaic Law, with Jesus stating he came not to abolish but to fulfill it, offering a rigorous reinterpretation through a series of contrasts ("You have heard it said... but I say to you") covering topics like murder, adultery, divorce, and love for enemies. Subsequent sections provide teachings on piety, including warnings against hypocrisy in prayer, fasting, and charitable acts, exemplified by the Lord's Prayer. The sermon concludes with exhortations on trust in God, ethical discernment (the Golden Rule), and the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders, emphasizing the necessity of putting teachings into practice.

Interpretation and themes

The sermon has been interpreted variously as a charter for Christian life, an impossible ideal highlighting human dependence on grace, or an interim ethic for the expected Kingdom of God. Central themes include the call to a righteousness exceeding that of the Pharisees, an ethic of radical love extending to all people, and an interiorization of morality focusing on intent and heart attitude. The Beatitudes are seen as defining the character of citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, while the contrasts deepen the demands of the Ten Commandments. Major Christian thinkers like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther have produced extensive commentaries, and it profoundly influenced movements such as Christian pacifism, notably within the Anabaptist tradition and figures like Leo Tolstoy and Martin Luther King Jr..

Influence and legacy

The sermon's impact extends far beyond theology, deeply shaping Western culture, law, art, and social ethics. Its phrases and concepts, such as the Golden Rule and "turn the other cheek," have entered global moral discourse. It inspired major literary works, including Dostoevsky's *The Brothers Karamazov*, and artistic depictions from Fra Angelico to William Blake. Politically, its principles informed the Civil Rights Movement under Martin Luther King Jr. and global nonviolence advocates like Mahatma Gandhi. Within the church, it remains a primary text for catechesis, homiletics, and personal devotion across denominations, from the Catholic Church to Protestantism.

Historical and scholarly views

Scholarly analysis, employing historical-critical methods, often compares the sermon with the shorter Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke. Many scholars, following the Two-source hypothesis, attribute the material to the hypothetical Q source, which Matthew expanded and structured. Debate continues on whether the sermon represents a single historical address or a thematic compilation of logia (sayings) by Jesus. The relationship of its teachings to Judaism of the Second Temple period is a key area of study, with scholars examining parallels in Pharisaic thought and texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls. The sermon's demanding ethics have also prompted discussion about their practical application in societal contexts throughout history, from the Roman Empire to the modern nation-state.

Category:New Testament Category:Christian ethics Category:Discourses of Jesus