Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
Matthew 5:1–14
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“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.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven…”
The Beatitudes
… When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:28–29
Our Bible passage shows the beginning and end of the Sermon on the Mount. Reading through this whole passage of teaching (Matthew 5:1 – 7:29) quietly at home in preparation for the group may be helpful in thinking about Jesus’ teaching ministry.
In Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus is seen as a teacher of righteousness, the five blocks of teaching (see the study on p. 76 on Matthew’s Gospel, “The faithful Israel and the new Moses”) remind us of the books of the Law that taught the people of God how to live. The Sermon on the Mount forms part of these blocks of teaching, instructing us on the lifestyle of a Christian.
But Jesus also taught in parables; indeed, Matthew says elsewhere (13:34)
that he always and only taught the crowds in parables. His parables (Matthew 13 gives a good selection) are often described as “parables of the kingdom”, and they expound the nature of God and the kingdom of heaven. The parables help us to grasp imaginatively what Jesus elsewhere teaches in his discourses (for example Matthew 23:12 and Luke 18:9–14).
The teachings of Jesus emphasize faith that is genuine and stands firm, prayer that never gives up, forgiveness and mercy, God’s constancy and love, the trustworthy generosity of God in providing for us, love as the hallmark of the disciple, willingness to embrace the sacrificial way, and the importance of simplicity.
O God of wisdom, you know how dim our understanding can be, how slow we are to grasp what you are showing us. Thank you for your patience with us. As we walk the disciple’s way, help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, for we learn best of all by watching him. In his holy name we pray; Amen.
