The Sermon on the Mount
by Kathy Cretsinger
We are studying the Life of Christ, and Sunday we will go through the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, 6, and 7. There is so much in those three chapters. So much for us to learn as Christians. Most of it is simple, or it should be.
Jesus was a great teacher. He understood the people He was teaching. The teaching is so simple. We probably don\’t realize how much we use these three chapters in our everyday life. He was not afraid to speak to crowes, Matthew 5:1. In fact, I feel He was willing to talk to crowds.
So many of the Beatitudes are everyday sayings to us. We learned them as children. I remember having to memorize them in Sunday School class. Matthew 5: 4 is said a lot at funerals. \”Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.\” I remember repeating verses 11 and 12 to my children, \” “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.\” We are all familiar with these verses.
Other things are taught in these chapters. Jesus gives us an example on how to pray, Matthew 6:9-15. We are taught to love everyone, 5: 43-48, and we are taught to be humble in our daily life, Matthew 6:1. We are taught to not be anxious, Matthew 6: 25-34. Everyone today should read Matthew 7:1-6 daily in order to not judge people, especially those we don\’t know.
The most inspiring part of these three chapters is Matthew 7:28, 29. \”And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.\” This should solidify that Christ is the Son of God.