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Sermon on the Mount, chapters 5-7 of the book of Matthew, King James Bible

Available online from the Internet Sacred Text Archive at http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/kjv/mat005.htm; http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/kjv/mat006.htm; http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/kjv/mat007.htm

Compiled between 1400 bce and 90 ce

The Bible is the sacred text of Christianity. It is composed of two major parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the Jewish sacred scripture, but "Old Testament" is a Christian term, and Jews refer to their scripture as the Tanakh. It is also often called the Hebrew Bible. While Christians believe in the authority of the Old Testament, the core of Christianity is found in the New Testament, which features accounts of the life and teachings of the religion's founder, Jesus Christ (c. 6 bce–c. 33 ce). These accounts are broken up into "books" named after important early figures in Christianity and contain chapters. The biblical book of Matthew contains what is commonly called the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5 through 7. The Sermon on the Mount records the actual teachings of Jesus Christ. A shorter version of the sermon also can be found in the sixth chapter of the book of Luke.

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

Jesus's political and spiritual roles

The word Christ comes from a Greek word meaning something like "the chosen one." The Jewish people of the time of Christ (around the first century ce) looked forward to the arrival of a messiah, a savior who would be the last of God's prophets. The coming of this messiah was foretold in the Jewish scripture. Most people believed that the long-awaited messiah would establish a kingdom on Earth. They believed that he would free the Jewish people from the Roman Empire, which ruled the region during the time that Christ lived. They saw their expected messiah as an earthly ruler who would lead the Jewish people and make them strong again. Christians regard Christ as the expected messiah. Christ, however, taught a very different message in the Sermon on the Mount than the one the Jews were waiting for. He made clear to his followers that he was on Earth to establish God's heavenly kingdom, not an earthly kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount was a guide to earthly living for his Christian followers. Those who followed Christ's teachings could earn a place in the heavenly kingdom.

The basic message that Christ taught was that to enter the kingdom of heaven a person had to do more than simply follow the letter of the law or practice traditional rituals. Christ taught that a person's inward spirit, outlook, and attitude, towards both God and other people, were more important. As he said in verse 17 of chapter 5 in the book of Matthew, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Through his preaching, Christ was creating a new guide for living for his followers, one based not on legal traditions but on the state of a person's heart.

The Sermon on the Mount contains some of the verses of the New Testament that are most often quoted by Christians. One example is the third verse of chapter 5: "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." In this verse, Christ is saying that people should be humble ("poor in spirit"). Only those with an attitude of humility in their hearts can reach heaven. He calls on his followers to be peacemakers and to endure persecution from those who are not ready to accept Christ's message. Persecution is mistreatment, often involving violence. He sets a high standard for his followers, telling them to be meek and merciful. He urges them to be simple and trusting and to avoid outward shows of holiness. He concludes chapter 5 by saying, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Separating Christianity from Judaism

In chapter 5 of the book of Matthew, Christ offers some examples of how his standards differ from those of the Jewish law. In verses 21 through 24, he says that it is not enough simply to follow the law not to kill, which is one of the laws contained in the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament. In Christ's view, reconciliation, meaning compromising and reaching an understanding with others, and forgiveness are more important. He considers the example of someone who goes to the temple (a Jewish house of worship) with an offering but does so while he feels anger against a fellow human being. He tells such a person to "go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." Christ's emphasis is always on love and forgiveness.

The Sermon on the Mount is rich with statements Christ made that express the essence, or the core and the heart, of Christianity. Chapter 6, verses 9 through 13, contain the well-known "Lord's Prayer," a prayer to the Father in Heaven that is part of most Christian services. This prayer is a simple expression of belief in God and a request for help in becoming a forgiving person. Another often-quoted verse is the first verse of chapter 7, "Judge not that ye not be judged." For Christ, the statement meant that one should look to the state of his or her own heart rather than worrying about the behavior of others. He also urges that people should treat others as they would wish to be treated themselves.

Things to remember while reading the excerpt from the Bible:

Although Christ was the founder of Christianity, it must be remembered that he was born as a Jew, lived as a Jew, and was educated in the traditions and laws of Judaism contained in the Jewish scripture. During his sermon, he makes reference to the "scribes and Pharisees." These are the names of sects, or subgroups, of early Judaism, but, more important, they serve as representatives of a strict obedience to tradition, law, and ritual, as outlined in the Old Testament.
The numbers in the excerpt follow the usual method for identifying passages from the Bible. For example, Matthew 5:3 refers to the third verse of the fifth chapter of Matthew. A verse generally, but not always, corresponds to a sentence.
Christ makes reference to the ancient Mesopotamian law of Hammurabi, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," as behavior that is not acceptable. The Sermon on the Mount urges Christians to act with kindness, charity, and forgiveness towards all, even if those others cause harm. Christ did not just urge his followers to behave this way. He himself acted in accordance with his words, as the story of his life told through the New Testament reveals.

The Ten Commandments

Christians regard the Sermon on the Mount as, in a sense, a New Testament version of the Ten Commandments. These commandments, the basic requirements of Judaism and Christianity, are found in chapter 20 of Exodus, the second book of the Jewish scripture. They were given to the prophet Moses as part of God's "covenant," or agreement, with the Israelites, the Jewish people.

The Ten Commandments became the basis for all Jewish law. They provided Jews with a guide to ethical, or moral, living. The first four commandments, verses 2 through 11, deal with people's relationship with God. The remaining six commandments, verses 12 through 17, have to do with people's relationships with others, covering such matters as family relationships; regard for human life and honesty; and standards for sex, property, speech, and thought.

20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [slavery]
20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven [carved] image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity [sin] of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
20:6 And shewing [showing] mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
20:8 Remember the sabbath day [day of worship], to keep it holy.
20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed [made holy] it.
20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery [sex with someone other than one's wife or husband].
20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness [lie] against thy neighbour.
20:17 Thou shalt not covet [desire] thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

The Second Book of Moses: Called Exodus" (chapter 20). Available online from the Internet Sacred Text archive at http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/kjv/exo020.htm.

Excerpt from the Bible

The Gospel According to Saint Matthew Chapter 5
    5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
    5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
    5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    5:4 Blessed are they that that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
    5:5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.
    5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.
    5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
    5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
    5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
    5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
    5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
    5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
    5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
    5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
    5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
    5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
    5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
    5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
    5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
    5:21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
    5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: …
    5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
    5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
    5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
    5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
    5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
    5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart….
    5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
    5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
    5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King….
    5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth
    5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
    5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also….
    5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
    5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
    5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
    5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust….
    5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Chapter 6
    6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven….
    6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
    6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
    6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men….
    6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly….
    6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
    6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
    6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
    6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
    6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
    6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
    6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses….
    6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
    6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
    6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also….
    6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
    6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? …
    6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
    6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
    6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?…
    6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
    6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Chapter 7
    7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
    7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
    7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
    7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
    7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye….
    7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:…
    7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets….
    7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven….
    7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
    7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

What happened next …

Each of the four Gospels, including Matthew, records numerous events and teachings from the life of Christ. Chapters 8 through 20 of Matthew go on to detail additional teachings of Christ and note the miracles that he performed, particularly miracles of healing. Chapter 21 tells of Christ's triumphant arrival in the city of Jerusalem. Chapters 22 through 27 describe the events surrounding his arrest, trial, and crucifixion (death by hanging on a cross). The book concludes with Chapter 28, Christ's resurrection from the dead.

Did you know …

Little is known about the life of Matthew. In fact, the Gospel does not identify him as the author of the book. About all that is known is that he had been a tax collector for the Roman Empire before he became a disciple of Jesus Christ. This made him a social outcast. He wrote the book sometimes between the years 50 and 100, and the main source of his information was Peter, another of the apostles. An apostle is a close follower of Christ.
The Bible exists in numerous translations. The excerpt given here is taken from the King James Version of the Bible. This was a translation made especially for King James I of England early in the seventeenth century. It is thought of as the most "literary" translation of the Bible, meaning that the language is suited more to literature than to everyday speech.
Christians often refer to verses 3 through 11 of Chapter 5 as the Beatitudes. The word beatitude comes from a Latin word that essentially means "happy." The word has come to refer specifically to the "Blessed are" statements that Christ made at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. By following these precepts, or guidelines, a person can become happy by entering the kingdom of God.

Consider the following …

Explain Christ's overall purpose in giving the Sermon on the Mount.
Summarize how Christ's interpretation of law differed from that of the larger Jewish community.
An often quoted passage from the Sermon on the Mount is "whosoever shall smite [hit] thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." Explain the meaning of this teaching.