Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 “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.
The Sermon:
The Beatitudes: "Humility"
Whether you admit it or not you surrender your life to various gods, but do you know to whom you are surrendering and the life they are calling you to? Some gods say, “indulge yourself, do as you please,” others, “worship me and I’ll provide what you want.” But do these gods have your best life, a blessed life, in view? Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” And his sermon in Matthew 5-7 is a picture of what it looks like to do just that. It is not a moral code in particular but a call to live a blessed life. Over the next few weeks, we will examine how we can have a blessed life, the challenges of a blessed life, and what it means to live a blessed life each and every day.
