The sermon in 6 sections
The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:1–12
Jesus sits down on a mountainside and begins with a series of blessings. He calls blessed the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted. Each blessing comes with a promise, turning ordinary ideas of who is fortunate upside down.
Salt and light
Matthew 5:13–16
Jesus tells his listeners that they are salt for the earth and light for the world. Salt that loses its taste is useless, and a lamp is not hidden under a basket. Their good actions should be seen so that people give glory to God.
The law fulfilled: 'You have heard…'
Matthew 5:17–48
Jesus says he came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them. In a series of contrasts he takes familiar commands deeper: not only murder but anger, not only adultery but lust, not only limited retaliation (an eye for an eye) but turning the other cheek. He ends by calling his followers to love their enemies and pray for people who mistreat them.
Giving, prayer and fasting
Matthew 6:1–18
Jesus warns against religious acts done for show. Giving should be quiet, prayer should be private and sincere, and fasting should not be advertised. In the middle he teaches a model prayer, now known as the Lord's Prayer, asking for God's name to be honored, his kingdom to come, daily bread, forgiveness and protection.
Treasure and worry
Matthew 6:19–34
Jesus contrasts treasure on earth, which decays or is stolen, with treasure in heaven, and says no one can serve both God and money. He points to birds and wildflowers as signs that God provides, and tells his listeners not to be anxious about food or clothes but to seek God's kingdom first.
Judging, the Golden Rule and the two builders
Matthew 7:1–29
Jesus warns against judging others while ignoring your own faults, and encourages asking, seeking and knocking in prayer. He sums up the Law and the Prophets in the Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. He ends with a contrast between the narrow and wide gates, good and bad fruit, and two builders, one on rock and one on sand. The crowds are amazed at his authority.
The retelling above is our own summary, not Bible text. Read the full passage in Matthew 5–7.
Key verses
““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”
“In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.”
Verse text: Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.
Who is in the story
- Jesus — The teacher, who sits on the mountain and speaks to the crowd
- The disciples — Jesus' followers, who come to him to listen
- The crowds — People from Galilee and beyond who hear the sermon and are amazed
What the story teaches
The sermon is often described as a summary of Jesus' ethical teaching. It describes what life looks like under the kingdom of heaven, a phrase Matthew uses often. The focus moves from outward actions to the heart: anger, desire, motives in religion and trust in God's care all come into view.
Matthew presents Jesus going up a mountain to teach, which many readers connect with Moses receiving the law on Sinai. Jesus does not set the law aside; he presents himself as its fulfillment and interprets it with unusual authority. The crowd's reaction at the end highlights that he spoke with real authority, unlike their usual teachers.
Traditions read the demands of the sermon in different ways. Some treat it as a direct guide for daily life, including non-violence; others see it as an ideal that shows people their need for grace; others see it as the ethic of God's coming kingdom lived out now in part. Most agree it was meant to shape actual behavior, not only belief.
Luke records a shorter, similar sermon on a level place (Luke 6:17–49). Scholars discuss whether Matthew and Luke describe one occasion, or whether Jesus repeated his core teaching in different settings and the Gospel writers gathered it in their own ways.
Blessing looks different from success
The Beatitudes honor humility, mercy and peacemaking rather than power or wealth.
The heart behind the action
Jesus addresses motives, not only behavior, from anger to the reasons people pray.
Hearing must turn into doing
The sermon ends by saying the wise builder is the one who acts on what he hears.
What the Beatitudes say, in short
A plain-English summary of Matthew 5:3–12. Read the full wording in the verses on this page or in the chapter.
- People who know their spiritual need: the kingdom of heaven is theirs (5:3)
- People who grieve: they will find comfort (5:4)
- The gentle and humble: the earth will be their inheritance (5:5)
- People who long for what is right: they will be satisfied (5:6)
- People who show mercy: mercy will be shown to them (5:7)
- People with an undivided heart: they will see God (5:8)
- People who make peace: God will call them his children (5:9)
- People mistreated for doing right: the kingdom is theirs too (5:10–12)
The Sermon on the Mount for kids
Questions for discussion
- Which Beatitude surprises you most, and why?
- What does it look like to be salt and light in your everyday life?
- Jesus moves from actions to attitudes like anger and lust. Why might that matter?
- What is the hardest part of the sermon for you to put into practice?
- What would it mean for your life to be built on rock rather than sand?
Test yourself
Read the story first, then check what you remember: Life of Jesus Quiz.