What message did Jesus teach in the sermon on the mount?

Answer 1

There were many teachings that were in the Sermon on the Mount. It comprises three chapters in the book of Matthew.

It introduced some radical thinking to the Jewish mindset, such as the first part, which are called the Beatitudes. These verses all start with "Blessed are..." and they were contrary to what they had been taught up until then.

Read the Sermon on the Mount and see all of the instances of "But I tell you...", these are contradictions to what they had believed.

They realized He was teaching them something very powerful as noted in the last two verses of chapter 7 "When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes."

Answer 2

The "Sermon on the Mount," as some call it takes up three chapters [5,6 & 7] of Matthew's account.

Most people envision vast throngs of people present to hear Jesus' "sermon." But, there weren't that many people who could fit "up on the side of the mountain" where Jesus climbed [to get away from the multitudes].

"...there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and Judaea, and from Jordan." (Matt.4:25).

"And seeing the multitudes, HE WENT UP INTO A MOUNTAIN: and when He was set, HIS DISCIPLES CAME UNTO HIM: and He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying..." (Matt.5:1-2).

Jesus never sought out the multitudes... they sought Him. In fact, He often retreated to get away from them... into the hills, or His house, or someone else's house, or on a getaway boat to an opposite shore.

So, the ones to whom Jesus spoke on the Mount of Olives were a small throng, mostly, of His disciples. Jesus called twelve... but He had a following of many others for a time. It was these whom He "taught" on the mount.

And the "main theme" of what Jesus taught was "the Character Traits of a Loving, Caring, Selfless Child of God."

In other words: He taught them the way obedient Children of God should behave themselves before their Father in heaven.

"...theirs is the Kingdom of heaven... they will be comforted... they will inherit the earth... they will be shown mercy... they will see God... THEY WILL BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD." (Matt.5:3-9 NIV)

Jesus taught His disciples what ALL MEN MUST LEARN in order to be born into God's Family. ALL MANKIND MUST LEARN TO SELFLESSLY LOVE AND RESPECT ONE ANOTHER if they are to have any hope at all of LIVING TOGETHER FOR ALL OF ETERNITY!!!

That one main lesson that doesn't seem to be getting across to the many generations that have come and gone in this hate-filled, greedy, jealous, envious, warring -- Satan-worshiping and guided world.

Answer 3

If you look in chapter 5 of Matthew it says more but basically it was,

the beatitudes, Teaching about salt and light, Teaching about the law, Teaching about anger, teaching about adultery, Teaching about divorce, Teaching about vows, Teaching about revenge, Teaching about love for enemies, Teaching about Giving to the needy, Teaching about prayer and fasting, Teaching about money and possession's, Teaching about not judging others, The golden rule, The Narrow gate, The tree and its fruit, True Disciples, and Building on a mountainside, then after he finished teaching he healed a man with leprosy.

Answer 4

In Matthew chapters 5-7, Jesus is describing the character traits of a Child of God.

Answer 5

The Sermon pictures what God desires to make of us if we will offer ourselves to Him as living sacrifices.