Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

Explore the most complete record of Jesus' announcement about the arrival of God's Kingdom and how it fulfills the promise of God's presence and blessing for everyone. Discover the significance of the Sermon on the Mount to the larger biblical story.

The Beatitudes

Dive into an in-depth exploration of the nine beatitudes, given by Jesus in Matthew 5, and how they reveal a new kind of society where justice, peace, and generosity reign and love is the final word. Discover how this section of the Sermon on the Mount fits into the larger biblical story.

Jesus and The Torah

Dig into Jesus' depiction of righteousness, grounded in the Torah and Prophets, and learn how he uniquely moves the story forward by showing how it truly looks to live righteously by God's wisdom. Discover how Matthew 5:17-20, as part of the Sermon on the Mount, relates to the larger biblical story.

Murder, Adultery, and Divorce

Gain a deep understanding of Old Testament laws about murder, adultery, and divorce and uncover God's wisdom for righteousness, treating all humans with dignity because they are made in the image of God. Learn how Jesus' teaching in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-32) connects to the larger biblical story.

Oaths, Retaliation, and Enemy Love

Gain a deep understanding of Old Testament laws about oaths, retaliation, and neighborly love to uncover God's wisdom for peacemaking—including speaking honestly, responding to injustice with creative nonviolence, and extending love to enemies. Learn how Jesus' teaching in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:33-48) connects to the larger biblical story.

Warnings About Religious Practices

Explore Jesus' warnings about turning religious practices (like giving, prayer, and fasting) into performances to gain social favor and how he teaches us to avoid hypocrisy by laying down the desire to improve public perception when we express devotion to God. Learn how Jesus' teaching connects Matthew 6:1-21 to the larger biblical story.

The Lord's Prayer

Uncover the Lord's Prayer at the center of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:9-13. Explore how praying the Lord's Prayer forms us into people who trust God daily, love and forgive others, and participate in the good work that unites Heaven and Earth—and how this is one way to make Jesus' story our own story.

Wealth and Worry

Discover what Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount about our relationship to wealth and possessions. Learn how trusting our generous creator and focusing on what God values can allow us to become more free and content.

Wisdom in Relationships

Discover the foundation of life in God's Kingdom: righteousness, or right-relating with God and others. Learn how Jesus encourages his followers in the Sermon on the Mount to pursue righteousness by showing mercy instead of judgment and depending on God’s wisdom, not our own.

The Choice

Explore the meaning of the final teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus uses images of gates, trees, and houses to offer a choice to his followers.