Jesus gathered a huge crowd on a hillside in Galilee, not in a grand temple, but out in nature. There, He gave one of the most important speeches ever – it's called the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. Think of it as a really important rulebook or guide for how to live and follow Jesus, just like the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai were a big deal.
Jesus started this amazing sermon with what we call the Beatitudes (pronounced Bee-AT-ih-toods). These are like "blessings" or "happy are those who..." statements, but they totally flip our normal ideas about happiness upside down. Jesus says things like, "Happy are those who are poor in spirit" (meaning those who understand they need God for everything, not just their own power or stuff). Or, "Happy are those who are peacemakers." He's telling us that true happiness comes from having the right heart and following God's ways, not from being rich, popular, or powerful in the world's eyes.
Next, Jesus took some of the Old Testament laws, like "You shall not murder," and made them even deeper. He said things like, "You have heard... but I say..." For example, He taught that it's not enough just not to murder; we shouldn't even let anger fester in our hearts towards others. Jesus was looking right into our hearts and minds, teaching that God cares about our inner feelings and intentions, not just our outward actions. He wants us to be pure on the inside, too. He wants us to change our hearts not just our actions.
Jesus then told His followers they are the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world." Think about it:
Salt makes food taste good and keeps it from spoiling. Jesus means we should make the world a better place, preserve what's good, and add "flavor" (joy and goodness) to people's lives.
Light chases away darkness and helps people see where they're going. Jesus wants us to shine God's goodness into the spiritual darkness of the world, helping others find their way to Him. This means living our faith openly and being good examples for everyone to see.
In the middle of this sermon, Jesus gave us the perfect model for prayer: what we call the Lord's Prayer ("Our Father, who art in Heaven..."). He taught us to start by praising God's holy name, then asking for God's plan to happen on Earth, asking for our daily bread (this is not just food each day but is referring to the spiritual bread - The Eucharist - we receive at Mass), asking for forgiveness, and asking God to protect us from evil. It's a complete guide for how to talk to God from your heart.
Jesus also gave strong warnings about not showing off when you do good things. He said that if you give to the poor, pray, or fast just so others will see you and praise you, you've already received your reward – from people, not from God. He stressed that God cares most about your sincere heart when you practice your faith, not how good you look to others.
The sermon wraps up with a very famous rule: the Golden Rule. "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." It's simple, but powerful! Finally, Jesus told a compelling story about two builders. One built his house on solid rock, and when the storms came, it stood firm. The other built his house on sand, and it collapsed. Jesus used this to teach that it's not enough to just hear His words; true followers must actively put them into practice in their lives. Doing His teachings is like building your life on a strong foundation!
Scripture Passages:
Matthew 5:3-5: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
Matthew 5:13-14: "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. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."
Matthew 6:9-13: "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"
Reflection Questions:
Jesus taught that God cares about what's in our hearts and minds, not just our outward actions (like in the "You have heard... but I say" teachings). Why do you think it's important that God cares about our inner thoughts and intentions, and how might this change how you think about your own actions or feelings?
Jesus called His followers "salt of the earth" and "light of the world," and also gave the Golden Rule and the parable of the two builders. Pick one of these ideas (salt, light, Golden Rule, or building on rock/sand) and describe a specific way you could try to put this teaching into practice in your own life, at school, home, or with friends.
Explain two ways that Jesus challenges his followers in the Sermon on the Mount?