Overview: The Sermon on the Mount
Bible study on the Sermon on the Mount.

The sermon on the mount is about the kingdom. Perhaps you have not thought about the sermon this way, but notice the evidence.

Jesus specifically referenced the kingdom nine times in the sermon:

• Matt. 5:3 poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven

• Matt. 5:10 those persecuted for righteousness sake, theirs is the kingdom of heaven

• Matt. 5:19 those who are least and greatest in the kingdom of heaven

• Matt. 5:20 righteousness must exceed the scribes and Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven

• Mk. 9:47 better to enter the kingdom of God with one eye (Mark's account is noted here since he records Jesus' reference to the kingdom)

• Matt. 6:10 Jesus' prayer: Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth

• Matt. 6:13 Jesus' prayer: Yours is the kingdom, power, glory

• Matt. 6:33 seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness

• Matt. 7:21 not everyone who says to Jesus "Lord, Lord" shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of His Father

Jesus indirectly references the kingdom numerous times in the sermon:

• reward, reward in heaven (Matt. 5:12; 6:1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 16, 18)

• sons of God (Matt. 5:9, 45)

• heavenly Father (Matt. 5:48; 6:1, 14, 15, 26, 30; 7:1) w lay up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:20)

• enter by the narrow gate (Matt. 7:13); those who enter the kingdom do the will of God (Matt. 5:21-23)

• build on the rock by hearing and doing the sayings of Jesus (Matt. 7:24-27)

The theme of the sermon is: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Everything in the sermon has something to do with the kingdom of God. Thus, Jesus describes the people that we should be today.

From the beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12) we learn that those who enter the kingdom are poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted for righteousness sake.

Those who are in the kingdom are the salt and light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16). Their righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 5:17-20). They have a pure heart, are living righteously, and not thinking evil thoughts (Matt. 5:21-37). They love their enemies (Matt. 5:38-48) and do good toward God from a pure heart (Matt. 6:1-18). They lay up treasures in heaven and put God first (Matt. 6:19-34). They do not judge with unrighteous judgments (Matt. 7:1-6) and are prayerful (Matt. 7:7-12). They enter the kingdom by the narrow gate doing the will of God (Matt. 7:13-27).

Now, let's compare ourselves to Jesus' teachings. Have I opened my heart to hear Jesus' teachings and put them into practice (Matt. 7:24)? Am I doing the will of God (Matt. 7:21)? Have I built my house on the rock or on the sand (Matt. 7:24-27)?