The Sermon on the Mount
Jesus delivers His greatest sermon, teaching about true blessedness, righteousness, loving enemies, prayer, trusting God instead of worrying, and building one's life on the solid rock of obedience to His words.
When Jesus saw the multitudes, He went up into a mountain, and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him. There, He delivered what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount—the most comprehensive summary of Christian ethics ever recorded. Jesus began with the Beatitudes: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.' He declared His followers to be salt of the earth and light of the world. He taught radical responses to evil: turn the other cheek, go the extra mile. Most revolutionary: 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.' He taught them to pray: 'Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven...' Jesus commanded not to lay up treasures on earth but in heaven. His disciples should take no thought for their life—God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.' He taught, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' He encouraged persistent prayer: 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find.' He summarized the Law in the Golden Rule: 'Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.' Jesus concluded with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. Whoever hears His sayings and does them is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock. But whoever hears and does not obey is like a foolish man who built upon sand—when storms came, the house fell. The people were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught them as one having authority.