Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount

Instruction on Transformational, Kingdom-Centered Living

Few passages of Scripture have shaped Christian faith and practice as profoundly as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Delivered to a throng of people from a mountainside, Jesus’ words echo over the centuries in a way that both declares the Kingdom of God and gives readers instruction for living as citizens of that kingdom.

Far from being a list of rules, however, this speech is a vision of what it means to follow Christ wholeheartedly. It allows us to read carefully to understand how to apply the teachings of Jesus as he was beginning his transformational ministry.

Knowing that the Kingdom of God had come to the world (see Mark 1:15), Jesus explained to the gathered people—and to people who have gathered over the centuries to study these words—how the world would change through his life and ministry.

The NIV Application Bible says this in its opening study note on Matthew 5: “Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is not for a few highly committed believers. The book of Matthew is a manual on discipleship, and throughout most of church history this Gospel has been used to provide the content of instruction for fully formed Christian living.”

So what did Jesus actually say in this critical teaching? In this post, we will sample different sections of the sermon and highlight many key insights.

The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3–12

Imagine sitting by the mountainside on that day and hearing Jesus’ teaching:

“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.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled.Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart,for they will see God.Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children of God.Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Even reading these words today makes one think, “Can you be serious, Jesus?” How can the downtrodden—the poor, the mourning, the meek, the hungry, those who experience the worst of what can happen in this world every single day—understand that they are in fact blessed?

One of the keys to understanding the beatitudes comes in the book of John as Jesus is talking about remaining closely connected to him: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).

The Beatitudes call us to a life that sees our circumstances as opportunities to understand the continuing work of God in our lives. Staying connected to Jesus through the study of God’s Word and through internal power of the Holy Spirit, we can look forward with hope to discover more of the blessing that Jesus provides, even through the negative, hurtful, poverty-stricken periods in our lives—the times when we wonder if God even hears our prayers. Through the Gospel accounts, Jesus tells us that if we stay closely connected to him through his Word and Spirit, we will come to see a new purpose and perspective on even our most difficult experiences.

In the NIV Application Bible notes we read later in Matthew 5, “The Beatitudes are expressions of Spirit-produced kingdom life, revealing to the entire world that a transformation of creation is beginning in Jesus’ disciples. That is why we are blessed if we are his disciples.”

The NIV Study Bible both explains and foreshadows what these Beatitudes call the believer to do when it states in its notes on this same chapter: “As God’s reign is established in this world, its effects will be life-changing for those who most need mercy and justice and for all those who share in Jesus’ ministry of the same.”

Salt and Light: Matthew 5:13–16

As we share in Jesus’ ministry, we do so most effectively by remaining connected to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. That is the only way we can pursue a life of Christlikeness with integrity.

Jesus declared in Matthew 5:13 and 14, “You are the salt of the earth,” and “You are the light of the world.” Jesus uses these words as a call to mission and action.

In the ancient world, salt was used as a flavor enhancer and as a preservative. As Christians we are called to be bearers of “salt” to those around us, to help them to understand how the teachings of Jesus both preserve life and enhance the experience of believers in this life and the next. When we read “If the salt loses its saltiness,” we may question how that would even be possible. The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Bible instructs us here: “Jesus compares a disciple who does not live according to the values of the kingdom with unsalty salt—salt that cannot fulfill its purpose.”

Jesus also says believers are the light of the world. However, he also used this language to describe himself in the book of John: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). If Jesus is the Light that chases away the pervasive darkness of the world, how can we, imperfect humans that we are—we who make mistakes and sin, both intentionally and unintentionally—imitate him?

Jesus explains: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Believers are called to shine the light of Christ through their words and actions. This means engaging the world like Jesus did: understanding the truth of God’s Word, having mercy, acting justly, and sharing the hope that Jesus has called us to proclaim.

Love for Enemies: Matthew 5:43–48

Again Jesus turns the wisdom of the world on its head when he instructs us, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44–45). When we follow this teaching, we exemplify a trust and reliance on the goodness of God and the wisdom of his plan for the life of every believer.

This doesn’t mean we ignore wrongdoing, but it does mean we respond with grace instead of vengeance. For Christians today, this might look like showing patience in heated debates, choosing forgiveness over retaliation, or extending kindness to someone who has wronged us. By loving our enemies, we reflect the love God has shown us in Christ.

The apostle Paul spoke to this issue when he wrote, “If, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10). Jesus died for humanity even when people were living in outright rebellion against God and his principles. Still today he welcomes into a relationship with himself everyone who comes to him in repentance and faith. Jesus is calling us to imitate him in our lives today, so that all can see the light of forgiveness that shines through us into the lives of others.

The Power and Position of Prayer: Matthew 6:5–15

In Matthew 6:5–15 we find Jesus’ timeless instruction on prayer. He encourages those who come to God to be humble and private. The NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible explains that “at set times of prayer, devout Jews would stop what they were doing and pray—some discretely but other with pretentious display.” Jesus is encouraging his followers to develop a relationship with God, not put on a show to feel important before other people.

Jesus goes on to give his followers a model prayer to emulate when approaching the Father (v. 9–13). Before he starts, he reminds us, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (v. 8). So we pray, not simply to inform God of what is happening in our lives, but rather to commune and connect with him. Jesus says:

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.

Through this beautiful example, our Lord Jesus invites “his disciples to share in his prayer life…In the new community of faith, Jesus’ disciples can pray to God as their Father.” The things he points to, the things that will show our dependence and reliance on God, are simple:

First, we declare that the Lord reigns from heaven and is holy.

Next, we ask that his kingdom be built in our world and exemplified in our lives, with all the priorities of heaven foremost in our minds and hearts.

Then we thank God for his provision, understanding that even our very breath and bread is nothing less than a divine gift from him to us.

Next, we position ourselves under his judgment—as debtors with a load of sin that can only be forgiven by a gracious and all-seeing God. With this, we also declare that, as we have been forgiven by God, so we will also forgive others who wrong us.

Finally, we ask for his protection from temptation and the evil one, which is a call to help us understand how far our sinful nature has taken us away from him, and how merciful he is to call us back to himself. As we declare our dependence on God’s great mercy through this simple prayer, we acknowledge his control over every aspect of our lives.

Do Not Worry: Matthew 6:25–34

Later in Matthew 6 we hear a call from Jesus that connects directly with his teaching on prayer. It tells us not to worry or be afraid:

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:31–34).

Imagine how living a life more connected to Jesus through the Spirit he has given to believers can comfort the heart of a person who is consumed with anxiety! These words speak to us over the centuries and acknowledge our desperate need to rely on God and his provision every single day of our lives.

When he spoke these words, our all-knowing Jesus could see into the hearts of the people he created. He knew then, and he knows now, all of the anxieties of the lives lived by the inhabitants of this world. In the face of this, his reminder is one that is beautifully simple: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27). The obvious answer is “no”; inherent in this question is a call to the believer to rely only on God.

Ask, Seek, Knock: Matthew 7:7–12

Jesus both calls and encourages us in a powerful way when he says,

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8).

What a statement. And what a promise for Spirit-empowered worship and praise of our God through prayer. When we pray according to the values expressed in Jesus’ earlier teaching in Matthew 6:5–15, we understand that he will hear us. When we ask, we will receive answers based on his will in our lives. That’s when the upside-down values of the kingdom will find their fruit.

Jesus offers to answer. Are you knocking?

A Kingdom Vision for Today

The Sermon on the Mount isn’t an ancient relic or an unreachable ideal. It is a living word that calls every Christian into a radical way of life shaped by Jesus’ Kingdom. In a culture marked by division, anxiety, and self-promotion, Jesus points us to humility, love, trust, and obedience.

For Christians today, living out the Sermon on the Mount means allowing Christ’s teaching to transform our hearts and direct our actions. It means embodying Kingdom values in everyday situations—at home, at work, online, and in our communities. When we do, we become salt and light in a world desperate for truth and hope, pointing others to the One who fulfills the law, loves unconditionally, and offers a life enduringly built on the only solid foundation.

The NIV Application Bible encourages us,

“As the disciple continues to respond obediently to the word of God taught and preached by Jesus and energized by the Spirit, the newly transformed heart directs the transformation of the person from the inside to the outside. The indwelling Spirit directs the renewing of the mind, the disciplining of the body, and the purifying of social relations so that the disciple says yes to God with his or her entire person. The disciple bears the fruit of the Spirit in a life given to God that is being transformed to be like Jesus.”

When we endeavor to be like Jesus, we are as salt and light, bringing illumination, purpose, hope, and peace to our families and friends. And in so doing, we reinforce the same in our own lives.

Information for this article drawn from NIV Application Bible , NIV Study Bible, NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible .