The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes, a series of pronouncements blessing the poor in spirit, mourners, meek, and persecuted, radically inverting worldly values and defining the character of kingdom citizens. Jesus declares His disciples to be salt and light, emphasizes that He came not to abolish but to fulfill the Law and Prophets, and demands a righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. Through six antitheses ('You have heard... but I say'), Christ authoritatively reinterprets Torah concerning murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and love for enemies, revealing the deeper heart-level obedience God requires.
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Read Matthew Chapter 5 Summary
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Characters in This Chapter
Places in This Chapter
Questions this chapter raises
Prayers built on this chapter
Position in Book
Birth and PreparationChapters 1-4
Sermon on the MountChapters 5-7
Kingdom ethics: Beatitudes, Lord's Prayer, righteousness.
Miracles and MissionChapters 8-10
Opposition GrowsChapters 11-13
Training DisciplesChapters 14-18
Journey to JerusalemChapters 19-25
Death and ResurrectionChapters 26-28
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