The Sermon on the Mount (The Beatitudes)

Context & Setting

  • Main Biblical Reference: Matthew 5:1–12
  • Historical Period: Early 1st century AD (Roman-era Judea and Galilee)
  • Geographic Location: Galilee (a mountainside near the Sea of Galilee)
  • Key Characters: Jesus; His disciples; the gathered crowds

The Narrative

The Beginning:
Jesus sees the crowds following Him and goes up on a mountainside, where He sits to teach. His disciples come to Him, and He begins to speak, opening a longer collection of teaching commonly called the Sermon on the Mount.

The Middle:
Jesus pronounces a series of blessings—often called the Beatitudes—describing who is “blessed” in God’s sight. He names the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for righteousness. With each blessing, He links present faithfulness and suffering to God’s promised comfort, mercy, inheritance, and the coming kingdom.

The End:
Jesus concludes by addressing persecution directly, calling His followers blessed when they are reviled and opposed because of Him. He urges them to rejoice, grounding their hope in a “great reward in heaven” and placing their experience in continuity with the prophets who were also persecuted.

Theological Meaning

The Beatitudes reveal the values of God’s kingdom as Jesus announces who truly belongs to it and what God promises to do for them. Blessing is tied not to social power or public success but to humble dependence on God, covenant faithfulness, and a life oriented toward righteousness. Jesus’ words also connect present hardship to future vindication, showing that God’s reign reverses human expectations and gathers a people shaped by mercy, purity, peace, and trust in God’s coming justice.

Historical & Cultural Insight

In Jewish Scripture and tradition, “blessed” language commonly appears in wisdom and psalmic teaching (e.g., “Blessed is the one…”), marking the favored path of life under God. Jesus’ Beatitudes echo this familiar form while redefining honor: He declares God’s favor on those often considered low-status, and He speaks with authority as a teacher seated to instruct—an established posture for public teaching in the period.

Key Memory Verse

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:3

Quizzes

Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.

1. Where does Jesus go when He begins teaching the crowds and His disciples?

2. What does Jesus tell His followers to do when they are reviled and opposed because of Him?