The Sermon on the Mount Story - Bible

Jesus saw the crowds that followed him. He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them. This is what he said:

'Blessed are the poor in spirit. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Blessed are those who mourn. They will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek. They will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. They will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful. They will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart. They will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers. They will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are treated badly for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you. Blessed are you when they tell lies about you because of me. Rejoice and be glad. Your reward in heaven is great.'

Jesus told the people, 'You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything. It is thrown out and people walk on it.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine so others can see it. Let them see the good things you do. Then they will praise your Father in heaven.'

Jesus taught about anger. He said, 'You have heard that it was said to people long ago, 'Do not murder. Anyone who murders will be judged.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be judged. Anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' which means 'idiot,' will be judged by the court. Anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.'

Jesus taught about love for enemies. He said, 'You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. If you do that, you will be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who do wrong. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Even the tax collectors do that. If you greet only your own people, what more are you doing than others? Even people who don't know God do that. So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.'

Jesus taught about giving to the needy. He said, 'Be careful not to do your good works in front of others. Do not do them to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets. The pretenders do that in the synagogues and on the streets. They do it to be honored by others. What I'm about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward. When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Then your giving will be done in secret. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.'

Jesus taught about prayer. He said, 'When you pray, do not be like the pretenders. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They want to be seen by others. What I'm about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward. When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who can't be seen. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep talking on and on like people who don't know God. They think they will be heard because they talk a lot. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask him.'

Then Jesus gave them a model prayer. He said, 'This 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.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.'

Jesus taught about not worrying. He said, 'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth. Moths and vermin destroy them. Thieves break in and steal them. Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Moths and vermin do not destroy them. Thieves do not break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your treasure is.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other. Or you will be faithful to the one and hate the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

I tell you, do not worry about your life. Do not worry about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about your body and what you will wear. Is not life more than food? Is not the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you? So do not worry. Do not say, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' The people who don't know God run after all those things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. All these things will be given to you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.'

Jesus taught about judging others. He said, 'Do not judge. Then you will not be judged. In the same way you judge others, you will be judged. The same standard you use to judge others will be used to judge you. Why do you look at the bit of sawdust in your friend's eye? Why don't you pay attention to the piece of wood in your own eye? How can you say to your friend, 'Let me take the bit of sawdust out of your eye'? How can you say that while there is a piece of wood in your own eye? You pretender! First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend's eye.'

Jesus taught about the golden rule. He said, 'Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. The one who knocks will have the door opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. This sums up the Law and the Prophets.'

Jesus taught about the narrow gate. He said, 'Enter through the narrow gate. The gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction. Many people enter through that gate. But the gate is small and the road is hard that leads to life. Only a few people find it.'

Jesus warned about false prophets. He said, 'Watch out for false prophets. They come to you pretending to be sheep. But on the inside they are hungry wolves. You will know them by their fruit. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes? Do they pick figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit. But a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. A bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. You will know them by their fruit.'

Jesus ended by telling a story about two builders. He said, 'Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man. He built his house on rock. The rain came down. The streams rose. The winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall. It had its foundation on rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man. He built his house on sand. The rain came down. The streams rose. The winds blew and beat against that house. It fell with a loud crash.'

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching. He taught as one who had authority. He did not teach like their teachers of the law. The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most famous teachings of Jesus. It shows us how God wants us to live. It teaches us to be humble, merciful, and pure in heart. It teaches us to love our enemies, not worry, and trust God. When we follow Jesus' words, we are building our lives on a strong foundation that will never fall.

The Sermon on the Mount story teaches moral guidance and kindness. It shows the importance of living according to God’s principles. This story highlights faith and ethical living.