What is the Sermon on the Mount?

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus' great discourse on the life of His disciples, found in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. It reveals the New Law of the kingdom and calls Christians to holiness of heart.

Where it appears. Jesus goes up a mountain, sits down as a teacher, and instructs His disciples before the crowds (Mt 5:1-2). The setting recalls Moses receiving the Law on Mount Sinai. Jesus, however, speaks with His own divine authority: "You have heard that it was said... But I say to you" (Mt 5:21-22). He fulfills the Law and brings it to its intended perfection (Mt 5:17).

What it contains. The sermon includes:

1. The Beatitudes and the call to be salt and light.
2. Teachings on anger, purity, marriage, truthfulness, revenge, and love of enemies.
3. Instructions about almsgiving, prayer, and fasting.
4. The Our Father.
5. Warnings against greed, anxiety, hypocrisy, rash judgment, and false prophets.
6. The Golden Rule and the call to build one's life on Christ's words.

Its demands reach beyond outward behavior. Jesus addresses the desires and intentions from which actions arise. He commands reconciliation, chastity of heart, truthful speech, secret prayer, trust in the Father, and love even for enemies (Mt 5:21-48; 6:1-34).

Why it is called the New Law. The Catechism calls Christ's teaching the evangelical law, or New Law. It fulfills and surpasses the Old Law by reforming the heart and directing human action toward the perfection of charity (CCC 1965-1968). Its center is the work of the Holy Spirit, who gives believers grace to live what Christ commands (CCC 1966). The sermon cannot be reduced to a political program or a list of inspirational sayings.

How Christians should receive it. Jesus ends with the image of two builders. The wise person hears His words and acts on them, building on rock. The foolish person hears without obeying and builds on sand (Mt 7:24-27). The sermon is meant to be practiced through grace, repentance, prayer, the sacraments, and concrete works of love.

Read one section each day for a week. Begin with the Beatitudes, pray the Our Father slowly, and identify one command of Christ that needs a more faithful response in your daily life.