Sermon on the Mount: Insight into the Beatitudes

"Wisdom is the quality of discerning what is true, what is ethically right, and what should be done in different situations." [1]

I am excited to invite you on a spiritual quest to delve deep into the Sermon on the Mount. Open your heart to the Spirit, praying that Jesus’ kingdom vision becomes your vision for life. The Sermon comprises only three chapters, and I encourage you to read it every week this month.

As the longest recorded talk by Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount stands as one of the most influential speeches in history. Jesus surpasses most people’s view of life. Many are familiar with famous lines in the sermon such as: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” “Turn the other cheek,” “Go the extra mile,” and “Don’t judge.” Yet, familiarity with these sayings dulls our minds to what Jesus is really saying. We need to hear Jesus afresh.

Jesus’ sermon shocked and offended his original audience. If we are not shocked by his sermon, we may not understand what Jesus is truly saying. His original listeners hung on each word because Jesus’ teachings eclipsed everything they had ever been taught.

Speaking with kingly authority, Jesus summons us to a different kind of life, one that will bring incredible blessings now and forever. Jesus’ message is not about how to succeed in life—it’s much deeper than that. It is about living in his kingdom under his rule.

The overall point is this: Follow Jesus’ kingdom vision and you will stand out as a bright light in this dark world, stand up when storms come, and step up to receive God’s eternal reward. Jesus calls us to be all in, holding nothing back. You will never be the same!