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Study guide · Passage studies · Intermediate

The Sermon on the Mount

A five-lesson study of Matthew 5–7: the Beatitudes, salt and light, a deeper righteousness, devotion in secret, and trust and the wise builder.

Start studyingScripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition

Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.

About this study

Matthew 5–7 gathers Jesus’ teaching given on a mountain in Galilee. It begins with blessings on the poor in spirit and ends with two builders. Luke 6:20-49 contains much of the same teaching in a shorter form, often called the Sermon on the Plain. Matthew 5:1–2Matthew 7:24–29

These five lessons take the sermon in order. Many sayings are well known on their own; reading them together shows the shape of the life Jesus describes.

5 lessons · about 1 h 6 min in all (estimate: the readings and guide text at 200 words a minute, plus two minutes per question)

Lessons

Each lesson moves through Read → Observe → Understand → Connect → Reflect. In study mode you can answer privately, take notes and save your place on this device.

1The BeatitudesMatthew 5:1–12 · about 12 min

Read

Study objective: Study the blessings that open the sermon and the kind of people Jesus calls blessed.

Reading: Matthew 5:1–12

Background and context

Jesus sits down to teach, as teachers did, with his disciples near and the crowds listening (5:1; 7:28). The sermon opens with nine sayings beginning “Blessed are”. They describe people the world might overlook: the poor in spirit, mourners, the meek, the hungry for righteousness.

Observe

  • Each blessing names a group and a promise.
  • The first and eighth blessings both promise the Kingdom of Heaven (5:3, 5:10).
  • The final blessing changes to “you” (5:11).
  • Persecution is expected, not surprising (5:10-12).

Words, people and events to notice

Blessed
Favoured by God; in a good place before him, whatever the circumstances look like.
Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew’s usual phrase for the Kingdom of God. Matthew 5:3Mark 4:30–31

Understand

  1. Which groups does Jesus call blessed, and why might that surprise his hearers?
  2. What links the first and the eighth blessings?
  3. How do these blessings describe Jesus himself?

Connect

Reflect

  1. Which blessing do you most need to hear?
  2. Which describes something you lack?

Key takeaways

Editorial summary, not Scripture.

  • Jesus’ kingdom reverses ordinary ideas of who is blessed.
  • The blessings describe a character to grow into, not a ladder to climb.

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2Salt, light and the lawMatthew 5:13–20 · about 12 min

Read

Study objective: Understand the disciples’ calling in the world and Jesus’ relation to the law.

Reading: Matthew 5:13–20

Background and context

Jesus tells his followers they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He then says he came not to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfil them, and that their righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Observe

  • “You are” the salt and the light: an identity, not a task to earn.
  • Light is meant to be seen so that others glorify the Father (5:16).
  • Jesus came to fulfil the law (5:17).
  • He calls for a righteousness beyond outward rule-keeping (5:20).

Words, people and events to notice

Fulfil
To bring to completion or its intended goal. Matthew 5:17

Understand

  1. What do salt and light do, and what does that suggest about the disciples’ role?
  2. Why should good works lead people to glorify the Father, not the doers (5:16)?
  3. What might it mean to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees?

Connect

Reflect

  1. Where could your life be salt or light this week?
  2. Are your good works pointing to God or to you?

Key takeaways

Editorial summary, not Scripture.

  • Disciples are salt and light.
  • Jesus fulfils the law and calls for a deeper righteousness.

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3A deeper righteousnessMatthew 5:21–48 · about 14 min

Read

Study objective: Study how Jesus applies the law to anger, lust, promises, retaliation and enemies.

Reading: Matthew 5:21–48

Background and context

Six times Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said… but I tell you.” He moves from outward acts to the heart: from murder to anger, adultery to lust, oaths to plain truth, retaliation to non-retaliation, and love of neighbour to love of enemies.

Observe

  • Anger and insult are taken as seriously as murder (5:21-22).
  • Reconciliation comes before worship (5:23-24).
  • “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’” (5:37).
  • Love your enemies and pray for your persecutors (5:44).

Words, people and events to notice

An eye for an eye
A principle of the law limiting punishment to the harm done. Jesus calls his followers beyond retaliation. Exodus 21:23–25Matthew 5:38–39

Understand

  1. What pattern do you see in the six sayings?
  2. Why does Jesus put reconciliation before an offering (5:23-24)?
  3. What does “be perfect, as your Father is perfect” (5:48) mean in context?

Connect

Reflect

  1. Which of the six sayings challenges you most?
  2. Who is one enemy you could pray for?

Key takeaways

Editorial summary, not Scripture.

  • Jesus calls for obedience from the heart.
  • Love reaches even to enemies.

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4Giving, prayer and fasting in secretMatthew 6:1–18 · about 13 min

Read

Study objective: Learn Jesus’ teaching on doing acts of devotion for God rather than for show.

Reading: Matthew 6:1–18

Background and context

Jesus warns against practising righteousness to be seen. He takes three common practices (giving, prayer and fasting) and contrasts doing them for an audience with doing them before the Father who sees in secret. The Lord’s Prayer sits at the centre.

Observe

  • The warning applies to all three practices (6:1).
  • Those who seek an audience “have received their reward” (6:2, 5, 16).
  • The Father “sees in secret” (6:4, 6, 18).
  • The Lord’s Prayer is given as a pattern (6:9-13).

Words, people and events to notice

Hypocrite
In Jesus’ day the word was used for actors; Jesus uses it for those who perform religion for an audience. Matthew 6:2

Understand

  1. What is the repeated contrast in 6:1-18?
  2. Why is the Lord’s Prayer placed here?
  3. What reward does Jesus mean?

Connect

Reflect

  1. Which practice are you most tempted to do for show?
  2. What would a secret act of devotion look like this week?

Key takeaways

Editorial summary, not Scripture.

  • Devotion is for God, not for an audience.
  • The Father sees what is done in secret.

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5Trust, judgment and the wise builderMatthew 6:19–7:29 · about 15 min

Read

Study objective: Study Jesus’ teaching on treasure, worry, judging, asking and doing.

Reading: Matthew 6:19–7:29

Background and context

The last part of the sermon gathers teaching on treasure in heaven, worry, judging others, asking God, the narrow gate, false prophets and the two builders. The crowds are amazed, because Jesus teaches with authority (7:28-29).

Observe

  • Where your treasure is, there your heart will be (6:21).
  • Do not worry about tomorrow; seek first the kingdom (6:33-34).
  • Remove the log from your own eye first (7:3-5).
  • Both builders hear; only the wise one does (7:24-27).

Words, people and events to notice

Golden rule
A later name for Jesus’ saying: do to others what you want them to do to you. Matthew 7:12

Understand

  1. How are treasure (6:19-24) and worry (6:25-34) connected?
  2. What does Jesus forbid and not forbid about judging (7:1-5)?
  3. Why does the sermon end with doing?

Connect

Reflect

  1. What is one teaching from the sermon you will put into practice?
  2. What foundation are you building on?

Key takeaways

Editorial summary, not Scripture.

  • Treasure in heaven frees from worry.
  • Hearing Jesus must lead to doing.

Study this lesson

For group leaders

  1. Read the lesson passage aloud together.
  2. Ask the group what they notice before discussing meaning.
  3. Take one “Understand” question at a time; let silence happen.
  4. Close with one practical step each person chooses, and pray together.

There are no public comments or shared group data: discuss in person or in your own group.

Questions for the whole study

Written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.

  1. What kind of person does the sermon describe?
  2. Which saying will you remember?
  3. Where does the sermon challenge your church or community?

Themes

People

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