"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." — Matthew 7:28-29 (KJV)
The short answer
The Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5 through 7, is Jesus' description of kingdom life. He calls His followers to shine as salt and light, to love others and even enemies, to forgive and pray, and to build on His words — anchored in Matthew 6:33 and Matthew 7:24.
The Sermon on the Mount is the single largest block of Jesus' teaching in the Gospels, spanning Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. In it He does not lower God's standard but deepens it, reaching past outward behavior to the motives of the heart. He teaches on anger and lust, giving and prayer, worry and judgment, and He closes with a choice between two foundations. Below are eight passages, quoted exactly from the King James Version, grouped around the questions the sermon answers.
What is the Sermon on the Mount?
The sermon opens with Jesus seated on a mountainside, teaching those who came to Him. Early on He gives His followers a startling identity: they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying," — Matthew 5:1-2 (KJV)
The scene is unhurried and personal. Jesus sits, as a rabbi would, and His disciples draw near. What follows is not a lecture for the crowd only but instruction for those willing to come close and learn.
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." — Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV)
Jesus does not tell His followers to try to become light; He tells them they already are. The only question is whether that light is hidden or displayed — and its purpose is never self-display but that others "glorify your Father which is in heaven."
How does Jesus say we should treat others?
At the heart of the sermon is a radical ethic of love — not only toward friends, but toward enemies. Jesus reduces the whole law of relationships to a single, searching rule.
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." — Matthew 7:12 (KJV)
The golden rule turns our instincts inside out. Instead of asking how others should treat us, it tells us to begin with how we would wish to be treated — and to act first. It is love that takes initiative.
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" — Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
This is the command that sets the kingdom apart. Anyone can love a friend; Jesus calls His people to bless, do good to, and pray for those who wrong them — the very love God has shown to us.
What does Jesus teach about forgiveness and prayer?
The sermon binds our forgiveness of others to our own, and it invites us into bold, expectant prayer. Both flow from trusting a good Father.
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." — Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)
Forgiveness is not optional decoration on the Christian life; Jesus ties it to the mercy we ourselves have received. A heart that has been forgiven is meant to become a forgiving heart.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" — Matthew 7:7 (KJV)
Three verbs, each a rising note of confidence: ask, seek, knock. Jesus assumes a Father who welcomes persistent prayer — not because He is reluctant, but because He is good and loves to give.
What should we seek and build our lives on?
The sermon reorders our priorities and then presses for a decision. Seek God first, Jesus says — and do not merely admire these words, but build your life on them.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." — Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
The cure for anxious striving is not to care about nothing but to seek the right thing first. When God's kingdom takes first place, everything else finds its proper place in His hands.
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:" — Matthew 7:24 (KJV)
The whole sermon ends at a foundation. The difference between the wise and the foolish is not hearing but doing — the wise builder puts Jesus' words into practice, and his house stands when the storms come.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Sermon on the Mount in the Bible?
The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. It opens in Matthew 5:1-2, where seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain and taught his disciples (KJV). It is the longest continuous block of Jesus' teaching in the Gospels and includes the Beatitudes, salt and light, the Lord's Prayer, and the wise and foolish builders.
What is the main message of the Sermon on the Mount?
The sermon describes the heart and life of those who belong to God's kingdom. Its center is Matthew 6:33: seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness (KJV). Jesus calls His followers to a righteousness of the heart — forgiving, merciful, truthful, loving even enemies — and to build their lives on His words by not only hearing them but doing them.
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." — Matthew 5:6 (KJV)
Take it deeper
These eight verses open the door to the whole sermon. FlickerFaith is a Scripture-first study companion — open it to read Matthew 5 through 7 in full, walk through the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer, search related verses, and ask honest questions about living what Jesus taught. It keeps you close to the Word, not away from it.
Keep reading
The teacher on the mountain also told stories, worked wonders, and sent His people out. Continue with the parables of Jesus, the miracles of Jesus, and the Great Commission. To know the One who preached it, read who is Jesus Christ? You can also browse all Bible topics, explore AI Bible study, or return home.