The Sermon on the Mount: A 21-Day Guide to the Greatest Sermon Ever PreachedSample

The Blessed Life, Part 1

Today, we’re beginning our deep dive into the greatest sermon ever preached—three chapters outlining what life is like when God is in charge. Jesus introduces the whole speech with a series of blessings known as the Beatitudes. Why? Because, before anything else, Jesus wants us to know that the kingdom of heaven is built on a bedrock of blessing; and that His kingdom begins with grace.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

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

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:3-12 NIV

If someone asked you what it means to have a “blessed” life, what would you say? If you’re like most people, you’d probably say some version of “Blessed are the rich, for they can buy whatever they want. Blessed are the powerful, for they can get whatever they want. Blessed are the famous, for everyone knows their name. Blessed are the successful, for they are winning at life.”

But that’s not what Jesus says. Not even close. Instead, Jesus says blessed are the poor, the sad, the hungry, and the persecuted.

These words of Jesus are so famous and so familiar that they don’t shock us like they would have the original hearers. So, try your best to imagine yourself hearing these words as if it’s the first time. As if you are a citizen of Israel; poor, beaten down, and oppressed by the Roman Empire. You’ve waited your whole life for a deliverer, a messiah, to rise up and set you free from your oppressors. Then, a prophet shows up performing miracles and proclaiming that the kingdom of God is coming close! You set off to see for yourself if this man could truly be the Savior King your ancestors promised, who your parents told you about, who you only ever dreamed would show up. And when He finally opens His mouth, He dares to claim that the oppressed and the depressed are blessed?!

But instead of standing up and leaving, you keep listening. Why? Because there’s something about this man that makes you believe Him. It could be because you just want to believe Him. Or, maybe it’s because you overheard the group behind you talking about how Jesus healed one of them. Perhaps it’s because you saw that one guy everyone said was possessed by demons walking and talking in his right mind! Whatever it is, you know there’s something special about this man. So, you lean in. And that’s when you catch the second part of what He said.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 NIV

Something clicks for you. You remember something your grandma used to say when you started getting a little too full of yourself. It was a line from the Old Testament that said, “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor” (Proverbs 29:23 NIV). From there, your mind jumps to the promise from Isaiah the prophet, where he described what the Messiah would do when He arrived.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn … Isaiah 61:1-2 NIV

Jesus begins His sermon by repeating what God had already said through the prophet Isaiah. Jesus came to announce the good news to the poor, the brokenhearted, and the oppressed. And He brought all the authority of heaven with Him.

What did Jesus say?

The kingdom of God is built on a bedrock of blessing, where the least are the most, the last are first, and the lost are found.

What did Jesus do?

He backed up the truth of these words with action. Right after delivering this sermon, the first person Jesus goes to is someone who would have been used to being last.

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Matthew 8:1-3 NIV

Leprosy is a horrible skin disease that would cause a person to be labeled “unclean.” If anyone were to come into contact with a “leper,” they would run the risk of catching the disease and would also be considered “unclean.” It is no accident that Jesus, the One who spoke the universe into being, who calmed a storm with nothing more than His words, reached out and touched the man. Jesus was showing with His actions what He preached in the sermon.

How can I apply that to my life today?

Jesus isn’t afraid of your flaws or your failures. He comes close to those who the world overlooks. Right here, right now, Jesus is inviting you to receive His blessing, to trust in Him, and to enter His kingdom.

Maybe you’ve already accepted Jesus’ invitation to join His kingdom. Great! It’s time to invite others as well! This week, pick one person in your life who doesn’t know Jesus and tell them your story—how you were broken before Jesus, but He welcomed you in and gave you hope.

Like our King, let’s do what we can to bring the blessings of God to the least, the last, and the lost, so they can know and believe they are loved by their Father.