BibleProject | Sermon on the MountНамуна

The Beatitudes

Today, we’ll read the Sermon on the Mount’s introduction, where Jesus overturns popular assumptions about what matters most in life. First, he gives nine announcements, often called the “Beatitudes.” Each describes people who experience the good life in our current, broken world. Second, Jesus describes his followers with images of “salt and light.” These two important pictures from the Old Testament are meant to encourage people to avoid apathy and, instead, live in ways that have a meaningful effect on those around them. Let’s watch episode 2, The Beatitudes.

Video Reflection Questions

1. We might see the opening words of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as his way of leading a revolt, rallying all people to live in the ways of God’s Kingdom rather than conform to the mainstream empires of our world. How is Jesus’ revolution different from other social revolutions in history?
2. What does it mean for someone to be pure in heart, and why would Jesus instruct his followers to be pure in heart?
3. According to Jesus, what does it mean to be a peacemaker?
4. How are Jesus’ followers similar to Israel’s prophets? What kinds of attitudes and actions would they share?

Let’s read Matthew 5:3-16. Below is the translation from the BibleProject Scholarship team, and we encourage you to read this passage along with other translations as well.

3 How good is life for the poor in spirit,

because theirs is the kingdom of the skies.

4 How good is life for those who grieve,

because they will be comforted.

5 How good is life for the unimportant,

because they will inherit the land.

6 How good is life for those who hunger and thirst for right-relationships,

because they will be satisfied.

7 How good is life for those who show mercy,

because they will be shown mercy.

8 How good is life for the pure in heart,

because they will see God.

9 How good is life for the peacemakers,

because they will be called children of God.

10 How good is life for those who have been persecuted

on account of doing-what-is-right,

because theirs is the kingdom of the skies.

11 How good is life for you

when they insult you

and persecute

and speak any evil lies against you

on account of me.

12 Celebrate and shout for joy,

because your reward is great in the skies,

because this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.

13 You are the salt of the land.

But if the salt becomes unsalty

with what can it be made salty again?

It’s useful for nothing,

except to be thrown out and stepped on by humans.

14 You are the light of the world.

A city that is set up on a mountain is not able to be hidden,

15 and they don’t light a candle and place it under a basket.

Rather, upon a candle-stand,

and it will shine on everyone in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before people

so that they can see your good works,

and so they can give honor to your Father who is in the skies.