Historical Speech Analysis: Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount
Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, officially recorded in the Biblical book of Matthew and referenced in Luke, has certainly affected millions of people across the centuries for both religious and moral reasons. Whether the recorded words are a summary of a longer message or a word-for-word sermon is uncertain; however, it is indisputable that Jesus’s words convey a powerful and compelling message on how to truly live as a follower of Christ (ESV).
In approximately 28 A.D., Jesus delivered his sermon in the main region of his ministry: Galilee, which is located in northern Palestine, east of the Mediterranean Sea. Jesus himself was born in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, and grew up in Nazareth of …show more content…
In Matthew 5, he claims that a righteousness is necessary which is greater than that of “the scribes and the Pharisees” (The Holy Bible 1065). In chapter 6, Jesus beware of praying “like the hypocrites” (1067), who are anxious to be seen in their good and religious …show more content…
Jesus claims that only the completely righteous and pure in heart will enter the kingdom of heaven. Essentially, Jesus sets up qualifications which he knows are impossible for the members of his audience to fulfill. There is no question that the audience knows this, as well. Therefore, Jesus effectively directs his listeners to one conclusion: that they are hopeless in attaining heavy citizenship on their own accord, and that they need a completely righteous and pure Savior who can fulfill the Law in their stead. Jesus attains this by building example upon example on how a true Christian should live. In Matthew 5, Jesus states that “whoever relaxes one of the least [of the commandments of the Law] . . . will be called least in the kingdom of heaven” (ESV Study Bible 1828); additionally, he speaks about adultery, which is a sin according to the Law, and says that anyone who even looks at another person lustfully has already committed adultery. Jesus continues on to say that true Christian believers must “love [their] enemies” (1830), not “swear falsely” (1830), and finally, “be perfect, as [their] heavenly Father is perfect” (1831). Jesus sets up these unfulfillable expectations in order to lead his listeners to an undeniable conclusion: Of himself, Jesus says, “I have not come to abolish [the Law or the Prophets] but to fulfill them” (1828). He provides the problem and the solution, all in one
Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, officially recorded in the Biblical book of Matthew and referenced in Luke, has certainly affected millions of people across the centuries for both religious and moral reasons. Whether the recorded words are a summary of a longer message or a word-for-word sermon is uncertain; however, it is indisputable that Jesus’s words convey a powerful and compelling message on how to truly live as a follower of Christ (ESV).
In approximately 28 A.D., Jesus delivered his sermon in the main region of his ministry: Galilee, which is located in northern Palestine, east of the Mediterranean Sea. Jesus himself was born in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, and grew up in Nazareth of …show more content…
In Matthew 5, he claims that a righteousness is necessary which is greater than that of “the scribes and the Pharisees” (The Holy Bible 1065). In chapter 6, Jesus beware of praying “like the hypocrites” (1067), who are anxious to be seen in their good and religious …show more content…
Jesus claims that only the completely righteous and pure in heart will enter the kingdom of heaven. Essentially, Jesus sets up qualifications which he knows are impossible for the members of his audience to fulfill. There is no question that the audience knows this, as well. Therefore, Jesus effectively directs his listeners to one conclusion: that they are hopeless in attaining heavy citizenship on their own accord, and that they need a completely righteous and pure Savior who can fulfill the Law in their stead. Jesus attains this by building example upon example on how a true Christian should live. In Matthew 5, Jesus states that “whoever relaxes one of the least [of the commandments of the Law] . . . will be called least in the kingdom of heaven” (ESV Study Bible 1828); additionally, he speaks about adultery, which is a sin according to the Law, and says that anyone who even looks at another person lustfully has already committed adultery. Jesus continues on to say that true Christian believers must “love [their] enemies” (1830), not “swear falsely” (1830), and finally, “be perfect, as [their] heavenly Father is perfect” (1831). Jesus sets up these unfulfillable expectations in order to lead his listeners to an undeniable conclusion: Of himself, Jesus says, “I have not come to abolish [the Law or the Prophets] but to fulfill them” (1828). He provides the problem and the solution, all in one