From Rejoice in the Catholic Faith
Sermon on the Mount
- The "Sermon on the Mount" is the first set of teachings in the Book of Matthew
- it begins in Matthew Chapter 5 (Mt 5:1-2)
When he saw the crowds,* he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: ...
- Verses 3-12 are "the Beatitudes"
- The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen people since Abraham. The Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven (CCC 1717)
- the Gospel of Luke, also records Jesus' teachings on the Beatitudes, Chapter 6:20-23
- in what is called in Luke the "Sermon on the Plain"
- so Luke records a similar teaching by Jesus at another place
- notes on details:
- "he went up to the mountain" = as Mosel went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, Jesus pronounces the New Law from a mountain top
- "after he had sat down" = in Jewish culture, a teacher sits to teach
- "his disciples came to him" = Jesus requires that his followers choose him (he selects the Apostles, telling some of them, "Follow me."
