Jesus’ public ministry began with a clear call to repentance and an announcement of the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven. After reading from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth, he declared, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” …. Following this, he went into Galilee, “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of heaven is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel“. This initial proclamation set the stage for his subsequent teachings and actions, establishing the core message of repentance and the nearness of God’s kingdom.
Key Themes: Spiritual righteousness, the Kingdom of Heaven, and practical ethics.
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Jesus calls his followers the “salt of the earth” (to preserve and flavor the world) and the “light of the world” (to shine good deeds and glorify God).
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Example: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
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Jesus says he came not to abolish the Law (of Moses) but to fulfill it, emphasizing a deeper righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law.
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Anger: Murder begins in the heart; reconcile with others before offering gifts to God.
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Adultery: Lust is equivalent to the act; guard your thoughts.
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Divorce: He restricts it to cases of sexual immorality, emphasizing commitment.
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Oaths: Speak simply and truthfully, avoiding elaborate vows.
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Retaliation: “Turn the other cheek” instead of seeking revenge.
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Love for Enemies: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” reflecting God’s impartial love.
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Giving to the Needy: Do it secretly, not for show.
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Prayer: Avoid hypocrisy; pray sincerely. He teaches the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”
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Fasting: Do it privately, not for public praise.
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Store treasures in heaven, not on earth, where they can be lost.
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“You cannot serve both God and money.”
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Don’t worry about material needs (food, clothing); seek God’s kingdom first, and “tomorrow will worry about itself.”
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“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Remove your own faults before criticizing others.
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Be discerning about sharing sacred things with those who won’t value them.
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Persist in prayer: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find.”
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The Golden Rule: “Do to others what you would have them do to you.”
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Enter through the “narrow gate” of discipline, not the wide path of destruction.
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True followers are known by their “fruit” (actions), not just words. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
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Those who hear and act on Jesus’ words are like a wise man building on rock; those who don’t are like a fool building on sand, doomed to collapse.
Setting: Jesus speaks on a level place after healing a crowd, addressing disciples and others. It’s shorter and more direct than Matthew’s account.
Key Themes: Blessings and woes, love, and judgment.
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Blessings (similar to Beatitudes):
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“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
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“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.”
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“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”
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“Blessed are you when people hate you… because of the Son of Man.”
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Woes (unique to Luke):
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“Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”
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“Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.”
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“Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn.”
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“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,” as false prophets were treated.
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“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.”
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“If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt.”
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“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
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Be merciful, as God is merciful, not judging or condemning.
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“Do not judge, and you will not be judged.” Forgive, and you’ll be forgiven.
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Parable of the blind leading the blind and removing the “plank” from your own eye before addressing another’s fault.
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Good hearts produce good actions; evil hearts produce evil. “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
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Like Matthew, Jesus compares those who obey his words to a man building a house on a solid foundation, and those who don’t to one whose house collapses in a flood.
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Similarities: Both sermons include the Beatitudes (though Luke’s are fewer and more concrete), teachings on loving enemies, judging others, and the builder parable.
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Differences:
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Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount is longer, more structured, and emphasizes spiritual qualities (e.g., “poor in spirit”). Luke’s Sermon on the Plain is shorter, more immediate, and focuses on physical conditions (e.g., “you who are poor”) plus the addition of “woes.”
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Matthew’s setting (mountain) aligns Jesus with Moses; Luke’s (plain) emphasizes accessibility to the crowd.
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