According to the gospel of Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount was a compilation of the most important of Jesus’ teachings. Jesus gave this sermon around the year 30 AD, while standing on a mountainside before his disciples and a large crowd of followers.
The Sermon on the Mount was the first of five sermons as recorded by Matthew. It is significant for including the Lord’s Prayer, the commandment to turn the other cheek, and the Golden Rule. The sermon also includes the admonition to “judge not, lest ye be judged.”
The Sermon on the Mount is often considered another version of the Ten Commandments, and has often been cited as a guide to the pacifist Christian ideal.
Though no one is entirely sure where the “mountain” is located, scholars believe that the wording might mean “hills” or “mountainous region.” One of the places pinpointed as the location of the Sermon on the Mount is in Galilee, on the north end of the Sea of Galilee. There, a rock formation creates a broad and deep natural amphitheater, which would be perfect for speaking to a large crowd. In fact, a voice carries so well that a person over 200 feet away from the speaker can hear it as if he were standing next to that person.
The Sermon on the Mount is a very powerful part of the Scriptures, as it brings to mind the sermon of Moses on Mount Sinai, only spoken in Jesus’ words for the new generations. It provides a clear link between the Old and New Testaments, and proclaims the teachings of Jesus in clear, concise language. The Sermon on the Mount is a regular part of sermons in modern day churches, and is seen as the blueprint for living a good life.