Analysis and Reflection of The Sermon on The Mount

In the King James version of The Holy Bible, Jesus Christ delivers a sermon, or a series of commands and expectations, referred to as The Sermon on the Mount. In a profoundly, imperfect way, I will analyze Jesus Christ’s words, despite being wholeheartedly incapable of so doing. As a modern-day believer of Christ’s ancient teachings, I declare his words perfect in concept, theory, and delivery. My effort in analyzing them will thus fall irrefutably short to this belief. It will be interesting however, to look at his instruction in this new way. Jesus, of course is the original author of The Sermon on the Mount as contained in The Book of Matthew in The Holy Bible, and this particular set of teachings took place in 30 AD.

Jesus hailed from a town called Nazareth in a country area of Galilee. Relating to our course work, during that time period, Galilee was surrounded by a number of Greek city states, and was ruled by Antipus. Jesus was heralded as a great teacher by some, and a serious threat by others. Despite his antagonists, he went about preaching with perfect love and without fear of repercussion. While instructing any who would listen, Jesus gathered a lot of curiosity and crowds in Galilee. People were interested because of his miraculous healings, and the believers, or disciples, followed him, walking we assume, into a nearby mountain.

In his sermon, Jesus encourages follower, and non-follower alike to live a higher law than they were currently living. For believers he exhibited then and now, this sermon has flawless credibility because he lived the sermon perfectly — only He could give this call to action with perfect integrity. His case was, and remains, convincing. In the Greek city states of that time period, there were so many acts of physical nature, but Jesus taught that acts of the heart are also of consequence. This sermon might tell a researcher that teachers in 30 AD used parables and symbols for effectiveness. In this way, Jesus used images of salt, light, candle, and even the eye symbols for effectiveness. In this way, Jesus used images of salt, light, candle, and even the eyeand hand to represent certain admonishments. Jesus, as orator of this longest sermon of The Holy Bible, exhibited a certain bias in his delivery — a bias of total optimism and encouragement. That was unique to some of the cruel leaders of the day. Upon reflection, one detail that is missing, is if there were any questions taken, or any discussion had during the sermon. There isn’t reference made in the sermon for a reader or researcher to understand if there was any kind of back and forth between teacher and audience. There also isn’t mention of any hecklers or protesters that may have followed him to the mountain to make mischief. In contemplation, this concept is highly likely considering he would later be put to death by the Romans. I now contemplate if there were dissenters among the listeners, a thought I have not previously had come to mind, or rather if it was a service made up entirely of peace and tranquility, perfect love and encouragement.

I find great comfort in reading and rereading Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. His concepts are delivered in a calm and peaceful manner, rather than the harsh manner in which we learn of in so many leaders of his time period. His words were not stern or judgmental, rather strict yet uplifting guidance for the downtrodden. Aren’t we all downtrodden in one way or another? One concept I have learned in my 51 years of life, is that Jesus Christ’s promised blessings do not always come in this lifetime. Rather, they are to be considered with an eternal perspective — with an understanding that they will come in God’s time. For example, it is well observed that the meek do not always inherit the earth. It is also obvious that peacemakers are not always called the children of God. It is plain to see that the merciful do not always obtain mercy in this life. Rather, Jesus Christ teaches that the high standards set forth in The Sermon on the Mount can be acquired in this life, but ultimately, through God’s Grace, the blessings will be sure, eternally. Jesus emphasized this eternal concept with, “great is your reward in heaven”. I enjoyed looking at Christ’s Sermon on the Mount with this different type of analysis. 

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