All the statements that Jesus made and that were recorded in the Bible are worth remembering - but there are a few verses in the book of Matthew that capture one of the most famous sermons that Jesus preached in his time on earth - the Sermon on the Mount. For the past 2,000 years, these words of Jesus have been considered extreme - even revolutionary - for how convicting and challenging they were when he spoke them, and even when we read them today.
Maybe you’ve heard of the Sermon on the Mount, but you’re not sure if you’d recognize these especially challenging words. But in reality, just how easily you recognize them might surprise you - even if you didn’t grow up around church. Below you’ll find 8 famous (and uncensored) verses on topics that are still relevant to us today from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
On Lust
So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (Matthew 5:29 - NLT)
On Revenge
You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. (Matthew 5:38-43 - NLT)
On Loving Your Neighbor
You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:43-45 - NLT)
On Praying
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13 - NLT)
On The Love of Money
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. (Matthew 6:24 - NLT)
On How to Live
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:33 - NLT)
On Judging Others
“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? (Matthew 7:3 - NLT)
On How to Treat One Another
Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12 - NLT)
If you’re looking to hear more from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, you can jump into our Sermon on the Mount Daily Reading Challenge and commit to reading through the verses each day for 18 days and seeing how it can change the way we live.And if you want to hear more about the Sermon on the Mount, check out the message What Would Jesus Do (If He Were Here Today)? from our Uncensored series.