The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus' longest recorded teaching, found in Matthew 5–7. It describes life in the kingdom of heaven and ends with a choice: "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24, ESV).
The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ longest recorded teaching, found in Matthew 5–7. It describes life in God’s kingdom and ends with a choice: anyone who hears Jesus’ teaching and lives it out is like a wise builder who sets his house on rock (Matthew 7:24).
Quick answer: The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ longest continuous teaching in the Gospels, recorded in Matthew chapters 5–7. In it, Jesus describes life in God’s kingdom: the Beatitudes, salt and light, a heart-deep righteousness, secret devotion and the Lord’s Prayer, freedom from worry, and the choice between two gates. A good way to study it is in small daily portions over about six weeks, reading the passage, asking a few questions, and putting one teaching into practice each day.
Key takeaways – The Sermon on the Mount is Matthew 5–7, Jesus’ longest recorded teaching. – It describes life in God’s kingdom, from the Beatitudes to the two builders. – Jesus goes beyond outward rules to the heart, so it drives us to grace. – It can be studied well in six weekly themes or 40 short daily readings. – It ends with a choice: the narrow gate, and a life built on His words.
What is the Sermon on the Mount?
Early in His ministry, as crowds followed Him through Galilee, Jesus went up on a mountain, sat down, and taught His disciples (Matthew 5:1–2). The result is three chapters that have shaped Christian life for two thousand years.
The sermon moves roughly like this:
| Section | Passage | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| The Beatitudes | Matthew 5:1–12 | Who is truly blessed |
| Salt and light | 5:13–16 | Our influence in the world |
| Jesus and the Law | 5:17–48 | Righteousness that reaches the heart |
| Secret devotion | 6:1–18 | Giving, prayer (the Lord’s Prayer), fasting |
| Treasure and trust | 6:19–34 | Money, worry, seeking the kingdom first |
| Judging and asking | 7:1–12 | The log and speck, ask/seek/knock, the Golden Rule |
| Two ways | 7:13–29 | Two gates, two trees, two builders |
For a full overview, see our Sermon on the Mount study hub. It opens with blessing (explained in The Beatitudes Explained):
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3, ESV)
Who was Jesus speaking to?
Matthew says that when Jesus saw the crowds, He climbed the hillside and sat down, and His disciples gathered around Him (Matthew 5:1). The teaching is aimed first at disciples, people already following Him, while the crowds listen in. That matters. The sermon is not a list of rules for earning God’s favor. It describes the life of people who have been welcomed into the kingdom, and it invites the listening crowd to come in through the narrow gate. Luke records a similar, shorter message, often called the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17–49).
Why is the Sermon on the Mount so important?
- It is Jesus’ own description of discipleship. These are not principles distilled by later teachers; they are the King’s own teaching about His kingdom.
- It reaches the heart. Jesus moves from behavior to motive: anger, not just murder; lust, not just adultery; love for enemies, not just neighbors.
- It drives us to grace. Jesus’ call to be perfect as the Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48) shows that we can’t live this sermon in our own strength. We need the righteousness Christ gives.
- It calls for a decision. The sermon ends not with information but with a choice:
Jesus describes two gates and two roads. The wide gate and easy road lead to destruction, and many take it; the narrow gate and hard road lead to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13–14).
The narrow gate is unpacked further in Matthew 7:13–14 meaning.
- It reveals who Jesus is. The crowds were amazed, because He taught with real authority, unlike their scribes (Matthew 7:29).
How to study the Sermon on the Mount: a 6-week plan
Three chapters can feel like a lot. Breaking them into weekly themes helps:
- Week 1, The Blessed Life (5:1–12): one Beatitude a day.
- Week 2, Salt, Light & a Deeper Righteousness (5:13–42): influence, the Law fulfilled, anger, purity, honesty, retaliation.
- Week 3, Love Without Limits & Secret Devotion (5:43–6:12): enemies, giving, prayer, the Lord’s Prayer.
- Week 4, Treasure, Trust & Daily Bread (6:13–32): temptation, fasting, treasure, two masters, worry.
- Week 5, Seeking First the Kingdom (6:33–7:12): priorities, judging, asking, the Golden Rule.
- Week 6, Two Gates, Two Paths, Two Houses (7:13–29): the narrow gate, fruit, true disciples, the wise builder.
A simple daily method
- Read the day’s short passage in your own Bible, twice.
- Observe: What does Jesus actually say? To whom?
- Reflect: What does this reveal about God and about me?
- Respond: What is one concrete step I can take today?
- Pray the passage back to God.
Sermon on the Mount Bible study questions
Use these for personal study or a small group:
- Why do you think Jesus begins with blessings instead of commands?
- What does it mean to be spiritually poor?
- How are Christians salt and light in your workplace or neighborhood?
- Why does Jesus connect worship with reconciliation (5:23–24)?
- Which of Jesus’ contrasts between the old teaching and His own is hardest for you?
- Why does Jesus care so much about doing good privately?
- Which line of the Lord’s Prayer do you find hardest to pray sincerely? (See the Lord’s Prayer line by line.)
- What competes with God for your heart: money, approval, comfort?
- What is the difference between judging and discernment?
- What is one teaching from this sermon you’ve heard but not yet obeyed? (Compare the wise and foolish builders.)
Free PDFs vs. a guided 40-day study
There are good free Sermon on the Mount study PDFs available from ministries and churches, many in a lesson-per-week format. If you want something you can use every day, with teaching, questions, and space to write, a daily guide may fit better.
That’s why we wrote The Narrow Way: A 40-Day Guided Study of the Sermon on the Mount. It includes:
- 40 daily sessions covering all of Matthew 5–7
- an ESV key verse and a short teaching note each day
- three Observe, Reflect, Respond questions with writing space
- a step on the path and a closing prayer
- 6 weekly reviews and a 6-session small-group guide
- 97 printable pages (US Letter), tablet-friendly
Longer readings are given as references, so you read from your own Bible in context. See The Narrow Way in the shop →
Related Bible studies
- What Does the Bible Say About Money? Jesus’ Words: See what Jesus taught about treasure, greed, generosity, and trusting God, with key Gospel verses in the ESV.
- What Does the Bible Say About Judging Others?: Learn what Jesus really meant when He warned against judging, the log and the speck, and how to judge rightly with humility and grace.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Sermon on the Mount in the Bible?
Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. Luke 6:17–49 records a shorter, related sermon often called the Sermon on the Plain.
How long does it take to study the Sermon on the Mount?
You can read it in about 15–20 minutes. A thoughtful study usually takes 6–13 weeks; a daily format works well over 40 days.
What is the main message of the Sermon on the Mount?
Jesus describes the character and life of those who belong to God’s kingdom, a righteousness that begins in the heart. He calls His hearers to go in through the narrow gate and build their lives on His teaching.
Is the Sermon on the Mount good for a small group?
Yes. Its clear sections make natural weekly sessions, and its practical teaching leads to honest discussion.
Which Bible translation is best for studying it?
Use a reliable translation you can read well. Our materials quote the ESV.
Related: Wise and Foolish Builders Devotional: Built on the Rock
Related: Golden Rule Devotional: Matthew 7:12 Meaning
Related: Salt and Light Devotional
Related: Devotional on Judging Others (devotional)
Related: read: Blessed Are the Pure in Heart Devotional
Explore more studies and devotionals in the Narrow Gate JC shop.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.