The Sermon on the Mount Explained
- timothyjmccollum
- Nov 24
- 3 min read
As my presence on social media has grown, I’ve noticed a rising hunger in people to know God’s Word more deeply.
I began studying the Bible in early 2017, and nearly every day since then I’ve made time to read at least one chapter—sometimes several. There were days I would read entire books in one sitting. I nearly read all of Job at once but had to stop around chapter 35 when my eyes finally tapped out.
By spending so much time in Scripture, the Lord has helped me piece together the greater puzzle of our existence, our purpose, and what it truly means to walk with God in the cool of the morning.
Now, I want to share that understanding with others.
This blog post contains three ten-minute videos, each one expounding on a chapter of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew Chapter 5
Matthew 5 reflects deeply on the human condition. It shows how God blesses the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the peacemakers, and even those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. In many ways, it sets the standard for all believers.
In this video, I talk about Jesus’ statement that it is better to gouge out your eye than to be thrown into Hell.
Jesus is not teaching that the only way into Heaven is to never sin. Instead, He is showing us how serious obedience must be if we attempt to enter Heaven by our own righteousness. It would take extreme measures to keep the entire Law perfectly throughout our entire life.
Jesus Himself entered Heaven based on His own righteousness. He never sinned—He is perfect. So when He tells us the difficulty of fulfilling the Law, He is giving us insight into the impossible standards required for salvation by works.
Thankfully, there is a second way—and the only way available to all of us who have already sinned.
Jesus offered Himself on the cross so that everyone who looks upon Him in faith will have eternal life. We now enter Heaven based on His righteousness, not ours.
It is quite easy to enter Heaven… thanks entirely to Jesus.
Matthew Chapter 6
Matthew 6 expands on the difference between those who use God’s Law correctly and those who use it for selfish gain.
In my exposition, I focus on the contrast between people who obey simply to be seen by others versus those who obey because they genuinely love God and seek relationship with Him.
Those who perform righteous acts to be praised by people have received their reward in full. They are not using the Law to worship God.
But those who honor God out of love—because He first loved them—will receive their reward where it truly matters: in Heaven.
Jesus reminds us that the Father watches over each of us with careful attention. He knows how fragile we are. He treasures His creatures, and we humans are the diamond of His creation.
But those who use God’s Word for sordid gain will find no reward where it counts.
Matthew Chapter 7
Matthew 7 is a beautiful blend of powerful teachings that tie together so much of what God desires for our lives. It is easily my favorite chapter of the Sermon on the Mount and the most challenging to summarize in a short video.
Because the chapter is full of rich instruction, I focus on one central theme: the parable of the good and bad trees.
Good trees produce good fruit; bad trees produce bad fruit.
Paul echoes this in Galatians 5:22–23, listing the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no Law. These are the fruits Jesus has in mind.
Before accepting Christ, we are selfish and sinful by nature. But once Christ comes into our hearts, we change, and the fruit of the Spirit begins to grow.
These fruits do not save us—but they prove that we have been saved.
A bad tree cannot produce good fruit, and a nonbeliever cannot manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
Conclusion
Most people go through life never realizing the beauty found in the Sermon on the Mount. This single message from Jesus has forever changed the world—whether we acknowledge it or not.
If you’ve never read the Sermon on the Mount from beginning to end, I encourage you: take a few moments today and let Jesus’ words speak directly to your heart.
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