March 1, 2026

UNIT 1: The Sermon on the Mount

LESSON: 1

Study Text: Matthew 5:1-20

Central Truth: Our Christlike character can influence others for God's glory.

KEY Verse--Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glory your father which is in heaven (KJV).

Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

Charles Dickens said, "Remember! It is Christianity to do good always--even to those who do evil to us." Many peoples have their own definitions of what Christianity means and how a Christian should act. Some say Christians should be gentle healers, while others say they should be aggressive warriors. Regardless of people's opinions, we should focus on how Jesus identifies His followers and then uses the gifts He has given us to further His kingdom.

DISCUSSION STARTER--Gifts and Passion

Write down one of your gifts (something you're good at) and one of your passions (something you care a lot about). ___________________________________.

God cares about what we value on the inside and how we use our gifts on the outside. As we study Jesus' most famous sermon. let's compare is expectations of His followers with how we think of ourselves and how we treat the people around us. Matthew describes Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount atop a hill in northern Israel. He covered topics ranging from inward ethics and attitudes to outward actions and their consequences, laying the foundation of truth for all those who would follow Him.

PART 1-Blessed People

Blessed Attitudes                Matthew 5:1-6

Matthew 5:1-12 is often referred to as the Beatitudes. In these powerful statements, Jesus describes how we experience God's blessings. Jesus first states that those who are poor in spirit are blessed (Matthew 5:3). The phrase "poor in Spirit" refers not just to those who have little money, but to those who numbly recognize their dependence on God. Next Jesus blesses those who mourn. While it is true God comforts us in our emotional grief, this kind of mourning refers to grief over sin and the brokenness of the world. Jesus then blesses those who are meek. Psalm 37:1 provides the concept of meekness. Jesus blessed those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. As followers, we should actively pursue what is right, both in our own lives and in society. We can be comforted in this longing, knowing a day is coming when all injustice will be brought into the light.

? How do humility, meekness, and righteousness set Jesus' followers apart?

Blessed Actions           Matthew 5:7-12

Jesus next shifted His focus from thoughts to actions. Following Him is an inward decision that has outward results. Jesus' next statement underscored the importance of maintaining moral and spiritual purity. The religious leaders of His time placed heavy emphasis on outward cleanliness, but Jesus wants His followers' outward behavior to reflect the purity deep within them. Those who are persecuted for doing right are blessed with the same gift as the poor in spirit: the kingdom of heaven. Being mistreated for our faith should not cause depression or anxiety. Instead, we should rejoice when we remember that God has promised to bless those who are persecuted for His name sake. What should their response be? Jesus said, "Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven." Not many years later, the apostles experienced the persecution Jesu had prepared them for. After being interrogated, flogged, and threatened, Peter and "the apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus" (Acts 5:41).

? How have you applied the principles of the Beatitudes or observed someone else apply them?

PART 2--Godly Influence

Salt of the Earth          Matthew 5:13

To fulfill our role as the body of Christ and reach the world with the gospel, the Church   must be able to relate to society without compromising biblical truth. Jesus used two metaphors--salty and light--to help believers understand the importance of remaining relevant. Salt was in ancient times as currency as well as a preservative, fertilizer, and flavor enhancer. When Jesus called for His followers to be the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13), He was setting the expectation that they would influence the world around them. Jesus warns against salt losing its flavor and becoming nothing more than a useless rock. For Christians, maintaining our saltiness means continuing in the attitudes and actions that make us distinct from non-Christians. By compassionately drawing out sin and pointing people to Jesus, we are holding out hope that they will not only be preserved through the difficulties of this life, but that they will live with Hom forever.

? What are some ways that Jesus' followers might lose their distinctive flavor as the salt of the world?

Shine Bright            Matthew 5:14-16

After explaining that His disciples are the salt of the earth, Jesus next declared

that they are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Light dispels darkness, and that is every Christian's task: to spread the love of Jesus and live in a way that displays His righteousness to a confused, morally ambiguous world. We are "like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden." Even at night, the city's lamps would act like lighthouses, casting a beacon for far-off travelers. Jesus uses this imagery to teach His followers not to hide their faith but to live in a way that displays their commitments to Him. In verse 15, Jesus explained that no one places a lighted lamp under a basket. As we live for Him, our good deeds will inevitably shine for all to see and "everyone will praise your heavenly Father,"

? What are some ways you have noticed Christians shining Jesus' light?

PART 3-True Greatness

      The Law Is Fulfilled             Matthew 5:17-18

When Jesus referred to "the Law or the Prophets" (Matthew 5:17), He was speaking of the legal code found in the first five books and the words spoken by the Old Testament prophets. Many listeners in His time--and many still today--assumed Jesus intended to replace the Old Testament with His own teachings. But Jesus explained that He didn't come to do away with the Old Testament laws and teachings; He came to fulfill them. Many Christians today believe they only need to read the New Testament because they no longer under the law of the Old Testament. The Law and the Prophets themselves pointed forward to Jesus, the One who would ultimately accomplish their purposes. Jesus explained that the Law would endure "until everything is accomplished." The moral principles in the Old Testament are not limited to a specific time or culture. They remain relevant today, serving as a compass for Chistian living. Living fully as a New Testament believers requires understanding the context, historical significance, and underlying principles of the Old Testament.

? How would you explain the role of the Old Testament to a new Christian?

Another Level of Righteousness             Matthew 5:19-20

Jesus explains what will happen to those who disregard God's commandments and teach others to do the same: they "will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:19). Jesus then told His followers that their righteousness must exceed that of the religious teachers and the pharisees before they can enter the kingdom of heaven.  He wanted them to understand the futility of depending on outward righteousness and good works to earn their place in God's kingdom. Instead, Jesus called them to inward righteousness that would then be displayed in their outward actions.  

? How can we ensure that our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

Our inner attitudes and outward actions show the truest intent of our hearts. Jesus said that when we shine His light, people in the world will see our good deeds and praise God. We are His representatives-- beacons of hope and righteousness in the darkness.

LIVING IT OUT

Think of a way to embrace Jesus' definition of greatness and perform a secret act of service for someone this week. 

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

                             Monday: Blessed and called to Bless. Genesis 12:1-3

                      Tuesday: Influencing the Nations. Isaiah 49:1-7

                        Wednesday: A Light to the Nations. Isaiah 49:1-7

                            Thursday: The Centrality of Love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

              Friday: The Spirit's Fruit. Galatians 5:16-26

                       Saturday: The Church's Influence. 1 Peter 3:4-12

RADIANT LIFE

Volume 107 Number 3 Mar. Apr. May 2026

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