The Teachings of Jesus

Sermon on the Mount

1. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12):
 Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart,
the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
2. Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16):
 Jesus compares his followers to salt and light, emphasizing their role in positively influencing the world by preserving goodness and
shining the light of righteousness.
3. Fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20):
 Jesus asserts that he has come not to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them. He emphasizes the importance of
righteousness surpassing that of the scribes and Pharisees.
4. Anger and Reconciliation (Matthew 5:21-26):
 Jesus teaches against anger and encourages reconciliation with others before offering gifts at the altar.
5. Adultery and Lust (Matthew 5:27-30):
 Jesus extends the commandment against adultery to include lustful thoughts, emphasizing the importance of purity of heart.
6. Divorce (Matthew 5:31-32):
 Jesus provides teachings on divorce, emphasizing the sacredness of the marriage covenant.
7. Oaths and Truthfulness (Matthew 5:33-37):
 Jesus advises against making oaths and encourages straightforward truthfulness in speech.
8. Non-Retaliation and Love for Enemies (Matthew 5:38-48):
 Jesus challenges the notion of "an eye for an eye" and instead advocates for turning the other cheek and loving one's enemies.
9. Giving, Prayer, and Fasting (Matthew 6:1-18):
 Jesus teaches about the importance of sincerity in acts of righteousness, such as giving to the needy, praying, and fasting, emphasizing
doing these things in private rather than for public recognition.
10. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13):
 Jesus provides a model for prayer, known as the Lord's Prayer, covering aspects of praise, submission to God's will, seeking daily provision,
forgiveness, and deliverance from temptation.
11. Treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-24):
 Jesus advises storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth and warns against serving both God and wealth.
12. Do Not Worry (Matthew 6:25-34):
 Jesus encourages trust in God for daily needs, discouraging excessive worry about material concerns.
13. Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-6):
 Jesus warns against hypocritical judgment and urges self-examination before correcting others.
14. Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7-12):
 Jesus encourages persistence in prayer and the assurance that those who seek will find, those who ask will receive, and those who knock
will have doors opened to them.
15. The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12):
 Jesus articulates the Golden Rule: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the
Prophets."
16. The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27):
 Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a parable about building one's life on a solid foundation, illustrating the importance of
hearing and acting on his teachings.

Sermon to the Apostles

1. Commissioning of the Twelve (Matthew 10:1-4):
 Jesus gives authority to his twelve disciples, empowering them to cast out unclean spirits and heal various diseases.
2. Instructions for the Mission (Matthew 10:5-15):
 Jesus instructs the disciples to go to the lost sheep of Israel, proclaiming that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
 They are told to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons.
 The disciples are advised not to take money or extra provisions, relying on the hospitality of those they visit.
 If a town or household rejects them, they are to shake off the dust and move on.
3. Persecution and Endurance (Matthew 10:16-25):
 Jesus warns the disciples that they will face persecution, but they should be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
 They are told that they will be brought before authorities, but they should not be anxious about how to speak, as the Spirit will
guide them.
 The disciples are told that they will face opposition even from their own families.
4. Fear God, Not Man (Matthew 10:26-33):
 Jesus encourages the disciples not to fear those who can harm the body but cannot touch the soul. Instead, they should fear
God.
 The value of each disciple is emphasized, and their confession of Jesus before others is crucial.
5. Not Peace, but a Sword (Matthew 10:34-39):
 Jesus acknowledges that his message will bring division, even within families.
 He states that following him may require taking up the cross, symbolizing a commitment that surpasses even family ties.
6. Rewards for Hospitality (Matthew 10:40-42):
 Jesus speaks about the rewards for those who receive his disciples, emphasizing that anyone who welcomes them welcomes
Jesus and, by extension, welcomes God.
Sermon on the Kingdom
1. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23):
 Jesus explains that the seed represents the Word of God, and the different types of soil symbolize various responses to the
message.
 The lesson underscores the importance of receiving the Word in a receptive heart to produce spiritual fruit.
2. The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43):
 Jesus tells a story about a man who sowed wheat in his field, and an enemy sowed tares (weeds) among the wheat.
 This parable illustrates the coexistence of good and evil until the final judgment, emphasizing God's patience and the eventual
separation of the righteous and the wicked.
3. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32):
 Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, emphasizing how a small, insignificant beginning can grow into
something significant.
4. The Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33):
 Jesus uses the image of leaven (yeast) to illustrate the permeating influence of the kingdom of heaven, indicating its
transformative power.
5. The Purpose of Parables (Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35):
 Jesus explains to his disciples that he uses parables to reveal truths to those who have open hearts while concealing them from
those who are spiritually blind or resistant.
 The use of parables fulfills Old Testament prophecies and helps Jesus teach complex spiritual concepts in a way that engages his
audience.
6. The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl (Matthew 13:44-46):
 These parables illustrate the incomparable value of the kingdom of heaven, encouraging a wholehearted commitment to
obtaining it.
7. The Parable of the Dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50):
 Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as a dragnet that gathers fish of every kind. The net is drawn in, and the good fish are
kept while the bad ones are thrown away.
 This parable emphasizes the final judgment and the separation of the righteous and the wicked.
8. A Prophet Without Honor (Matthew 13:53-58):
 The chapter concludes with a brief account of Jesus facing rejection in his hometown, highlighting the challenge of people
accepting the divine wisdom in his teachings.

Sermon on Leadership
1. The Greatest in the Kingdom (Matthew 18:1-5):
 Jesus responds to the disciples' question about who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven by placing a child in their midst.
 He teaches that unless one becomes like a child in humility, they won't enter the kingdom, emphasizing the value of humility
and innocence.
2. Warnings Against Causing Others to Stumble (Matthew 18:6-9):
 Jesus issues a strong warning against causing others to stumble in their faith, using vivid imagery such as cutting off a hand or
foot or plucking out an eye to emphasize the seriousness of leading others astray.
3. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:10-14):
 Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep, illustrating God's concern for each individual. He emphasizes the joy in heaven over one
sinner who repents.
4. Dealing with Sin in the Church (Matthew 18:15-20):
 Jesus provides a process for addressing sin within the community of believers, emphasizing the importance of personal
confrontation, bringing witnesses, and ultimately involving the entire church if necessary.
 The teaching underscores the value of reconciliation and the authority of the church community.
5. The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35):
 Peter asks Jesus how often he should forgive, and Jesus responds with the parable of the unforgiving servant.
 The parable illustrates the importance of forgiving others as God has forgiven us, emphasizing the magnitude of God's
forgiveness compared to our comparatively small grievances against others.
6. Concern for the Little Ones (Matthew 18:1-14, 21-35):
 Jesus reiterates his concern for the "little ones" in the faith, emphasizing the need for humility, forgiveness, and love within the
Christian community.

Sermon on the Last Things

Matthew 24: Signs of the End Times:

1. Warning Against Deception (Matthew 24:4-5):

 Jesus warns his disciples about false messiahs and prophets who will come, deceiving many.
2. Wars and Rumors of Wars (Matthew 24:6-7):
 Jesus predicts that there will be wars and rumors of wars but instructs his followers not to be alarmed, as these are not the end.
3. Famines, Earthquakes, and Persecution (Matthew 24:7-14):
 Jesus speaks of various tribulations, including famines, earthquakes, and persecution of believers, before the end comes.
 He emphasizes the need for endurance and the proclamation of the gospel to all nations.
4. The Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15-22):
  Jesus refers to the prophetic "abomination of desolation" spoken of by the prophet Daniel, indicating a time of great distress.
 Believers are warned to flee when they see this event.
5. The Coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:23-31):
 Jesus describes his second coming with cosmic signs and the gathering of his elect from the ends of the earth.
6. The Lesson of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32-35):
 Jesus uses the analogy of a fig tree to illustrate that just as its leaves indicate summer is near, the signs he mentioned will
indicate the nearness of his coming.
7. The Unknown Day and Hour (Matthew 24:36-44):
 Jesus emphasizes that no one knows the exact day or hour of his return, urging vigilance and readiness.

Matthew 25: Parables on Preparedness:

1. The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13):

 Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom. Half are wise and prepared with enough oil for
their lamps, while the other half are foolish and unprepared.
 The lesson underscores the importance of being prepared for the unexpected return of the Son of Man.
2. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30):
 Jesus shares a parable about a master who entrusts different amounts of talents (money) to his servants. The master rewards
those who use their talents wisely and condemns the one who buries his talent.
 The parable emphasizes using one's abilities and resources for the kingdom and the accountability that comes with it.
3. The Final Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46):
 Jesus describes the final judgment, where the Son of Man separates the righteous from the unrighteous, based on their actions
of compassion and service to others.
 The teaching emphasizes the importance of loving one's neighbor and caring for those in need.