March 8, 2026

UNIT 1: The Sermon on the Mount

LESSON: 2

Study Text: Matthew 5:21-48

Central Truth: Citizens of God's kingdom are characterized by their Christlike morality.

KEY Verse--Luke 10:27 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself (KJV).

"You must love the Lord your God with all your strength, and all your mind." And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself" (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

The portion of Jesus' sermon covered in today's lesson touches on topics such as anger, forgiveness, love for enemies, and inner transformation. By challenging us to follow Him with integrity and love, Jesus teaches us that follow Him with integrity and love, Jesus teaches us that how we treat others matters to God.

DISCUSSION STARTER--You've Heard It Said

What are some sayings or proverbs that you heard growing up? ________________________.

Proverbs exist in almost all cultures as a way of preserving conventional Wisdom and passing it on to the next generation. But sometimes, these wise sayings don't contain the whole truth. In the next section of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He turned Jewish conventional wisdom upside down, forcing, people to rethink how they interpreted Old Testament law. Many scholars use the phrase "six antitheses" to describe Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:21-48. Flipping the script of the Jewish religious teachers in His day, Jesus begins each antithesis with, "you have heard, " and then reverses it with, "But I say." Jesus' purpose was to slow that the Jewish teachers had missed the mark in their understanding of righteousness.

PART 1-Avoid Anger and Lust

Anger Equals Murder               Matthew 5:21-26

Jesus begins this section of His sermon by recalling God's commandment against murder (Matthew 5:21). However, He takes the principle a step further and equates anger with murder *verse 22). Unresolved anger is poisonous and can destroy a person's well-being along with their relationships. As Jesus explains, it also leads to judgment. He requires His followers to reconcile with fellow believers before offering sacrifices to God (verses 23-24). In other words, our relationships with other people directly affect our relationship with God. Christians must prioritize forgiveness and peacemaking--not just for spiritual reasons, but for pragmatic reasons as well (verses 25-26). Getting swept up in contentious court battles would distract Jesus' followers from their main goal: spreading the gospel message.

How do we seek reconciliation and forgiveness when conflicts arise? By actively working to resolve differences and restore relationships. When we   seek God's forgiveness and offer it to others in turn, we are fulfilling the essence of the Law.

? Why do you think Jesus equated anger with murder?

Lust Equals Adultery          Matthew 5:27-30

In the next section of His sermon, Jesus explains that looking at someone lustfully is equivalent to adultery (Matthew 5:28). Sin begins not with outward actions but with inner thoughts. We must be as mindful of our secret desires as we are of our public behavior. Jesus then uses vivid imagery to convey the seriousness of the matter. If someone's eye causes them to sin, Jesus says, they should pluck it out to prevent more serious consequences. In verses 29-30, Jesus uses the eye and the hand to illustrate how acting on lustful impulse can have terrible consequences for your family, your job, and your church. Even if these consequences are somehow avoided, each of us will one f day answer to God. So, what should we do about lust? The key is guarding our hearts and minds against impure thoughts and desires, which so often begin with what we see and hear. instead of simply reacting to temptation, it is wise to take practical, proactive steps to prevent temptation--like setting up internet filters, using parental controls on streaming platforms, and creating boundaries in personal relationships.

? Why do you think Jesus used such strong hyperbole to warn against lust?

PART 2--Integrity in Marriage and Speech

Abandonment and Adultery          Matthew 5:31-32

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.

? Most churches recognize additional valid reasons for divorce--such as physical abuse, abandonment, and fraud--based on the entire message of Scripture. How would you summarize the intent behind the Bible's teachings on divorce?

Oaths and Vows            Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus began He did not directly quote a specific Old Testament again with the repeated statement, "You have heard it said." However, this time He did not directly quote a specific Old Testament Scripture. Rather, He summarized multiple passages that touch on the topic of vows. Jesus explained that the Israelites had been told not to break vows and to do whatever they had promised the Lord (Matthew 5:33). But Jesus took the idea of truthfulness a step further by advising against making oaths at all. People still today, sometimes swear by heaven or earth as a way to convince others to believe them--whether they intended to follow through with their promises or not. But Jesus taught that everything in creation points back to God, which means that swearing by anything God has created is the same as swearing by God himself. Instead of propping their words on a vow, Christians should be so trustworthy that their yes means yes, and their no means no. "Anything beyond this is from the evil one, " Jesus explained (verse 37).

? What does it mean to be salt and light in a culture where lies and exaggeration are becoming commonplace?

PART 3-LOve Your Enemies

      Kindness Instead of Revenge             Matthew 5:38-42

Next, Jesus explained how His followers respond to conflict and mistreatment. Human nature says that when we're treated badly, we should look out for number one. It's only natural to get even when someone hurts us, right? But Jesus expects the opposite. By using the phrase "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." Jesus was reminding His listeners of the Old Testament legal was not intended to be a formula for revenge, but a method for limiting a person's response. Jesus provided specific examples, such as turning the other cheek, giving more than the law requires, and going the extra mile (verses 39-41). He was laying out for His followers a radical new approach for dealing with confrontation. Instead of seeking revenge, they were to respond with acts of kindness and generosity (verse 42).

? What are some practical ways, Christians can promote peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation in their communities?

Love Instead of Hate             Matthew 5:43-48

Nest, Jesus called His listeners to imitate the perfect love of God. He started this section of teaching with, "You have heard the law says, "Love of God. He started this section of teaching with, 'You have heard the law says, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy" (Matthew 5:43). Jesus introduces a new revolutionary approach. Not only would His disciples love their enemies, but they would go so far as to pray for their persecutors (verse 44). As God's children, we should be growing toward His love and grace with everyone, not just the people who love us back; this is one of the things that sets us apart as Jesus' followers (verses 46-47).

? Have you ever prayed for someone who was mistreating you What happened?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

Jesus calls His disciples to do more than follow the letter of the Law. Instead, we should aim for a higher level of morality by following the principles behind the Law. Belonging to God's kingdom means regulating our emotions and seeking reconciliation. It means honoring our commitments and keeping our word. It means showing love and kindness regardless of how others treat us.

LIVING IT OUT

Evaluate your media consumption and commit to pursuing purity. 

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

                             Monday: Sinful Anger Has Consequences. Numbers 20:7-13

                              Tuesday: Consequences of David's Lust. 2 Samuel 12:7-14

                        Wednesday: Faithfulness in Marriage. Proverbs 5:15-23

     Thursday: Joined in Marriage. Matthew 19:1-9

        Friday: Christlike Conduct. Romans 12:9-21

            Saturday: Living Out the Word. James 1:19-22

RADIANT LIFE

Volume 107 Number 3 Mar. Apr. May 2026

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