“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: . . . ” –Matthew 5:1-2 (ESV)
These two verses set the stage for the Sermon on the Mount. First, Jesus is the One who sees. He sees our brokenness, our need for healing and wholeness, and he settles in to teach the words we most need to hear.
As Matthew records Jesus going up on the mountain, the original Jewish audience would have recognized more than a scene unfolding. A significant part of their history centered on Moses going up Mount Sinai and receiving the Law. Now the One who would fulfill that Law is going up on a mountain to teach some of the most pivotal words in human history.
When Jesus sits down, his disciples take this cue seriously and gather around to listen to Jesus teach.
Application question: Do I recognize when I need to stop and listen to Jesus’s teaching? Do I make space in my routines to listen to him and consider how to live according to his word?
Will you join me? Several years ago I embarked on a journey of memorizing the Sermon on the Mount. I didn’t realize just how long this journey would take me. Nor did I realize how much it would change my life. I would love to have you join me as I plod along. Together we can share what Jesus is teaching us and encourage each other along the way. This YouTube video below will take you to my channel, Dwell Richly. Subscribe and stay tuned. More videos are on the way.