Scripture: Matthew 5:1-26

After the Israelites came out of Egypt through the Red Sea, God brought them to the base of Mount Sinai where He gave the Law (the 10 Commandments) to Moses. Moses then delivered God’s word to His people.

Here in Matthew 5, we see the beginning of Jesus’s most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. And here, Matthew presents Jesus as the new Moses, giving God’s people His exhortation to righteousness, and as God, delivering the Law to His people.

In His baptism and temptation, Jesus has passed through the Jordan and finished His wilderness journey (echoing Exodus), now He ascends the mountain and declares the Law, calling His people to live in a righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees. Jesus is Moses on Mount Sinai; He is YHWH delivering His law to the people.

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’s discourse for how life in His Kingdom looks, and how He wants His followers to live. It’s a brilliant call to holiness, echoing the Kingdom-life God intends for each of us.

Matthew 5:1-26

Reflective Questions

In what area(s) of your life might Jesus be inviting you to repent of sin and follow Him more faithfully? What will you do to obey Him?