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Lesson 1: Salt and light.
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A unit on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Bible Passage: Matthew 5-7
Matthew 7:13-14 - Jesus taught that there are two paths in life: a wide road that is easy to travel but leads to destruction, and a narrow road that is harder to follow but leads to life. The narrow path is walking in Jesus’ ways and teachings, which may be challenging but leads to true and lasting life.
Matthew 7:1-5 - Jesus taught his followers not to judge others or they would be judged by the same standard. They should focus on removing the plank in their own eyes before pointing out the speck of sawdust in someone else’s eyes, meaning that we should never judge others because we ourselves are not perfect.
Matthew 6:25-34 - Jesus teaches his followers not to worry about daily needs like food or clothing, because life is more than these things and God knows what we need. He points to the birds, who do not plant or store food yet are fed by God, and to the flowers, which are beautifully clothed though they last only a short time. Instead of being anxious, we are to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, trusting that our needs will be provided for.
Matthew 6:19-24 - Jesus taught his followers to invest in treasures in heaven which last forever, rather than in earthly treasures which can be destroyed or lost. What we treasure shapes our heart. He also explained that healthy eyes (focused on the things of God) fill our lives with light, but eyes clouded by greed or worldly desires fill us with darkness. He concluded that we cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:1-4 - Jesus taught his followers not to do good deeds just to be noticed by others. When giving to those in need, they shouldn’t show off what they’re doing or loudly announce it for everyone to see and hear. If they do this, then the praise of others will be their only reward. Instead, Jesus taught them to give quietly and privately, because God sees what is done in secret and will reward it.
Matthew 5:38-42 - Jesus taught that while the Law of Moses called for justice through the principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” his followers are called to a higher standard of non-violence and radical grace. Instead of retaliating against those who wrong them, they should turn the other cheek, give more than what is asked, and go the extra mile when compelled to do so. He also urged his followers to be generous to those who ask and a willingness to lend without refusal.
Matthew 5:33-37 - Jesus taught that while the Law told people not to break their promises and to keep their oaths, he gave an even deeper teaching: don’t make oaths at all. Don’t swear by heaven, by earth, by Jerusalem, or even by your own head. Instead, Jesus says we should be people of honesty. If you say “yes,” mean yes. If you say “no,” mean no. We don’t need to make big promises—we just need to speak the truth.
Matthew 5:13-16 - During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that his followers are the salt of the earth, meant to preserve and enhance the world. He also said that they are the light of the world: a lamp is not hidden under a bowl but placed on a stand to give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, we are called to let our light shine, so that others may see our good works and be drawn to God’s goodness.