8 May 2026 We are proceeding to study the SERMON of YESHUA on the MOUNT…
THE GOSPELS: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: BEATITUDE 1, the meaning of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN
13 February 2026
We are commencing today to study the SERMON of YESHUA on the MOUNT.
We are mainly reading from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians. We use the Hebrew letters for the name of God, YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD in English is indicated in capital letters in the Scriptures. The reason being that the Jewish writers removed the vowels in God’s name out of fear of transgressing the third Commandment of taking His Name in vain. And today there is a lot of controversy about the pronunciation of His Name. We also refer to Him as Abba Father and use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.
The Nelson’s Foundational Bible Dictionary explains Yeshua’s long discourse known as the SERMON on the MOUNT in Matthew chapters 5-7 is so named because He taught His disciples and the crowds that followed Him from a MOUNTAINSIDE at the BEGINNING of HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY. The central theme of the SERON is summarized in Matthew 5:48, “Therefore, be PERECT, just as your FATHER in heaven is PERFECT.” The word PERFECT indicates COMPLETENESS, WHOLENESS and MATURITY – being all that God the Father wants a person to be to enable us to LOVE OUR NEIGHBOUR (other people) and PRAY for them even if they act like enemies against us and persecute us, because GOD the FATHER makes His sun shine on good and bad people alike and He sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike and what reward will we get if we only love those who loves us, even unbelievers do that! (Read Matthew 5:43-47).
The SERMON on THE MOUNT (Matthew chapters 5-7) outlines the ETHICAL STANDARDS of THE KINGDOM of GOD which the TORAH (Genesis to Deuteronomy, summed up in the Ten Commandments of YHVH), DEMANDS, CALLING BELIEVERS to a HIGHER STANDARD of RIGHTEOUSNESS that surpasses that of the Pharisees, who focused only on outward compliance with little to none INTERNAL CONFORMING of the HEART and MIND. Yeshua communicated the REAL MEANING of the TORAH including LOVING your ENEMIES, PRACTISING FORGIVENESS and SEEKING FIRST the KINGDOM and GOD’s RIGHTEOUSNESS.
This sermon was Yeshua’s FIRST sermon made to the GENERAL PUBLIC who had been reared in a RELIGIOUS ENVRONMENT influenced by the errors of the Pharisees and Sadducees who had a religious spirit, and it was also possibly His FIRST discussion with His DISCIPLES.
The TEN MAJOR sections of the SERMON on the MOUNT are the following:
1. THE BEATITUDES (Matthew 5:3-12) entailing the BLESSED REWARDS of living as CITIZENS of the KINGDOM of GOD.
2. The LESSONS of SALT and LIGHT (Matthew 5:13-16) entailing the EFFECTS of LIVING the LIVE of a SAVED BELIEVER on the world.
3. TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 5:17-48) explaining the DEEPER MEANING of the TORAH, Genesis to Deuteronomy as summed up in the TEN COMMANDMENDS of GOD.
4. PRACTICING FAITH IN GOD without hypocrisy (Matthew 6:1-18) explaining the RIGHT MOTIVES for GIVING, PRAYING and FASTING.
5. The BELIEVERS PURPOSE (Matthew 6:19-34) entailing SERVING GOD with SINGLENESS of PURPOSE and PUTTING HIS KINGDOM FIRST, frees BELIEVERS from anxiety over lesser things.
6. WARNING against JUDEGEMENT (Matthew 7:1-6) explaining the DANGERS of JUDGING OTHERS HARSHLY and CARELESSLY.
7. PRAYER (Matthew 7:7-12) explained in terms of its BLESSING and PRIVILEGES.
8. THE TWO WAYS (Matthew 7:13-14) encouraging people to CHOOSE the NARROW WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE, not the BROAD WAY that leads to DESTRUCTION and DEATH.
9. A TREE and its FRUIT (Matthew 7:15-20) explaining that people, just like a tree, are KNOWN by their FRUIT (their words and actions/ deeds).
10. The IMPORTANCE OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD THE FATHER (Matthew 7:21-29) explaining that OBEDIENCE TO GOD is not only HEARING HIS WORD, but DOING/ IMPLEMENTING it.
We will commence today to study THE BEATITUDES.
We read in Matthew 5:1-3 “Seeing the crowds, Yeshua walked up a hill. After He sat down, His talmidim (a Hebrew word for disciples, students) came to Him, and He began to speak. This is what He taught them: ‘How BLESSED (meaning happy and fortunate) are the poor in spirit! For the KINGDOM of HEAVEN is theirs.’”
The Complete Jewish Study Bible explains, the RELATIONSHIP between a talmid (a disciple, meaning a student) and his rabbi (teacher) was VERY CLOSE: not only did the talmid learn FACTS, REASONING PROCESSES, and HOW to PERFORM RELIGIOUS PRACTICES from the rabbi, but he regarded the rabbi as an EXAMPLE to be IMITATED in CONDUCT and CHARACTER. The rabbi in turn, was considered RESPONSIBLE for His talmidim.
Before we proceed studying the BEATITUDES it is IMPORTANT to UNDERSTAND what the KINGDOM of HEAVEN is.
The BIBLE HUB explains: The concept of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN is synonymous with the KINGDOM of GOD and it presents both a PRESENT REALITY and a FUTURE HOPE, including the REIGN of GOD over the HEARTS of BELIEVERS and the ULTIMATE ESTABLISHMENT of HIS RULE over ALL CREATION.
The KINGDOM of HEAVEN is introduced by John the Baptist, who PROCLAIMED: “Repent, for the KINGDOM of HEAVEN is near” (Matthew 3:2). And Yeshua Himself begins HIS MINSTRY with the same message, emphasising the nearness and accessibility of the KINGDOM (in Matthew 4:17). Throughout HIS TEACHINGS, Yeshua uses PARABLES to illustrate the NATURE and VALUE of the KINGDOM.
The KINGDOM of HEAVEN is of a SPIRITUAL NATURE in a REALM where God’s WILL is FULLFILLED. Yeshua told Pilate in John 18:36 “My KINGSHIP does not derive its AUTHORITY from this world’s order of things.” And He says in John 4:24, GOD the FATHER is SPIRIT and we must WORSHIP HIM in SPIRIT and in TRUTH (also read 2nd Corinthians 3:17).
There are SEVERAL DIMENTIONS of THE KINGDOM OF GOD
FIRST:
1. IT HAS A PRESENT AND A FUTURE REALITY
The KINGDOM is both “already” and “not yet”. It is already PRESENT in the lives of believers who SUBMIT to GOD’s AUTHORITY but it also points to a future fulfilment when the Messiah returns to establish HIS THOUSAND YEAR REIGN of PEACE and when the end comes He will hand over the KINGDOM to GOD the FATHER after He has destroyed ALL dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put ALL His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When He has done this, then HE, the SON will make Himself subject to GOD the FATHER, so that GOD the FATHER may be ALL in ALL (read 1 Corinthians 15:20-28).
When we are SAVED, the Word tells us we are SEATED in HEAVENLY PLACES and BECOME CITIZENS of HEAVEN (read Ephesians 2:6 and Philippians 3:20-21). We also know that after the ASCENTION of YESHUA the MESSIAH to HEAVEN, HE IS SEATED at the RIGHT HAND of GOD THE FATHER (read: Mark 16:19 and Ephesians 1:20-22 and Colossians 3:1).
So what does this mean and how does it work?
MESSIAH YESHUA EXPLAINED WE HAVE TO BE BORN AGAIN from ABOVE in John 3:3. And in verses 5-6 He said: “Yes indeed, I tell you that UNLESS a person is BORN from WATER and THE SPIRIT, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born from FLESH is FLESH and what is BORN from the Spirit is spirit. Yeshua further says in John 6:63 “It is the SPIRIT who GIVES LIVE, the flesh is of no help. The WORDS I have SPOKEN to you are SPIRIT and LIVE.”
We also read in 1st John 5:6-8 “He is the ONE who came by means of WATER (the WORD) and BLOOD, YESHUA the MESSIAH – not with WATER (the WORD) only but with the WATER and the BLOOD. And the SPIRIT bears WITNESS, because the SPIRIT is the TRUTH. There are THREE WITNESSESS – the SPIRIT, THE WATER and THE BLOOD – and these three are in AGREEMENT (COVENANT).” Some Bible versions says, these three are ONE.
These verses CONFIRMS a THREE STEP PROCESS to be BORN AGAIN namely:
STEP 1: SALVATION (representing THE BLOOD)
Paul explains it in Ephesians 2:1-5 “You used to be DEAD because of your SINS and ACTS of DISOBEDIENCE. You walked in the WAYS of the olam hazeh (a Hebrew word for: this world) and OBEYED the Ruler of the Powers of the Air (alluding to Satan), who is still at work among the DISOBEDIENT. Indeed, we ALL once lived this way – we followed the passions of our old nature and obeyed the wishes of our old nature and our OWN THOUGHTS. In our natural condition we were headed for God’s WRATH, just like everyone else. But God is so RICH in MERCY and LOVES us with such INTENSE LOVE , that even when we were DEAD because of our ACTS of DISOBEDIENCE, HE BROUGHT US TO LIVE ALONG WTH THE MESSIAH – it is by GRACE that you have been DELIVERED (SAVED).”
And in Ephesians 1:7 Paul explains: “In UNION with HIM (Yeshua the Messiah), through the SHEDDING of HIS BLOOD, we are SET FREE – our sins are FORGIVEN; this accords (is in agreement) with the wealth of the GRACE HE has lavished (poured out) on us.” And we further read in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For you have been DELIVERED (SAVED) by GRACE through TRUSTING (FAITH); and even this is not your accomplishment but GOD (the Father’s) GIFT. You were not DELIVERED (SAVED) by your own actions; therefore no one should boast.”
In Galatians 1:4 Paul greet the Messianic Communities in Galatia, saying: “GRACE and SHALOM (peace) to you from GOD our FATHER and from MASTER YESHUA the MESSIAH, WHO gave HIMSELF for our sins, so that HE might DELIVER (SAVE) us from the present evil world-system, in OBDIENCE to the WILL of GOD the FATHER. To HIM be the GORY FOREVER and EVER. AMEN.
And in Galatians 2:20 we clearly see the message that we too should DIE to the FLESH (the old sinful nature) saying: “When the MESSIAH was executed on the CROSS as a CRIMINAL, I was too; so that my proud ego no longer lives. But the MESSIAH LIVES IN me, and the LIFE I now live in my body I live by the same TRUSTING FAITHFULNESS that the SON of GOD had, who LOVED me and gave Himself up for me.
And in Colossians 1:11-14 Paul says to the people of Colossae, “We PRAY that you will be continually STRENGTHENED with all the POWER that comes from His GLORIOUS MIGHT; so that you will be able to persevere and be patient in ANY SITUATION, JOYFULLY GIVING THANKS to the FATHER for having made you fit to share in the inheritance of His people in the LIGHT. HE HAS RESCUED US FORM THE DOMAIN of DARKNESS and TRANSFERRED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON. It is THROUGH HIS SON (YEHSA THE MESSIAH) that we have REDEMPTION – that is, our sins have been FORGIVEN.”
STEP 2: REGENERATION (representing THE WATER)
Paul explains it in Romans 6:2-6 “Don’t you know that those of us who have been immersed (baptised) into the MESSIAH YESHUA have been IMMERSED (baptised) into HIS DEATH? Through IMMERSION into HIS DEATH we were BURRIED with HIM; so that just as, through the GLORY of the FATHER the MESSIAH was RAISED form the dead, likewise we too might LIVE a NEW LIFE. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will also be united with Him in a RESURRECTION like His. We know that our OLD SELF was put to DEATH on the CROSS with Him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities (tendencies, inclinations) might be DESTROYED, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.”
We read in Luke 7:30 that the Pharisees REJECTED the water baptism of John and therefore by not letting themselves be IMMERSED and TURN from their sins, nullified for themselves God’s PLAN. Paul who was a Pharisee called Saul, met with Yeshua on the road to Damascus, he HEARD HIS VOICE, HIS WORD and scales fell from his blind eyes and he was BAPTISED and had his sins washed away in the Name of Yeshua he Messiah (read Acts 9:1-18 & 22:16).
Yeshua said in John 5:22-25 “The FATHER does not judge anyone but has entrusted ALL JUDGEMENT to the Son, so that ALL may HONOR the SON as they honor the FATHER. Whoever fails to HONOR the SON is not HONORING the FATHER who sent Him. Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever HEARS what I AM SAYING and TRUST the ONE (the Father) who sent Me HAS ETERNAL LIFE – that is he will not come up for JUDGEMENT but has ALREADY CROSSED OVER FROM DEATH TO LIFE! (This means this person is already SPIRITUALY ALIVE and will not face the SECOND DEATH, neither the LAKE of FIRE) Yes, Indeed! I tell you that there is a time – in fact. It is already here – when the DEAD will hear the VOICE of the SON of GOD, and those WHO LISTEN WILL COME TO LIFE.
HIS WORD RENEWS our MINDS, we are therefore CHANGED into NEW PEOPLE BY HEARING, READING and MEDETATNG on HIS WORD until our MINDS ARE IN UNION with HIS MIND – PAUL CALLS this, we HAVE THE MIND OF THE MESSIAH (read Romans 12:1-2 and 1st Corinthians 2:16). Also read 1st John 5:20. And Yeshua explains in John 15:1-5 to His disciples: “I am the REAL VINE and MY FATHER is the GARDENER. EVERY BRANCH which is part of ME but fails to BEAR FRUIT, He CUTS OFF; and EVERY BRANCH that DOES BEAR FRUIT, HE PRUNES, so that it BEAR MORE FRUIT. Right now, because of THE WORD I have SPOKEN to you, YOU ARE PRUNED. STAY UNITED WITH ME, AS I WILL WITH YOU – for just as the branch can’t put forth FRUIT by itself apart from the VINE, so you can’t bear FRUIT apart from Me. And then we read in verses 7-9: “If you REMAIN UNITED with ME and MY WORDS with you (taking in His WORD, HEARING, LISTENING, READING and OBEYING it), then ask whatever you want, and it will happen for you. This is how MY FATHER is GLORIFIED – in your BEARING MUCH FRUIT; this is how you will prove to be MY talmidim (DISCIPLES/ STUDENTS/ FOLLOWERS). Just as MY FATHER has LOVED ME, I TOO HAVE LOVED YOU; so STAY IN MY LOVE” And then He tells us HOW to STAY in HIS LOVE. We read in verses 10-11 IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, YOU WILL STAY IN MY LOVE – JUST AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER’s COMMANDS AND STAY IN HIS LOVE. I have said this to you so that MY JOY may be IN YOU, and your JOY be complete.” Also read John 14:20.
Paul explains it as follows in Colossians 3:1-2 “So if you were RASIED along with the MESSIAH, then SEEK THE THINGS BOVE, where the MESSIAH is SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD (THE FATHER). FOCUSS YOUR MINDS ON THE THINGS ABOVE, not on the things on earth.” In Philippines 4:8 Paul explains we can do that by focussing our THOUGHTS on what is TRUE, NOBLE (honourable, good), RIGHTEOUS, PURE, LOVELY, ADMIRABLE on SOME VIRTUE (benefit, good point) or on SOMETHING PAISEWORTHY. In this way we can ACTIVELY and QUICKLY CHOOSE to divert negative, immoral, bad, stressful or fearful thoughts IMMEDIATELY and PURPOSEFULLY by CHOOSING to exchange it for THOUGHTS in LINE with Philippians 8:4 which will lead to PEACE, CALMNESS and JOY in our MINDS and HEARTS. And Paul then gives the reasons why he says this in Colossians 3:3-10 “For you have DIED, and your LIFE is HIDDEN with the MESSIAH in GOD (the FATHER). When the MESSIAH who is our LIFE, appears, then you too will appear with Him in glory! Therefore PUT TO DEATH THE EARTHLY PARTS OF YOUR NATURE – sexual immorality, impurity, list, evil desires and greed (which is a form of idolatry); for it is because of these things that God (the Father’s) anger is coming on those who DISOBEYS Him. True enough, you USED to practise these things in the life you once lived; but now, PUT THEM ALL AWAY – anger, exasperation (frustration, annoyance, madness), slander and obscene (offensive, crude) talk. Never lie to one another; because you have stripped away the OLD SELF with its ways, and have put on THE NEW SELF, which is CONTINUALLY BEING RENEWED in the FULLER and FULLER KNOWLEDGE, CLOSER and CLOSER to the IMAGE of its CREATOR.
Peter explains in 1st Peter 1:23 “You have been BORN AGAIN not form some seed that will decay (not from the flesh that decay) but from one that cannot decay, through THE LIVING WORD OF GOD (THE FATHER) THAT LASTS FOREVER.
And so THROUGH THE BLOOD of YESHUA our MESSIAH and HIS LIVING WORD, we BECOME BORN AGAIN CHILDREN of GOD (read John 1:12-13. We read in 1st John 2:29 “If you know that He is righteous, you should also know that He is the FATHER of everyone who DOES what is RIGHT.”
The following CHARACTERISTICS are visible in a people who have been REBORN as a CHILDREN of GOD the FATHER:
- LOVE GOD above ALL ELSE and SHOWING this LOVE to HIM by OBEYING HIM and therefore DOING HIS COMMANDMETS and HIS COMMANDMENTS are not burdensome, because WHEN we LOVE HIM, we overcome the world (read 1st John 5:4).
- LOVE other people as him or herself with 1 Corinthians 13 type of LOVE, because LOVE is from GOD THE FATHER and EVERYONE WHO LOVES has GOD as his or her FATHER and KNOWS GOD because GOD THE FATHER IS LOVE (read 1st John 4:7).
- DO not go on sinning (willfully), on the contrary Yeshua the Son of God protects the born-again believer, and the Evil one (Satan and his evil forces) cannot touch a child of God the Father (read 1st John 5:18).
- GOD’s SEED (HIS WORD) is PLANTED in a BORN AGAIN BELIEVER and therefore he or she ACKNOWLEDGES (admits and confess) and REPENTS of ACCIDENTAL SINS with a CONTRITE (remorseful, repentant) HEART and TURN AWAY FORM IT, PRACTICING to RESIST it WITH THE ARMOUR OF GOD and HIS SPIRITUAL WEAPONS (read 1st John 1:1-10, 3:9 and Ephesians 6:10-18).
- BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS become the TEMPLES of GOD and bear the FRUIT of the HOLY SPIRIT of LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, HUMILITY and SEF CONTROL (1 Corinthians 3:16 and Galatians 5:22-23).
And then Paul tells us the THIRD IMPORTANT ELEMENT of our REBIRTH in Titus 3:3-6 “For at one time we too were foolish and DISOBEDIENT, DECEIVED and ENSLAVED by a variety of passions and pleasures. We spent our lives in evil and envy; people hated us and we hated each other. But when the KINDNESS and LOVE for mankind of God our DELIVERER was revealed, HE DELIVERED us. It was not on the grounds of any righteous deeds we had done, but on the ground of His own mercy. He did this by means of the mikveh (a Hebrew word for washing) of REBIRTH and the RENEWAL brought about by the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) whom He poured out on us generously through YESHUA our MESSIAH, our DELIVERER.
And this brings us to:
STEP 3: SANCTIFICATION (representing THE SPIRIT)
We read the prophecy in Isaiah 35:8-10 “A HIGHWAY will be there, a WAY, called the WAY of HOLINESS. The unclean will not pass over it, but it will be for those whom HE GUIDES – fools (the unwise) will not stray (wander) along it. No lion or other beast of prey (Satan and his evil forces) will be there, travelling on it. They will not be found there, but the REDEEMED will go there. Those RANSOMED by YHVH will RETURN and come with SINGING to ZION (JERUSALEM) on their heads will be EVERLASTING JOY. They will acquire (obtain) GLADNESS and JOY while sorrow and sighing will flee.
We also read the prophecy in Ezekiel 36:24-27 saying: “For I (YHVH) will take you form among the nations, gather you from ALL COUNTRIES, and RETURN you to your OWN SOIL. THEN I WILL SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER on you, and you WILL BE CLEAN; I WILL CLEANSE you from ALL your UNCLEANNESS and from ALL your idols. I will GIVE you a NEW HEART (new thoughts and new emotions) and put a NEW spirit inside you; I will take the STONY HEART (the hardened rebellious heart) out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (a pliable willing to obey heart). I will put MY SPIRIT inside you and cause you to LIVE BY MY LAWS, RSPECT MY RULINGS and OBEY THEM.”
The HOLY SPIRIT enables people to TURN from sin and LIVE a HOLY (set-apart) LIVE for GOD.
We are FILLED by HIS HOLY SPIRIT, and with FIRE, by YESHUA our MESSIAH enabling us to LIVE a SANCTIFIED LIFE, full of the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT to be BOLD and FEARLESS WITNESSESS of the GOOD NEWS of KINGDOM and to RESIST the ENEMY (read Matthew 3:11, Acts 1:8, 2:1-4 and 4:23-31).