The Sermon on the Mount
The longest block of Jesus' teaching in any Gospel opens with the Beatitudes — blessings on the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers — which invert every ordinary measure of who is doing well.
What follows is a series of intensifications rather than relaxations of the law: not only murder but contempt, not only adultery but the look, not only keeping oaths but not needing them. Love your enemies. Give without an audience. Do not worry about tomorrow. The Lord's Prayer sits at its centre, and the Golden Rule near its close.
It ends with two builders, one on rock and one on sand, and the observation that the crowds were astonished because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes — who argued by citing other teachers.
Where in scripture
[1] Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. [2] He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, [3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. [4] Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. [5] Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. [6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. [7] Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. [10] Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. …
Matthew 5:1–48 — opening verses
[1] “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. [2] Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. [3] But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does, [4] so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. …
Matthew 6:1–34 — opening verses
[1] “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. [2] For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. [3] Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? [4] Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye. [6] “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. …
Matthew 7:1–29 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
