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This is a section-by-section commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, aimed at helping you to live the kind of life it describes. The primary focus is not on intellectual understanding, but on obedience. Only by obeying the words of Jesus will we begin to understand them. As obedience grows, understanding increases.

Each chapter of this book gives a principle derived from the Sermon on the Mount. These principles relate to ways of thinking, ways of acting, and ways of looking at the world. They describe the lifestyle of a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.

A life lived in submission to the King of heaven is rich and rewarding. Ultimately, it is the only kind of life worth living. But it is not easy. I myself have not mastered any of these principles. I still struggle with many of them. But I can testify to this: when followed, they work. They help me follow Jesus and obey His words.

You will probably not agree with every interpretation I give to every verse. You will almost certainly find something to disagree with or question. But I hope you will find that the lessons drawn from each passage are faithful to the teaching of the Bible, regardless of how I interpret certain words or phrases. In fact, I think I have steered clear of the usual controversies that arise when Christians discuss the Sermon on the Mount.

As you go through these principles, you will find some overlap and repetition. This is unavoidable, as the Sermon on the Mount itself repeats certain themes from different angles. I can only hope that you will encounter just the right amount of repetition: helpful in reinforcing certain ideas, but not redundant.

Let me point out a few style decisions I have made in this book. I capitalize pronouns referring to God, whether Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. I put Bible quotations in italics to set them apart from the rest of the text (all quotations are New King James Version). And I capitalize “the Sermon on the Mount,” but not when referring to it as “the sermon,” or “a sermon.”

Greed is not simply a matter of wanting too much. It is also about who you want it for. Simply asking God for less might not protect you from the sin of greed. You might want only a little—just enough bread for the day—yet if you only want it for yourself, then you are still being greedy. Do not ask for less. Ask on behalf of more. See your prosperity as part of God’s provision for all of His people.

God intends for the world around us to teach us. This happens best when we are paying attention. And as this happens, our world should always be expanding. We should always be noticing more and more of what surrounds us. This will keep us learning. It will also keep us in a state of wonder.

When you stop looking around, your world becomes small. This gives opportunity to worry and anxiety. A small world is made up of the solutions you already know about, the things that have worked for you in the past. In such a small world, you don’t see an answer to your present problems. Your problems are new, but your solutions are old. As a result, you worry.

If you love with integrity, you will not fear failure. Let this be your goal. Aim for a fearless performance rather than a flawless one.

In general, we form opinions of others much more often, and more quickly, than necessary. It is our initial instinct. But it doesn’t have to be. It can be replaced by the instinct of mercy. Think mercy towards others before you even have time to form an opinion of them. Let mercy be your first instinct. You will find that, in most cases, it is all the opinion you need.

Jesus didn’t say, “You don’t have to worry.” He said, “Don’t worry.” This is not one of the perks of following Jesus. It is a command to be obeyed. And it is one we don’t always take seriously enough.

Here is the evidence of our disobedience: When we experience worry and anxiety about material things, we seek comfort and assurance. What we should seek is forgiveness. We should repent of our worry. We should recognize it for the disobedience that it is, and drop it immediately.

This is the best remedy, because it aligns us with the commands of Jesus. Repentance is the quickest way out of worry.

Our version of manna is a spiritual revelation of Jesus Christ, the true and lasting nourishment. There is nothing as satisfying to the soul as a fresh apprehension on Christ’s grace and glory.

But sometimes we want a revelation that doesn’t require anything of us. This is the wrong approach. True knowledge of Jesus is knowledge acted upon.

Consider Jesus Himself. When He walk this earth, He had a revelation of the Father like none other. But what sustained Him? Acting upon that revelation. He told His disciples, in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

The ultimate cruelty of the law was not that it demanded so much, but that it expected so little. “Don’t get divorced,” it said, “but if you do get divorced, write a certificate.”

The law expected failure and was not disappointed.

Jesus said, “Don’t get divorced.” Period.

In that “period” there is an expectation. And in that expectation, there is grace. Listen for that expectation. Jesus does not tell us what to do just to make us give up in despair. His commands are empowering. He is demanding, but there is always grace in His demands. Listen to Him until you find it.

Keeping Christ’s commandments is a way of getting to know Him. This is the subject of the Sermon on the Mount. The kingdom of heaven is about getting to know the King of heaven. His commandments always reflect something of His character. If we love Him, we will love them. If we try to avoid His commandments, or choose to ignore them, it is as if we are saying. “I love Jesus, I just don’t like His personality.”