The Sermon on the Mount, one of the most famous discourses in history, is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7. But before we examine its meaning, let’s address a foundational question: Who wrote the Sermon on the Mount?
The answer is simple yet profound—Jesus. He is the one who delivered the sermon, and it was later recorded by the Gospel writer Matthew. However, this answer naturally leads to an even deeper question: Who is this Jesus who delivered the sermon?
The sermon itself provides profound answers to that question. Through His words, Jesus reveals who He is and why He has the authority to speak with such unmatched wisdom. He not only gives instructions for righteous living but also discloses His divine identity.
Understanding who wrote the Sermon on the Mount leads us to explore the identity of Jesus as revealed in the text.
Who is Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount
1. The Author of the Prophets
In Matthew 5:11-12, Jesus says, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Here, Jesus isn’t just comparing His followers’ persecution to that of the prophets—He is saying something far greater. The prophets were persecuted for His name’s sake, even though they lived centuries before His incarnation. This is a remarkable claim, placing Himself not only as a prophet but as the one whom the prophets of old were serving and speaking on behalf of. Jesus, therefore, identifies Himself as the very one the prophets pointed toward: God Himself.
2. The Fulfillment of the Law
As we analyze who wrote the Sermon on the Mount, we find that Jesus identifies himself not only as a teacher but as the very fulfillment of the law.
In Matthew 5:17, Jesus makes a profound declaration: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
This statement reveals that Jesus didn’t come to revise or reinterpret the Law—He came to complete it. He is the one who the Law and Prophets were pointing toward all along. The requirements of the Law that no human could perfectly fulfill, Jesus fulfilled on behalf of all humanity. He identifies Himself as the ultimate standard of righteousness and as the one who perfectly obeys God’s commands. His life and mission embody the entirety of God’s redemptive plan.
3. The Judge Who Knows His People
Jesus speaks of the final judgment in Matthew 7:21-23, where He says: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Jesus is not just a moral teacher, but the one who will stand in judgment at the end of time. Salvation and judgment depend on being known by Him. The final separation between the saved and the condemned hinges on Jesus’ knowledge of His followers. Through this, He asserts His divine authority as the one who decides humanity’s eternal destiny.
4. The Word of God Made Flesh
Throughout the sermon, Jesus says, “But I tell you,” as He reinterprets and deepens the meaning of the Law (Matthew 5:22, 5:28, 5:32, etc.). This authoritative phrase places Jesus in a unique position—He is not merely interpreting God’s word, He is the Word of God.
In Matthew 7:24, He concludes by saying, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” His words are the foundation of truth, a claim consistent with His identity as the divine Word who became flesh, as described in John 1:1-14.
5. The Perfect Law-Keeper and Savior
Jesus’ claim to have come to fulfill the Law means more than just obeying it. He embodies perfect obedience and, by doing so, provides a way for imperfect people to be reconciled to God.
He alone lives in perfect conformity with the Father’s will, and He alone has the authority to offer salvation to those who place their trust in Him. His role as both perfect Law-Keeper and Savior underscores the depth of His identity as the God-man who stands at the center of human redemption.
Jesus Wrote the Sermon on the Mount, the Bible, the Creation
The Sermon on the Mount reveals much about Jesus’ divine identity, which is confirmed throughout the Gospels. For example, In John 10:30, Jesus states plainly, “I and the Father are one.” In Matthew 16:16, Peter declares, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus does not shy away from these claims but rather embraces them throughout His ministry. In fact, here are ten times when Jesus said he was God.
The Old Testament also points to Jesus. Prophecies such as Isaiah 9:6 proclaim the coming Messiah as “Mighty God” and “Prince of Peace,” which Jesus fulfills. The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms all find their ultimate realization in Him, as Jesus states in Luke 24:44.
Conclusion: Jesus the Righteous God is Who Wrote the Sermon on the Mount
So, who wrote the Sermon on the Mount? Jesus Christ. He is the author and the one who delivered it. But He is far more than a mere speaker or wise teacher. Through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus identifies Himself as the fulfillment of the Law, the ultimate prophet, the perfect Law-Keeper, the one who will judge the world, and the very Word of God made flesh.
The Sermon is profound because its author is profound. He is the Savior of the world, the fulfillment of all righteousness, and the author of life itself. He alone can bear our iniquities, a burden we cannot bear. He alone can bring humanity back into a right relationship with God because He is God.
In conclusion, recognizing who wrote the Sermon on the Mount sheds light on the profound authority of Jesus as the Savior, the embodiment of righteousness, and the one who can restore humanity’s relationship with God.