The Sermon on the Mount in

The Jewish Scriptures

c. 9th century to 8th century BCE (900-700 BCE) Genesis: 12:3b: Through you, Abraham, all the families of the earth will be blessed. [J Source] (see Matthew 5:45b, Luke 6:35d) Exodus: 16:4a: Then the Lord said to Moses, I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. [J Source] (see Matthew 6:11-12, Luke 11:3-4a) 22:25: If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor. You shall not exact interest from them. [E Source] (see Gospel of Thomas 95:1-2, Matthew 5:42b, Luke 6:34-35a) 23:4-5: When you come upon your enemys ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back. When you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free. [E Source] (see Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28) 33:19b: I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. [E Source] (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) 34:6b-7a: The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. [J Source] (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) c. 727-698 BCE (late 8th century BCE)
(Reign of King Hezekiah of Judah) Leviticus: 19:2b: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. [P Source] (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) 19:17: You shall not hate in your heart any one of your kin. You shall reason frankly with your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. [P Source] (see Gospel of Thomas 26:1-2, Matthew 7:3-5, Luke 6:41-42) 19:18: You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. [P Source] (see Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28) 19:34: The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you. You shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. [P Source] (see Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28) 25:35-37: If any of your kin fall into difficulty and become dependent on you, you shall support them. They shall live with you as though resident aliens. Do not take interest in advance or otherwise make a profit from them, but fear your God. Let them live with you. You shall not lend them your money at interest taken in advance, or provide them food at a profit. [P Source] (see Gospel of Thomas 95:1-2, Matthew 5:42b, Luke 6:34-35a) First Isaiah: 2:2-4: In days to come the mountain of the Lords house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (see Matthew 5:14b, Gospel of Thomas 32) 12:1: You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. (see Luke 6:37c, Matthew 6:14-15, Mark 11:25) 25:6: On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. (see Luke 6:21a, Matthew 5:6, Gospel of Thomas 69:2) 25:8: Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth. (see Luke 6:21b, Matthew 5:4) Hosea: 6:6: For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (see Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28) 11:8-9: How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48)
-1-

Micah: 6:8: He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) 7:18b-19: God does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency. He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot, and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) Proverbs: 8:17: I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. (see Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-10, Gospel of Thomas 94:1-2) 14:21: Those who despise their neighbors are sinners, but happy are those who are kind to the poor. (see Luke 6:20, Matthew 5:3, Gospel of Thomas 54) 20:22: Do not say I will repay evil; wait for the Lord, and he will help you. (see Luke 6:29, Matthew 5:39-40) 22:22-23a: Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord pleads their cause. (see Luke 6:20, Matthew 5:3, Gospel of Thomas 54) 23:4-5: Do not wear yourself out to get rich. Be wise enough to desist. When your eyes light upon it, it is gone, for suddenly it takes wings to itself, flying like an eagle toward heaven. (see Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 12:33-34, Gospel of Thomas 76:3) 24:17: Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble. (see Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28) 25:21: If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat. And if they are thirsty, give them water to drink. (see Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28) 29:13: The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of both. (see Matthew 5:45b, Luke 6:35d) 30:8: Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need. (see Matthew 6:11-12, Luke 11:3-4a) Song of Solomon: 6:2-3: My lover has gone down to his garden, to the bed of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies. I am my lovers and my lover is mine. He browses among the lilies. (see Matthew 6:25-30, Luke 12:22-28, Gospel of Thomas 36:1-2)

c. 639-609 BCE (late 7th century BCE)

(Reign of King Josiah of Judah) Deuteronomy: 4:31a: Because the Lord your God is a merciful God, he will neither abandon you nor destroy you. (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) 6:5: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (see Matthew 6:24, Luke 6:13, Gospel of Thomas 47:2) 10:17-19: For the Lord your God is God of gods, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphans and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (see Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28) 15:7-8: If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. (see Luke 6:30a, Matthew 5:42a) 15:11b: I command you: Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land. (see Luke 6:30a, Matthew 5:42a) 32:6b: Is God not your Father, who created you, who made you and established you? (see Luke 11:2b, Matthew 6:9b-10a) 2 Samuel: 14:14: We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up. But God will not take away a life; he will devise plans so as not to keep an outcast banished forever from his presence. (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48)

c. 6th century BCE (600-500 BCE) Second Isaiah: 42:6-7: I have given you as a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeons, from the prison those who sit in darkness. (see Matthew 5:15, Luke 8:16, Luke 11:33, Mark 4:21, Gospel of Thomas 33:2-3)
-2-

44:22: I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me for I have redeemed you. (see Luke 6:37c, Matthew 6:14-15, Mark 11:25) 49:6b: I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. (see Matthew 5:15, Luke 8:16, Luke 11:33, Mark 4:21, Gospel of Thomas 33:2-3) 49:15: Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. (see Matthew 7:9-11, Luke 11:11-13) 50:6: I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard. I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. (see Luke 6:29, Matthew 5:39-40) 51:4: Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation. For a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. (see Matthew 5:15, Luke 8:16, Luke 11:33, Mark 4:21, Gospel of Thomas 33:2-3) 51:8: For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. (see Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 12:33-34, Gospel of Thomas 76:3) 55:1: Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (see Luke 6:21a, Matthew 5:6, Gospel of Thomas 69:2) Jeremiah: 29:13: When you search for me you will find me, if you seek me with all your heart. (see Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-10, Gospel of Thomas 94:1-2) 31:33b-34: I have put my truth in your innermost mind, and I have written it in your heart. No longer does a person need to teach his sister or brother about God. For all of you know Me, from the most ignorant to the most learned, from the poorest to the most powerful. I will forgive your iniquities, and remember your sins no more. (see Luke 6:37c, Matthew 6:14-15, Mark 11:25) Ezekiel: 33:11: As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that they turn from their ways and live. (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) Lamentations: 3:22: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end. (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) 3:27 & 30: It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth to give ones cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults. (see Luke 6:29, Matthew 5:39-40) 3:31-33: For the Lord will not reject forever. Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love. For he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone. (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48)

c. 5th century BCE (500-400 BCE)

Third Isaiah: 61:1-2: Hes sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor, and the day of Gods vengeance, to comfort all who mourn. (see Luke 6:20, Matthew 5:3, Gospel of Thomas 54) 64:8: Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter. We are all the work of your hand. (see Luke 11:2b, Matthew 6:9b-10a) 65:1: I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, Here I am, here I am, to a nation that did not call on my name. (see Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-10, Gospel of Thomas 94:1-2) 66:13a: As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. (see Matthew 7:9-11, Luke 11:11-13) Zechariah: 7:9-10: Thus says the Lord: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) Malachi: 1:11: From the suns rising to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name. For my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. (see Matthew 5:45b, Luke 6:35d) 2:10a: Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us all? (see Luke 11:2b, Matthew 6:9b-10a) Job: 6:6: Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any flavor in the juice of mallows? (see Luke 14:34-35, Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50a) 12:7-9: Ask the animals, theyll teach you. Ask the birds of the air, theyll tell you. Ask the plants of the earth, theyll teach you. And the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? (see Matthew 6:25-30, Luke 12:22-28, Gospel of Thomas 36:1-2) 25:3: Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise? (Matthew 5:45b, Luke 6:35d)
-3-

38:41: Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food? (see Matthew 6:25-30, Luke 12:22-28, Gospel of Thomas 36:1-2)

c. 4th century BCE (400-300 BCE) Psalms: 37:26: The righteous are always giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing. (see Luke 6:30a, Matthew 5:42a) 41:1: Happy are those who consider the poor; the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble. (see Luke 6:20, Matthew 5:3, Gospel of Thomas 54) 65:2: O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come. (see Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-10, Gospel of Thomas 94:1-2) 68:5: Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. (see Luke 11:2b, Matthew 6:9b10a) 82:6: I say: You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you. (see Luke 11:2b, Matthew 6:9b-10a) 103:8: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (see Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:48) 103:13: As a parent has compassion for his or her children, so God has compassion for those who revere the Eternal. (see Matthew 7:9-11, Luke 11:11-13) 107:8-9: Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things. (see Luke 6:21a, Matthew 5:6, Gospel of Thomas 69:2) 126:5: May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. (see Luke 6:21b, Matthew 5:4) 145:9: The Lord is good to all and his compassion is over all that he has made. (see Matthew 5:45b, Luke 6:35d) 146:5 & 7: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. (see Luke 6:21a, Matthew 5:6, Gospel of Thomas 69:2) 147:3: The Lord heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. (see Luke 6:21b, Matthew 5:4) 147:9: The Lord gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. (see Matthew 6:25-30, Luke 12:22-28, Gospel of Thomas 36:1-2) Ecclesiastes: 9:2: The same fate comes to all, to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to those who sacrifice and those who do not sacrifice. As are the good, so are the sinners; those who swear are like those who shun an oath. (see Matthew 5:45b, Luke 6:35d)
* * * * *

Suggested Reading
Armstrong, Karen, The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions (Anchor Books, 2007). Friendlander, Gerald, The Jewish Sources of the Sermon on the Mount (originally published by George Routledge & Sons, 1911; Out of Print; available as reprint via Kessinger Publishing). Funk, Robert W. & The Jesus Seminar, The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say? (HarperOne, 1996). Kloppenborg, John S., Q, the Earliest Gospel: An Introduction to the Original Stories and Sayings of Jesus (Westminster John Knox Press, 2008). Robinson, James M., The Gospel of Jesus: A Historical Search for the Original Good News (HarperSanFrancisco, 2005). Spong, John Shelby, Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World (HarperOne, 2011). Weyler, Rex, The Jesus Sayings: The Quest for His Authentic Message (Anansi Press, 2009). * * * * *

Compiled by Charlie Kraybill on behalf of the Marginal Mennonite Society. Visit the Marginal Mennonite Society page on Facebook, and like us. E-mail Charlie: carlosnycity@gmail.com Revised: April 4, 2013

-4-