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You are here: Home / 101Study Help / Charts NT / Sermon on the Mount vs Sermon on the Plain

Sermon on the Mount vs Sermon on the Plain

January 4, 2021 by Krisan Marotta

Sermon on the Mount vs Sermon on the Plain | WednesdayintheWord.com

Is the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) the same event as the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6)? Scholars are divided.

Differences

Luke locates his sermon on a plain (Luke 6:17). Matthew locates his sermon on a mountain (Matthew 5:1). Because of that detail alone, some scholars think these are different events.

But others note that the sermons are not identical. There is significant overlap (see chart below), but they don’t have the exact same material.  Basically, Luke includes less material than Matthew. 

They would argue that Jesus gave this sermon many times, the way a politician gives a campaign speech or a conference speaker repeats a motivational speech. He may not repeat it word for word each time, but he teaches the same ideas in various settings to various different crowds.

Level ground

Is the geographic detail enough to separate the events? The word that’s translated “plain” (πεδινός Strong’s G3977) is only used once in the New Testament. It basically means level ground

It’s unclear what Luke intends. Jesus could be on the level ground at the top of a hill. Or he could be on the top of a hill overlooking a flat field. Or he could be in a place of mountainous terrain and found a level place where he could easily preach. The language alone cannot definitively separate Luke’s event from Matthew’s.

Similarities

  • Both of Matthew and Luke introduce their sermons by talking of the large crowds following Jesus for healing (Matthew 4:23-25; Luke 6:18). 
  • Both mention the disciples as distinct from the crowds (Matthew 5:1; Luke 6:20).
  • Both start with the beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-12; Luke 6:20-230;). 
  • Both end with the saying that those who heed his words are like those who build on the rock (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49).
  • In between they have the same sections in the same order, but Matthew gives more detail. 

Outline

The Beatitudes, attributes of those who will receive eternal lifeMatthew 5:1-16.Luke 6:20-26.
A new vision of righteousness, in contrast to the PhariseesMatthew 5:17-48.Luke 6:27-38.
Avoid the self-deception of the PhariseesMatthew 6:1-7:14.Luke 6:39-42.
It’s not enough to claim to believe, you must live out your beliefsMatthew 7:15-29.Luke 6:43-49.

I think it makes sense to see the two sermons as the same event. But if they are not the same event, they are at least drawing from the same body of teaching.

Therefore, I think we can use Matthew to help us understand Luke and we can use Luke to help us understand Matthew.

Comparison

LanguageSermon on the PlainSermon on the Mount
AudienceLuke 6:17-19Matthew 4:23-25
IntroductionLuke 6:20Matthew 5:1-2
BeatitudesLuke 6:20-26Matthew 5:3-12
Love of enemyLuke 6:27-36Matthew 5:38-47
Golden RuleLuke 6:31Matthew 7:12
Judge notLuke 6:37-38Matthew 7:1-2
The blind guideLuke 6:39(Matthew 15:14)
Teacher & discipleLuke 6:40(Matthew 10:24)
Speck & logLuke 6:41-42Matthew 7:3-5
Tree and its fruitLuke 6:43-45Matthew 7:16-20
Lord, LordLuke 6:46Matthew 7:21
House on the rockLuke 6:47-49Matthew 7:24-27

Resources: Gospel of Matthew

Resources: Gospel of Luke

General: Maps, charts, reference works, websites & tools

Photo by Claudel Rheault on Unsplash

(This article has been read 10,278 times plus 167 today.)

Related posts:

  1. 14 Matthew 5-7 Sermon on the Mount Introduction
  2. 16 Matthew 5:1-3 Poor in Spirit
  3. 13 Matthew 4:12-25 Jesus’ Early Ministry
  4. 15 Matthew 5:1-12 What is a beatitude?
  5. Gospel of Luke Resources

Filed Under: Charts NT Tagged With: Luke, Matthew

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