This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Matthew 5, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once, a great teacher named Jesus saw a big group of people and went up to the top of a mountain. When he sat down, his disciples came to listen to him.
Jesus started teaching and said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they will have the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who are sad, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the kind and gentle, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who want to do the right thing, for they will be happy. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are those who have pure hearts, for they will see God. Blessed are those who make peace, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are treated badly because they do what is right, for they will have the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others say mean things about you because of me. Be happy and jump for joy, because you will have a big reward in heaven. People who came before you, like the prophets, were also treated badly because they did what was right.”
Jesus then told his friends that they are like salt, which makes food taste better. But if salt loses its taste, it’s no good and should be thrown away. He also told them that they are like a light that shines in the dark, so everyone can see the good things they do and give praise to God.
Jesus then said that he didn’t come to get rid of God’s rules, but to make sure they are followed. He said that anyone who doesn’t follow God’s rules and teaches others not to follow them will not be important in heaven. But whoever follows God’s rules and teaches others to do the same will be very important in heaven. Jesus said that everyone needs to be more good than the religious leaders of the time to get into heaven.
Jesus also talked about being angry. He said, “A long time ago, people were told not to kill each other. They were also told that anyone who killed someone would be in trouble with the law. But I tell you, even if you’re just angry with someone or say mean things to them, you’re also in trouble. You could get in trouble with the judges or even go to hell. So, if you’re about to give a gift to God, but you remember that someone is mad at you, go and make things right with them first. Then come back and give your gift to God. It’s important to make up with people and try to solve problems quickly, before things get worse. If you wait too long, you could end up in big trouble and have to pay a lot to get out.”
Then Jesus talked about lust. He said, “People were told a long time ago not to cheat on their husband or wife. But I tell you, even if you look at someone in a way that’s not right, you’ve already done something wrong. If your right eye or your hand makes you do bad things, it’s better to get rid of them than to go to a bad place. It’s better to lose something small than to lose everything.”
Jesus talked about divorce too. He said, “A long time ago, people were allowed to get a divorce if they gave a paper to show that they were not married anymore. But I tell you, if someone gets divorced for any reason other than their husband or wife being unfaithful, it’s like they’re making their spouse do something bad. And if someone marries a person who has been divorced, they also commits adultery.”
He also talked about telling the truth. He said that we shouldn’t need to swear on anything to tell the truth, and that we should always be truthful.
And finally, Jesus talked about how to treat people who do bad things to us. He said that we shouldn’t try to get revenge, but instead, we should be nice to them. We should even be kind to people who don’t like us or are mean to us. We should love them and pray for them. Jesus said that we should be as perfect as God in heaven.
Biblical Lessons
- We should strive to have a pure heart and be merciful to others.
- It’s important to be a peacemaker and try to resolve conflicts peacefully.
- We should love our enemies and pray for them.
- We should focus on doing good deeds for others and shining our light, rather than seeking attention for ourselves.
- Following God’s rules may not always be easy, but it leads to a better life and eternal rewards in heaven.
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