The gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) preserved many of Jesus’ exact words for us to read. While on earth, Jesus was well-known not
only for working miracles, but also for saying things that transformed, inspired, confused, and angered people around him. Which of Jesus’ statements is the most famous?
The Sermon on the Mount: Beatitudes
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount gets its name from the fact that Jesus delivered it from a mountain. It’s found in Matthew 5-7, and it contains many of Jesus’ most frequently quoted statements. Why is this sermon considered so foundational to Christianity?
The sermon begins in Matthew 5 with a list of statements known as “beatitudes,” or blessings. In these statements, Jesus makes remarkable claims about the kinds of people who will be happy and blessed. As human beings, we naturally believe that wealth, power, and comfort will make us happy. Much of human history has been driven by our desire for more of these things. However, Jesus’ beatitudes turn this whole idea upside down. Jesus states that the poor, the meek, and the oppressed will be the ones, in the end, who really triumph. A frequently beatitude reads, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The beatitudes are quoted so often, partly because they represent a radically foreign idea of where happiness and victory really comes from. What does it mean to “win” at life? Jesus’ beatitudes redefined the entire concept.
The Sermon on the Mount: The Lord’s Prayer
Later in this sermon, in Matthew 6, Jesus includes a model prayer that’s also quoted very frequently. This prayer is often used in liturgies, including Anglican, Catholic and Episcopal liturgies, so in many churches worldwide, the congregation repeats it aloud every week. It’s often referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer.” In the King James Version of the Bible, it begins, “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” The prayer continues by asking God to forgive sins, provide for needs, and hold back evil influences, and it ends by reaffirming God’s sovereignty.
This prayer is certainly one of Jesus’ most frequently quoted statements. However, before repeating it, it’s important to consider the context surrounding it. In Matthew 6:5-7, right before this model prayer, Jesus gives some important instructions. He tells us to pray privately, not so we can be seen praying by other people. He also tells us not to simply repeat words for the sake of saying them. God is not concerned with our exact wording, but with the intent in our heart.
Given these warnings, it’s ironic that the Lord’s Prayer is so often repeated by large groups of people on a routine basis. Praying the Lord’s prayer word for word is not necessarily wrong, However, whenever we pray, Jesus wants our words to truly reflect what’s in our hearts. If the Lord’s Prayer doesn’t accurately reflect our thoughts at the moment, it’s best to pray in our own words. After all, Jesus intended for this prayer to serve as an example for us when creating our own prayers.
John 14: Jesus’ Claims To Exclusive Deity
Another frequently quoted statement by Jesus is found in John 14. In this chapter, Jesus is comforting his disciples, because he will soon be crucified. He tells His disciples that they will join Him someday, but they just don’t understand. Thomas speaks up to question Jesus’ claims. Thomas complains that the disciples don’t even know where Jesus is headed. How could they know how to get there?
In verse 6, Jesus answers Thomas clearly. Jesus states boldly that He is the “way, the truth, and the life,” and that He Himself is the only possible way to reach God. Jesus continues by stating that anyone who knows Jesus, knows God the Father too.
These statements are groundbreaking for a number of reasons. The repeated word “the” is an important one. Jesus didn’t just say He is “a way, a truth, and a life.” Rather, Jesus identified Himself as the only way to reach heaven and God.
Jesus made other claims about being divine, in more public settings. The fact that He claimed to be God contributed to his crucifixion. However, this statement in John 14 was meant for those closest to Jesus. Its simplicity and depth have made it especially “quotable” throughout church history.
Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus’ Greatest Commandment
Every statement Jesus made is important. However, it’s interesting that Jesus verbally highlighted one particular statement. In Matthew 22, a religious leader asked Jesus what the most important commandment was in the Law. This leader probably expected Jesus to name a command from the Old Testament. Perhaps it would be the one about committing adultery, honoring your father and mother, or bearing false witness against a neighbor. But Jesus replies with something unexpected.
In the King James Version, Jesus claims that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” The second greatest commandment, according to Jesus, is to love others the way we love ourselves.
What’s so surprising about this statement? Old Testament law was full of specific rules and regulations. Instead of naming a specific rule, Jesus gives two general principles that should govern our lives. Both of them involve one key concept: love.
With this statement, Jesus introduced a new kind of relationship with God: one that hadn’t been possible before Jesus’ birth. Through Christ, we can have a relationship with God as our loving Father. We should seek to obey God when it comes to biblical principles–including those found in the Old Testament–but our obedience is an expression of love, just like Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was an expression of love.
Interested in learning more about the words and teachings of Jesus? At Harmony Baptist Church in Galesburg, we study the whole Bible together, and we’d love to have you join us! Visit our “Contact” page for service details. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!
