“Matthew 5; Luke 6,” New Testament Institute Teacher Manual (2025)
Matthew 5; Luke 6
The Sermon on the Mount includes some of the Savior’s most profound teachings. Those who heard the sermon were “astonished at his doctrine” (Matthew 7:28). In Matthew 5 and Luke 6:17–49, the Savior taught the Beatitudes and the higher law of the gospel. These teachings are so important that the Savior repeated them to the Nephites and Lamanites when He appeared to them after His Resurrection (see 3 Nephi 12–15).
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: New Testament, “Matthew 5; Luke 6”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the four standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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Are you a happy person? Read Matthew 5:1–12, and consider what the Lord can teach you about happiness.
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Read Matthew 5:13–16, and then watch “Let Your Light So Shine” (0:42). Reflect on the influence you have on others.
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Have you considered what you might do to be more like the Savior? Study Matthew 5:17–48, and ponder how Jesus exemplifies the higher law of the gospel.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of Matthew 5; Luke 6.
Skill Training
Matthew 5:13–16 might be a helpful place to use the skill “Understanding Symbolism in the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class.
How can I find greater happiness?
You could share the following scenario:
After teaching Jaron about the commandments, the missionaries invite him to be baptized. After a long pause, he says, “No, I don’t think it’s for me. I feel like I would have to give up things that make me happy.”
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How would you assess Jaron’s understanding of happiness?
Explain that the Savior first shared in the Sermon on the Mount nine teachings known as the Beatitudes. Invite students to skim Matthew 5:3–12 and find the word that begins each beatitude. Explain that the word blessed comes from the Latin word beatus, which means to be fortunate or happy (see “Matthew 5:3–12. What are the Beatitudes?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament for more information).
Consider displaying the following truth: Striving to gain the attributes taught in the Beatitudes helps us come unto Christ and experience greater happiness.
You could invite students to review Matthew 5:3–12 and select a beatitude that they would like to study more deeply. Give them the accompanying handout to help them learn more. (As students work on this handout, they will practice using the skills “Finding the Meaning of Words and Phrases” and “Using Teachings of Church Leaders to Understand the Scriptures” from Scripture Study Skills).
Students could share in small groups or as a class what they learned about the beatitude they studied. Encourage students to share personal experiences of how applying truths taught in the Beatitudes has helped them come unto Christ and experience greater happiness.
You could give students time to ponder and record how they can more intentionally seek to obtain the attribute in the beatitude they studied.
What influence does Jesus Christ expect me to have in the world?
You could display the following images of salt and light:
A Gift of Light, by Eva Timothy
Invite some students to consider what the Savior was teaching through the symbol of salt in Matthew 5:13. Invite others to consider what He was teaching through the symbol of light in Matthew 5:14–16. You could display and review the following questions that can help students interpret the symbolism (see “Understanding Symbolism in the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills for more help).
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What is the comparison being made in the scripture verse or passage you are studying?
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What clues can you find about the meaning of the symbol in the text of the scriptures, the footnotes, and the Guide to the Scriptures? (Students studying the verse about salt could also read “Matthew 5:13. What does it mean to be the ‘salt of the earth’?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament.)
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What is the Savior teaching through this symbol?
After allowing time for study, consider asking some of the following questions:
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In what ways can disciples of Jesus Christ show the characteristics of good salt? How can we lose our “savour,” or positive influence?
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What does it mean to let your light shine? (Students may identify a truth like the following: Our righteous example as disciples of Jesus Christ can encourage others to glorify Heavenly Father.) You could read the Savior’s teaching in 3 Nephi 18:24–25 and discuss how these words can influence our understanding of Matthew 5:14–16.
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Think of someone you would describe as “the salt of the earth” or a “light of the world.” How has this person’s righteous example influenced you or others for good? (It may be helpful to watch and discuss “Shine Your Light So Others Can See” [3:19].)
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Encourage students to reflect on how they can be a righteous influence on others, including on social media. To help students consider the influence for good they are having or can have, you could display and read the following statement by President Susan H. Porter:
How much light does it take to pierce the darkness in a room? One small ray. And that ray of light in a dark place can emanate from the power of God in you.
Even though you may feel alone as the storms of life are raging, you can shine a light in the darkness of misunderstanding, confusion, and unbelief. Your light of faith in Christ can be steady and sure, leading those around you to safety and peace.
… Hearts can be changed and lives blessed as we offer a pinch of salt … and a ray of light. (“Lessons at the Well,” Liahona, May 2022, 61)
Encourage students to determine one thing they can do or should keep doing to fulfill the Savior’s expectation for us to be like salt and a light for the world.
How can living the Lord’s higher law transform my life?
Display and discuss the following statement by President Dallin H. Oaks:
In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something. (“The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 32)
Point out that in Matthew 5, Jesus Christ gave a higher law that transcended the law of Moses. Invite students to study Matthew 5:17–20, 48 to find out how living the higher law can transform our lives. (Help students understand that as we strive to live the higher law, we become more like Heavenly Father.)
Consider using the accompanying handout to help students study and teach each other about the Savior’s higher law. You could divide your class into five groups, one for each topic, and invite each group to prepare and teach the class. Alternatively, you could assign each student one of the five topics and invite them to form a group with those who studied the other topics. They could then prepare to teach their topic to the others in the group.
Rather than having students report on their group discussion (or after having them report), you could invite them to select one of the principles the Savior taught and ponder what they can do to better live this principle.