Luke 6 sets the scene for the great sermon. On a Sabbath, the scribes and Pharisees watched Jesus closely, hoping to catch Him healing so they could accuse Him. He called a man with a withered right hand to stand in the middle, asked whether it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath, and told him, “Stretch forth thy hand.” The hand was restored, and the leaders were “filled with madness” (Luke 6:6–11). Then Jesus went into a mountain and “continued all night in prayer to God.” In the morning He chose twelve and named them Apostles (6:12–16). He came down, healed a great multitude, and taught (6:17–49). Matthew 5–7 records a very similar sermon on a mountain.
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12) each begin with “Blessed,” meaning deeply happy and favored by God, and each quality comes with a promise. Jesus turns the world’s idea of happiness upside down: the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart and the peacemakers are the truly blessed. When the resurrected Savior gave this sermon to the Nephites, He began by blessing those who believe, are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 12:1–2). Salt and light (5:13–16) describe disciples who preserve what is good and whose good works point people to Heavenly Father, not to themselves.
Then comes the “upgrade.” Six times Jesus says, in effect, “Ye have heard… But I say unto you” (5:21–44). The old law said don’t kill; He says don’t even stay angry, and go make peace before you bring your gift to the altar. The old law regulated oaths; He says just be so honest your yes means yes. The old law limited revenge; He says turn the other cheek and go the second mile (in His day Roman soldiers could compel people to carry things for them; compare Matthew 27:32, where soldiers compelled Simon to carry the cross). The old law said love your neighbor; He says love and pray for your enemies. The higher law aims at the heart, not just the hands. For this age group, focus on anger, honesty, the second mile and loving enemies.
Matthew 5:48 caps it: “Be ye therefore perfect.” The footnote in the Church’s edition of the Bible notes that the Greek word means complete, finished, fully developed. After His Resurrection, Jesus repeated it to the Nephites and added Himself: be perfect even as He and the Father are perfect (3 Nephi 12:48). Perfection is the destination of a lifetime of growing with the Savior’s help, not a demand to never make mistakes. Eleven-year-olds preparing for deacons quorums, Young Women classes and Children and Youth goals can see the higher law as a set of goals to grow toward, one attribute at a time.
