Matthew 5:1 - 26

Jesus begins teaching His followers.  He begins with a description of the people that are truly blessed - those who find favor with God.  Oddly enough, the descriptions He gives are far different from how society defines the life of the blessed.  Jesus highlights humility, brokenness, meekness, thirst for righteousness, mercy and peace-seeking as the qualities of the truly blessed person.

He then describes His followers as salt and light - strong influences on their surroundings.  He describes Himself as One who came to fulfill the law, not do away with it.  In Him one can find the perfect way to keep God's many laws.

Jesus concludes this section by elaborating on the laws regarding murder.  Instead of only limiting that crime to those who have actually shed the lifeblood of another, Jesus states that the person who displays unjustified anger and hateful speech towards another is just as guilty of murder as if they had taken that other person's life.