When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, His disciples were gathered close about Him, and the multitude, filled with intense curiosity, also pressed as near as possible. Something more than usual was expected. Eager faces and listening attitudes gave evidence of the deep interest. The attention of all seemed riveted upon the speaker. His eyes were lighted up with unutterable love, and the heavenly expression upon His countenance gave meaning to every word uttered. Angels of heaven were in that listening throng. There, too, was the adversary of souls with his evil angels, prepared to counteract, as far as possible, the influence of the heavenly Teacher. The truths there uttered have come down through the ages and have been a light amid the general darkness of error. Many have found in them that which the soul most needed—a sure foundation of faith and practice. But in these words spoken by the greatest Teacher the world has ever known there is no parade of human eloquence. The language is plain, and the thoughts and sentiments are marked with the greatest simplicity. The poor, the unlearned, the most simple-minded, can understand them. The Lord of heaven was in mercy and kindness addressing the souls He came to save. He taught them as one having authority, speaking the words of eternal life. {5T 253.2}

Da Jesus gav bjergprædikenen, var disciplene samlet tæt omkring ham og folkemængden var fyldt med stor videbegærlighed og mængden pressede sig tæt op ad ham. Noget udover det sædvanlige kunne forventes. Ivrige ansigter og lyttende udtryk viste tegn på dyb interesse. Alles opmærksomhed synes at være rettet mod taleren. Hans øjne var oplyst af uudsigelig kærlighed og det himmelske udtryk i hans ansigt gav hvert ord mening. Himmelske engle var i den lyttende skare. Også sjælefjenden var der, med hans onde engle, parat til at modstå, så vidt det var muligt, den himmelske lærers indflydelse. Sandhederne (254) der blev udtalt, er gået videre gennem tidsaldrene og har været lys midt i vildfarelsens almindelige mørke. Men i disse ord som, den største Lærer verden nogensinde har kendt, udtalte, var der ikke menneskelig veltalenhed. Den fattige, den ulærte, de mest enkelt-sindede, kan forstå dem. Himlens Herre henvendte sig i barmhjertighed og venlighed til de sjæle han kom for at frelse. Han lærte dem som én med myndighed og udtalte de evige livs ord.