Christ Jesus had ordained his twelve disciples—his apostles. Matthew and Luke record what appears to be an address, directed primarily to the Twelve, but heard also by the multitudes, and known as the Sermon on the Mount. The two accounts are not identical, but there are certain passages which show some similarities. Matthew's version is in Chapters 5–7; while that of Luke, sometimes called the Sermon on the Plain, is in Chapter 6, beginning at verse 17. Though long used to describe this part of the Gospel story, neither title is a Biblical phrase.
Some scholars maintain that this is a collection of scattered sayings of Jesus, grouped around a central theme, while others think it is a report of an actual address given by him. Both Gospels provide introductory and closing verses which could be taken to indicate that these teachings had this general form.
"Seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him" (Matt. 5:1). It was customary for a Jewish teacher to be seated as he taught, with his students gathered at his feet. Among those coming to hear the Galilean Prophet would doubtless be many who had already been "disciples" in the sense of followers, as well as an audience of those drawn to hear him perhaps for the first time. "The whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all" (Luke 6:19).
