How Many Disciples Did Jesus Have at the Sermon on the Mount?

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most famous teachings of Jesus Christ. It is a collection of Jesus’ teachings and sermons that are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

Many scholars believe that this sermon was given to a large crowd of people who had gathered to hear Jesus speak. However, there is some debate about how many disciples Jesus had at the time of this sermon.

Who Were Jesus’ Disciples?

Jesus’ disciples were his followers who traveled with him and learned from his teachings. They were a diverse group of people that included fishermen, tax collectors, and even a zealot.

According to the Bible, Jesus chose twelve men to be his closest disciples. These twelve disciples were Simon Peter, Andrew, James (the son of Zebedee), John (the brother of James), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (the son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the Zealot), and Judas Iscariot.

The Debate over How Many Disciples Were at the Sermon on the Mount

Some scholars believe that only the twelve disciples were present during the Sermon on the Mount. They argue that since Matthew’s Gospel refers to “disciples” in general terms throughout the sermon, it implies that only those twelve men were present.

However, others believe that there were more than just twelve disciples present at this teaching. For example, Matthew’s Gospel states that “great crowds followed him” before he begins his sermon. Additionally, in Luke’s Gospel account of this same teaching (which some scholars believe may be a separate event), it specifically mentions “a great crowd of his disciples.”

This suggests that there may have been many more people present at this teaching than just the twelve disciples.

  • Evidence for More Than Twelve Disciples:
  • – Matthew’s Gospel mentions “a great crowd” before the sermon begins.
  • – Luke’s Gospel specifically mentions “a great crowd of his disciples.”
  • – The content of the sermon suggests that it was given to a large audience.
  • Evidence for Only Twelve Disciples:
  • – Matthew’s Gospel refers to “disciples” in general terms throughout the sermon.
  • – The twelve disciples were Jesus’ closest followers and would have been present at most of his teachings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is some debate about how many disciples were present at the Sermon on the Mount. While some scholars believe that only the twelve disciples were present, others argue that there may have been many more people in attendance.

Regardless of how many disciples were present, the teachings contained in this famous sermon continue to be relevant and inspiring to Christians around the world today.