Luke 6:17

Why does Luke say Jesus gave this sermon on a level place when Matthew declares it was given on the mountain?

PROBLEM: Luke affirms that Jesus “stood on a level place” when He gave this famous sermon, but Matthew says “He went up on a mountain” to deliver it (Matthew 5:1). How can this discrepancy be resolved?

SOLUTION: Granted that the two accounts are referring to the same event (see comments on Luke 6:20 below), they can be reconciled by noting that the mountain only refers to the general area where everyone was, while the level place denotes the particular spot from which Jesus spoke. It says “He stood on a level place.” It does not say all the people were seated in a level place. A level place from which to preach to a multitude on a mountain side would make a natural amphitheater.

Luke 6:17 — Why does Luke say Jesus stood to teach them when Matthew declares that He sat to teach them?

PROBLEM: Luke says that Jesus “stood on a level place” to preach. But Matthew recorded that “when He was seated … He opened His mouth and taught them” (Matthew 5:1-2).

SOLUTION: These references may be of slightly different times during the same event. One possibility is that Matthew’s reference is to the beginning of the event when “His disciples came to Him … and [He] taught them” (Matthew 5:1-2). Then when the “great multitude [that] followed Him” gathered to listen in, Jesus would naturally want to stand to project His voice so that all could hear, as Luke records.

Another possibility is that Luke’s reference to Jesus’ standing is before He gave the sermon while He is still healing people (Luke 6:17-19). Then, since “the whole multitude sought to touch Him” Jesus may have found a place to sit where “He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples and said … [His message]” (6:20). This fits the order given in Luke and would also explain why Matthew declares that Jesus was sitting when He spoke to His disciples. In any event, there is no irreconcilable difference in the two accounts, even assuming they both refer to the same occasion.