This is the first of five long teachings in Matthew (see also 9:35–11:1; 13:1–53; 18:1–19:2; 23:1–26:1). The Sermon on the Mount focuses on the Messiah's call for people to become righteousness. Paul considered righteousness to be God's saving actions and a person's status before God. Jesus uses the term to mean moral behavior that obeys God's will, like the apostle James. Righteousness means doing God's will as Jesus reveals it. This "revelation of righteousness" connects the whole sermon.