--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thunderously, inarguably, the Sermon on…" description: "\"Thunderously, inarguably, the Sermon on the Mount proves that before God we all stand on level ground: murderers and temper-throwers, adulterers and lu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/philip-yancey-840_desperate_thunderously-inarguably-the-sermon-on-th_1868750.jpg" --- # Thunderously, inarguably, the Sermon on the Mount proves… ![“Thunderously, inarguably, the Sermon on the Mount proves that before God we all stand on level ground: murderers and temper-throwers, adulterers and lusters, thieves and coveters. We are all desperate, and that is in fact the only state appropriate to a human being who wants to know God. Having…” quote by Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/philip-yancey-840_desperate_thunderously-inarguably-the-sermon-on-th_1868750.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/philip-yancey-840_desperate_thunderously-inarguably-the-sermon-on-th_1868750.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/philip-yancey-840_desperate_thunderously-inarguably-the-sermon-on-th_1868750.jpg) > “Thunderously, inarguably, the Sermon on the Mount proves that before God we all stand on level ground: murderers and temper-throwers, adulterers and lusters, thieves and coveters. We are all desperate, and that is in fact the only state appropriate to a human being who wants to know God. Having fallen from the absolute Ideal, we have nowhere to land but in the safety net of absolute grace.” [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All people, regardless of sin, stand equally before God; humility and desperation are the proper states for seeking divine truth. **In simple terms:** Everyone is equal before God; humility is needed to know Him. Key Takeaway Approach spirituality with humility and honest need. Themes humility equality spirituality desperation Mood reverent hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - confessional counseling - interfaith dialogue - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts theology ethics human nature Questions to Reflect On - How does humility change your view of others? - What does desperation mean in a spiritual context? A Different Perspective Ignoring humility can lead to self‑righteousness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-grace-2564459/) [Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallen/) [God Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-having-395823/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Inarguably Sermon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inarguably-sermon-2564458/) [Knowing god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-god/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Safety net](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety-net/) [Sermon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermon/) [Sermon Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermon-mount/) [Sermon on the mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermon-on-the-mount/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Temper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temper/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Throwers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throwers/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [“Absolute ideals and absolute grace: after learning that dual message from Russian novelists, I returned to Jesus and found that it suffuses his teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/absolute-ideals-and-absolute-grace-after-learning-that-dual-message/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Jesus announced a great reversal of values in His Sermon on the Mount, elevating not the rich or attractive, but rather the poor, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-announced-a-great-reversal-of-values-in-his-sermon-on-the-mount/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [The basis for the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount is not what works, but rather who God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/the-basis-for-the-ethics-of-the-sermon-on-the-mount-is-not-what-works/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [“It is this fulfillment motif that is so critical to interpreting not only the Sermon on the Mount but the larger role of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rubel-shelly/it-is-this-fulfillment-motif-that-is-so-critical-to-interpreting-not/) [Rubel Shelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rubel-shelly/) > [“When God wants to sort out the world, as the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount make clear, he doesn't send in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/when-god-wants-to-sort-out-the-world-as-the-beatitudes-in-the-sermon/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“These sermons of Jesus Christ are meant for your will and your conscience, not for your head. If you dispute these verses from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/these-sermons-of-jesus-christ-are-meant-for-your-will-and-your/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [... some people cannot bear the truth, no matter how tactfully it is told. No doubt the haughty, the tyrannical, the unmerciful, the impure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-church-terrell/some-people-cannot-bear-the-truth-no-matter-how-tactfully-it-is-told/) [Mary Church Terrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-church-terrell/) > [Never look for right in the other man, but never cease to be right yourself. We are always looking for justice; the teaching of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/never-look-for-right-in-the-other-man-but-never-cease-to-be-right/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“the Sermon on the Mount is God’s formula for revival. 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The judge was so curious about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/powers-hapgood-had-just-come-from-court-because-there-was-some-kind/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [If God is not with us, we do not want to continue. If the Sermon on the Mount is simply impractical, our mission work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/if-god-is-not-with-us-we-do-not-want-to-continue-if-the-sermon-on-the/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) > [“The Sermon on the Mount is law, not grace, for it demands as the condition of blessingMt 5:3-9 that perfect character which grace, through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sermon-on-the-mount-is-law-not-grace-for-it-demands-as-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The same Sermon on the Mount that influenced Tolstoy to write “The Kingdom of God is Within You”, inspired me to a great extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-same-sermon-on-the-mount-that-influenced-tolstoy-to-write-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Philip Yancey > [“God reproduces and lives out His image in millions of ordinary people like us. 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But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Love deems this world worth rescuing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/love-deems-this-world-worth-rescuing/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [People instinctively know the difference between something done with a profit motive and something done with a love motive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/people-instinctively-know-the-difference-between-something-done-with/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [In a nutshell, the Bible from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 tells the story of a God reckless with desire to get his family back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/in-a-nutshell-the-bible-from-genesis-3-to-revelation-22-tells-the/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [You can know the law by heart without knowing the heart of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/you-can-know-the-law-by-heart-without-knowing-the-heart-of-it/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“I have marveled at, and sometimes openly questioned, the self-restraint God has shown throughout history, allowing the Genghis Khans and the Hitlers and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/i-have-marveled-at-and-sometimes-openly-questioned-the-self-restraint/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [C. S. Lewis observed that almost all crimes of Christian history have come about when religion is confused with politics. Politics, which always runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/c-s-lewis-observed-that-almost-all-crimes-of-christian-history-have/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Having spent time around "sinners" and also around purported saints, I have a hunch why Jesus spent so much time with the former group:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/having-spent-time-around-sinners-and-also-around-purported-saints-i/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct city-wide evangelistic campaigns. 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Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“I am a desperate romantic. I love the idea of random collisions of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-am-a-desperate-romantic-i-love-the-idea-of-random-collisions-of-the/) [Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She was stupid and lonely. So desperate to be touched and loved with a good love. I need you, don't leave me, you're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/she-was-stupid-and-lonely-so-desperate-to-be-touched-and-loved-with-a/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [The World Health Organisation has a lot of its medical experts sitting in Geneva while hospitals in Africa have no drugs and desperate patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/the-world-health-organisation-has-a-lot-of-its-medical-experts/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [“you think I"m that desperate?" "The raging hard-on jabbing at me says yes." ~Creed/Annika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-croft/you-think-i-m-that-desperate-the-raging-hard-on-jabbing-at-me-says/) [Sydney Croft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-croft/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) [Browse all 1,618 Desperate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thunderously, inarguably, the Sermon on the Mount proves that before God we all stand on level ground: murderers and temper-throwers, adulterers and lusters, thieves and coveters. We are all desperate, and that is in fact the only state appropriate to a human being who wants to know God. 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