The Scrolls and the New Testament

This essay explores the parallels between the ethical teachings found in the Qumran texts and those in the Sermon on the Mount, particularly focusing on shared themes such as purity, humility, and communal discipline. It highlights how both traditions emphasize a rigorous moral code and a dualistic worldview, distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked. The analysis suggests that the ethical instructions in the Sermon on the Mount may have been influenced by, or at least share a common heritage with, the sectarian teachings of the Qumran community, reflecting broader currents in Second Temple Judaism.