The Place and Power of the Sermon on the Mount
A STRANGE PLACE TO BEGIN A SERIES ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
1. Jesus’ sermons and speeches some of the most profound.
2. They are so simple.
3. No speaker has had a greater effect.
B. THIS SERMON IN MATTHEW IS UNIQUE AMONG THE GREAT DISSERTATIONS
OF JESUS – EVEN MARK’S AND LUKE’S ACCOUNTS PALE IN COMPARISON.
C. LET’S SPEND A FEW MOMENTS CONSIDERING THESES FACTS, ALONG WITH
THE PLACE AND POWER OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
A. IRRELIGIOUS PEOPLE QUOTE IT ALL THE TIME. ie.:
1. Any one of the Beatitudes.
2. Common expressions from 5:13, 15, 16, 25, 38, 41; 6:34; 7:1, 3, 6, 12, 14, 15, 20.
B. AND AMONG THE RELIGIOUS:
1. The Beatitudes.
2. Salt and Light.
3. Personal relationships – dealing
with others in our daily lives.
4. Honesty and Charity.
5. Loving your enemy.
6. Priorities (6:1, 19, 33)
7. The Lord’s Prayer.
8. Righteous judgment.
9. God as our loving Father.
10. The Golden Rule.
11. The Broad and Narrow ways.
12. Warnings against false teachers.
13. The wise man and the foolish man.
C. THESE THINGS WE ARE AWARE OF, MAYBE JUST NOT AWARE OF WHERE
THEY COME FROM.
A. SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT JESUS WAS COMMENTING ON THE LAW OF
MOSES, CORRECTING PHARISAIC AND SCRIBAL MISCONCEPTIONS.
B. JESUS WAS NOT MERELY COMMENTING ON THE LAW.
1. Notice some of the contrasts between his law and the Law of Moses.
a. “Thou shalt not kill” …”But I say unto you” ( Mat. 5:21-26 ).
b. “Thou shalt not commit adultery ( vs. 27-30 ).
c. Divorce for any cause ( vs. 31-32; Mat. 19:9 ).
d. Swearing and honesty ( vs. 33-37 ).
e. Revenge and kindness ( vs. 38-42 ).
f. Love everyone ( vs. 43-48 ).
2. “Ye have heard it said …” Where? …”But I say unto you.” NOT THE SAME!
C. JESUS WAS NOT AS THE SCRIBES (Matt. 7:28-29)
1. What was the function of the scribe?
a. Ezra (Ezra 7:6; 10-12)
b. What was the imprint of his teaching (Neh. 8:1-8).
c. FROM A BOOK, ALREADY WRITTEN!
2. The Significance of Jesus’ words.
a. He knew and quoted the law (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10). ”But I say unto you.”
b. The Wise Man and the Foolish Man (Matt. 7:24-27).
c. “Truly my disciples” (John 8:31).
d. Words of life (John 6:68).
e. Our rule of life (Matt. 29:19-20).
f. The standard of judgment (John 12:48).
g. The word of God (John 12:49; Heb. 1:1-2)
3. This is what the multitudes drew from the Sermon on the Mount.
D. THE LAW AND THE MULTITUDE’S UNDERSTANDING (Matt. 5:17-20).
1. Jesus came not to destroy the law, but to fulfll.
2. The law is a covenant or contract. What happens when a contract is fulfilled?
3. When is the Old Covenant fulfilled? (vs. 18)
a. "Till heaven and earth pass away."
b. "Till all things be accomplished" ( John 19:28-30 ).
E. WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW?
1. It was added because of transgression ( Gal. 3:19 ).
a. To reveal sin ( Rom. 7:7 ).
b. To condemn the sinner ( Gal. 3:10-11 ).
2. To insure the promise made to Abraham ( Gen.12:1-3; Gal.3:6-7 ).
3. To prepare humanity for the Christ ( Gal. 3:23-25 ).
4. It was never intended to be permanent ( Gal. 3:19, 16, 25 ).
A. IT ADDRESSES INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR.
B. AND THE CONDITION OF THE HEART.
C. A DEMONSTRATED FAITH IN GOD’S MESSIAH.
1. By setting priorities.
2. By relying on God.
3. Through complete submission to the Son.
A. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT BELONGS TO CHRISTIANS.
B. WE MUST LEARN IT AND LIVE IT.