Matthew 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount
Attention
1. No greater sermon has ever been preached than the one
recorded in Matthew 5-7: the Sermon on the Mount.
a. There are several parallels
between this text and Luke 6; parallels in topic if not necessarily in time.
b. Matthew records
several of Jesus’ sermons; this is the longest and most complete of those
discourses.
2. A chronological arrangement of Jesus’ life would suggest
this sermon was preached later in His ministry.
a. Why did the Spirit place it
here? Perhaps because it captures the essence of Jesus’
message. Mt. 4:23
b. Jesus was not just restoring
OT law; He was initiating a new kingdom, a kingdom in contrast to the world.
[Proposition] Disciples of Christ must conform to the
kingdom’s values, instead of the world they live in.
I.
Matthew 5: Kingdom
Righteousness
A.
Paradoxical Righteousness (1-12)
1.
The word blessed (makarios)
means happy or fortunate.
a)
The Beatitudes demonstrate that God measures happiness differently than
man.
b)
Man sees pleasure, power, and possessions as keys to happiness; God sees
divine favor.
2.
The eight beatitudes do not describe eight disciples but rather eight
qualities of every disciple.
a)
Poor in
Spirit – They know their dependence on God and absence of personal
good/value.
b)
Mournful
– They mourn their sin with godly sorrow that begets repentance and salvation.
c)
Meek
– They submit their strength of spirit to God; passive for self, but passionate
for God.
d)
Hungry
– They long for sanctification; their greatest desire is to be right and
to do right.
e)
Merciful
– They turn compassion into action; they replicate the mercy found in God.
f)
Pure in
Heart – They are inwardly sincere, untainted by sin, and undistracted
in purpose.
g)
Peacemakers – They have peace with God and seek to live in peace with
men.
h)
Persecuted – They gladly embrace suffering for the One who suffered
and died for them.
3.
Are these qualities evident in me? Do the Beatitudes characterize my
life, and yours?
B.
Distinctive Righteousness (13-16)
1.
True disciples cannot be hidden; Christianity is not covert; it is
counter-cultural, not sub-cultural.
a)
Too many believers are content to blend in with the world around them.
b)
Like Laodicea, they are neither hot nor cold; they believe, but they do
not boldly confess.
2.
Jesus used two metaphors to characterize the distinctive righteousness of
the kingdom.
a)
Believers are salt; salt is a preservative; disciples are to preserve
righteousness on the earth.
b)
Believers are lights; light exposes what is real; disciples reflect God’s
light in the world.
3.
Would our righteousness spare this city? Do others glorify God because of
what they see in us?
C.
Excellent Righteousness (17-48)
1.
Jesus did not work at cross-purposes to the OT law; He came as the
fulfillment of that law.
a)
The fullest anticipation of the OT was Christ and His kingdom; Jesus came
to finish it.
b)
Once fulfilled, the old covenant has no more power; Jesus did not
restore; He began a new.
2.
The world measures itself by itself; Jesus calls for a superior standard,
righteousness that excels.
a)
Does the remainder of this chapter contrast Pharisaic perversion with the
original OT intent?
(1)
Jesus certainly addressed Pharisaic errors several times; a contrast is
evident. (20)
(2)
But the contrast is not limited to the Pharisees; Jesus contrasts the new
with the old.
b)
Jesus demonstrated that kingdom righteousness goes the extra mile.
3.
God seeks perfection, not just righteousness that is good enough.
a)
The law said, “Do not murder.” Jesus said, “Don’t be angry without cause.
Don’t lash out.”
b)
The law said, “Don’t commit adultery.” Jesus said, “Don’t look at a woman
to lust.”
c)
The law said, “Honor legalities in divorce.” Jesus said, “Don’t divorce
except for infidelity.”
d)
The law said, “Do not swear falsely.” Jesus said, “Don’t swear at all.
Always tell the truth.”
e)
The law said, “Demand justice.” Jesus said, “Accept mistreatment. Yield
your rights.”
f)
The law said, “Love your neighbor.” Jesus said, “Love your enemies too.”
4.
Are we measuring ourselves by the world, by our brethren, or by God? He
is our standard. 44-48
II.
Matthew 6: Kingdom
Focus
A.
Focus in the Spiritual Life (1-18)
1.
In each of these examples, Jesus warns us against practicing religion “to
be seen by men.”
a)
There is a difference between righteousness that is seen and
righteousness done to be seen.
b)
It is not wrong for others to discover or hear what you do; it is wrong
to do it for that reason.
2.
It is easy to congratulate ourselves on our generosity, eloquence, and/or
piety.
a)
We may find ourselves mentioning our devotion to others, always in a
self-deprecating way.
b)
But Jesus says not to seek attention, but rather to avoid it entirely, if
possible. 3-4, 6, 17-18
3.
Jesus takes for granted that kingdom citizens will practice all three of
these disciplines.
a)
True disciples give; true disciples pray; true disciples fast. They do so
without being told to.
b)
But true disciples do these things simply and quietly, without fanfare,
for God not for glory.
4.
The spiritual life of a disciple is characterized by a God-toward focus
than shuns earthly praise.
a)
This is not to say we should not commend others whose devotion we observe
and admire.
b)
But we should never seek such accolades ourselves and should endeavor not
to want them.
B.
Focus in the Physical Life (19-34)
1.
The second half of the chapter deals with physical necessities and our
focus in regard to them.
a)
The disciple’s life is not sub-divided into the physical and spiritual;
it is all the same.
b)
The same spiritual focus that governs religious activity must govern our
daily lives as well.
2.
Whatever we value will hold the attention and affection of our hearts.
What do we treasure? 21
a)
Our behavior must not only conform to God’s law, our hearts must conform
to His.
b)
We must learn to value what the King values, to love what He loves, in
order to focus right.
3.
If our eye is set on things above, our whole body will be full of light,
and we will please God.
a)
But if we try to straddle the fence and serve both God and the world, we
will fail.
b)
No one can serve two masters; we must not value material goods; we must
forsake all.
4.
Only by releasing concern for the material and seeking the spiritual can
we live without worry.
a)
God knows what we need; He cares for His creation; He will care for us if
we seek Him.
b)
Do we walk by faith or by sight? Are you driven by faith or by fear?
Where are our eyes?
III.
Matthew 7: Kingdom
Judgment
A.
Judgments of Others (1-6)
1.
Many misinterpret Jesus’ words here as a blanket condemnation of all
critical judgment.
a)
But in the same passage Jesus demands righteous judgments be made. 6,
15-20
b)
Jesus is not condemning moral judgments; He is condemning hypocritical
judgment.
2.
Righteous judgment begins by judging ourselves; we must look honestly at
our own lives.
a)
Prior bad acts do not preclude passing moral judgment; continuing bad
acts do preclude it.
b)
It is easier to see faults in others than in ourselves; repentance
demands we look within first.
B.
Judgments of the Way (7-20)
1.
Discernment is also necessary in pursuing eternal life; many dangers
threaten to deter us.
a)
Jesus gives three exhortations: seek God, enter the narrow gate,
beware of false teachers.
b)
No one will be saved without diligence; many will seek to enter, but will
not be able.
2.
We cannot take eternal life for granted; we must not be complacent; ask,
seek, knock, strive, test.
C.
Judgments of the Soul (21-29)
1.
One day God will judge our souls; religious profession and activity will
not be enough to save.
a)
If there is another word that summarizes chapter seven besides
Judgment it is Obedience.
b)
We cannot merely call Jesus ‘Lord’ and be accepted; we must accept His
authority as Lord.
2.
Obedience is the ultimate test of our discipleship; it proves our faith
genuine, or not.
a)
Whoever listens to Jesus’ words and obeys them is building his house on a
firm foundation.
b)
Whoever listens to Jesus’ words but does not obey is a fool; are we
obeying what He says?
Action
1. There is no more challenging work of literature or
speech than Jesus’ mountain sermon.
2. You may have been baptized and faithfully attend, but
are you living up to the demands of Christ’s kingdom?