Matthew 5:1-2

DAY 21

Date: 10-6-24

Sermon on the Mount

The King Speaks His Heart (Part I)

Repentance Is Good for You—You Have to Change the Heart Attitude.

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

Scripture Matt 4:23-5:2; 7:28-8:1 

Pray

Read scripture: 
(NIV) 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

So, that is the end of chapter 4, and is our immediate context. 

Chapter 5, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount starts with …

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

 ….

Then at the very end of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew wraps up the Sermon on the Mount WTH …

7:28-8:1
(NIV) 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Then in Mt 8:1 it says …
1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.

Let me read s couple more verses to help give us some context to the Sermon on the Mount. 

Luke 8:1 says, (NIV) “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.”

And Mark 1:15 says, (NIV) 5 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Then, Act 28:23 says about Paul, (NIV) “He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus.”

And the last two verses in Acts say, (NIV) 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Finally, Paul says in Romans 14:17, (NIV) 17 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God…”

Of course there are many other passages that talk about the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God – they are the same thing. But I think these few verses give you a good flavor of what the focus of Jesus’ teaching is about. Jesus is, throughout Matthew, forcing on the the Kingdom. And that is especially so in the SOM. 

Overview

Jesus CORRECTS wrong and false teachings and assumptions about the Kingdom of Heaven, and righteousness and how to live in a right relationship with God in a fallen world.

Jesus repeatedly says, “(NIV) You have heard that it was said … but I tell you…”

Main Points

• We have to GO TO HIM
• WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

It ALL STARTS In The HEART

1. Repent
2. Desire (Hunger and Thirst for God)
3. Believe (With God ALL things are Possible: Matt 19:26) 

The Holman Commentary says

“Repentance Is Good for You—You Have to Change the Heart Attitude“

Introductory comments:

Let’s turn to pg 53 in our Holman Commentary.

Under the Introduction, it says,
“Repentance Is Good for You—You Have to Change the Heart Attitude.”

Last week, in our off topic week, we talked a little bit about the heart. Pastor Scott often says Christianity is a matter of the heart. I agree.

Let’s turn to pg 54 and read Anne Frank’s quote.

“I don’t believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists alone are guilty of the war. Oh, no, the little man is just as keen, otherwise the people of the world would have risen in revolt long ago! There is an urge and rage in people to destroy, to kill, to murder, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged, everything that has been built up, cultivated and grown, will be destroyed and disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over again.”

What do you think of this young girl’s quite? Agree? Disagree? 

I especially agree with this part …”and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged…”

But I disagree with the very last part that says, “after which mankind will have to begin all over again.”

Why do you think I disagree with that? (We are NOT ABLE – IN OUR OWN POWER, IN OUR OWN STRENGTH – to rebuild anything different than what we have already built.)

That is why we need Jesus. That is why Jesus came preaching the Gospel, the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven. And that is why he preached the Sermon on the Mount.

————————

The Sermon on the Mount is the most popular sermon in the Bible, and probably the most popular overall section in the Bible, save possibly John 3:16 or Ps. 23.

It is often called the most influential speech ever given. The most important. The most profound. Some say it is Jesus’ manifesto or his magnum opus And I would add, “The most ‘Other-Worldly.’

This sermon is probably a condensation of multiple sermons over several days. 

In short, this sermon is Jesus’ view on How to live the Christian life in this fallen world. 

There have been countless books, articles, sermons, talks and debates as to the meaning of the Sermon on the Mount. 

Some say we must follow it legalistically – that is – follow it to the very letter without exception.

Some say that is impossible. And I would say, “It is.” Especially in your own human power. 

Some say that it was only meant for the original hearers, and it is not for us to today; that we are not obliged to to even try to adhere to it;s teaching, that Christians today are not under law, but under grace, and there free from this sermons teachings and burdens. 

 In the heart of the sermon, Jesus addresses this objection decisively

But in this class we are not going into all the massive controversy. We are just going to go into the text and do our best to let it speak for itself – as best we can. 

So – here we go! It will, I think, be a bit of a wild and challenging ride for the next several weeks, or even months. But I think, and I pray, and I hope, that it will be immensely fruitful. 

And dare I hope, even a bit life-changing. At the least, I hope it helps us to clarify in our hearts and minds what it means to be a FULLY FUNCTIONING FOLLOWER of CHRIST in this lost and fallen world. 

For me, the Sermon on the Mount is a solid, dependable, unchanging Rock on which we can stand, and upon which we can and must build our lives.  

God is dependable and faithful.

Jesus is dependable and faithful.

The Word is dependable and faithful.

The Word of God and the Son of God are inseparable. INSEPARABLE.

God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, are inseparable. INSEPARABLE.

In this study we will need much wisdom and discernment. 

But more than anything, we will need much of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, grant us wisdom and understanding and great faith. Thank you Lord, Amen.

Okay, let’s jump in to some introductory comments and info. 

Are you ready?

The Sermon on the Mount is the first of five discourses, or teachings, in Matthew. (See pg 4)

In these discourses, there are a few keywords that will help us to understand, not only the Sermon on the Mount, but The Gospel of Matthew as a whole.

Some of those words are:

• Repentance 
• The Kingdom of Heaven
• Righteousness 

There is another phase that I think also helps to understand the one of the main points of Matthew’s Gospel. And that is what I call 

• The Two Camps

According to Sinclair Ferguson, in his great little book, The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World, all five of these main discourses, or teachings, in one way or another, all point to, and teach about “The Kingdom of Heaven.”

He, Sinclair Ferguson, says, “This (the Kingdom’s Future of Heaven) was the great burden of Jesus’ teaching.” 

Those five discourses that make up the main teachings of Christ in Matthew are: (see pg 4 in our book)

Jesus’ Discourses in the Gospel According to Matthew

5-7       Sermon on the Mount or “The Kingdom Constitution”

10        Commission of the Twelve or “The Kingdom’s Foundational Leaders”

13        Kingdom Parables or “The Pursuit of the Kingdom (in the King’s Absence)”

18        Teaching on the Church or “The Relational Principals in the Kingdom”

24-25   Olivet Discourse or “The Kingdom’s Future”

In teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven, we have to try to understand three aspects of it.

1. What it is now
2. How we are to live in it now
3. And what it will be like when Christ returns for His second coming. 
4.  

Let’s do brief recap on these 4 keywords, the first three are prevelant in Matthew, and the fourth is a principle taught throughout Matthew, but not mentioned by name. 

REPENTENCE 

Biblical repentance, unlike the world, is NOT just feeling remorse. Judas felt remorse, but dis not repent. 

The word repent means “to change one’s mind” and is proved by a “turning” away from one’s sin toward God. 

Gotquestions.org website says, “The short biblical definition of repentance is “a change of mind that results in a change of action.”

Another biblical definition might be: 

to repent is to change any or all of the elements composing one’s life: attitude, thoughts, and behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living.

True Christian repentance involves a heartfelt conviction of sin, a contrition over the offense to God, a turning away from the sinful way of life, and a turning towards a God-honoring way of life.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

When you think about the kingdom, what do you think about?

What characterizes the K? What is it’s nature?

It is that place where God reigns, where God rules, where the 

King rules, right? 

What does that mean?

If that is true, if the K is the place where the King rules, then what is the King like?

Because the Kingdom will be like the King, no?

Yes, it will. 

So, what is the King like? How will He rule?

What are His rules? His rules are His laws, no? Yes, they are.

So, what is the King like? 

If you want to know that the Kingdom is like, you have to look at Him.

King Jesus has given us salvation. He has saved us from our sins. In so doing, He has given us eternal life. He has taken out our hearts of stone and given us a heart of flesh. 

He has given us the Holy Spirit, and with that comes the fruit of the Spirit.

So, He has given us, who are in His Kingdom, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. 

He has also given us His Word, His commands, and His law. These are not but do some, but meant to guide us and direct us into all righteousness. 

He want us to love God. To love our neighbors. 

He wants us to be good to our neighbors, to be patient and kind and forgiving. He wants us to be gentle. He wants us to be peacemakers. He wants us to be encouraging and to life each other up. All this is not only for our neighbors, but also for our brothers and sisters. 

He wants us to lift one another up, to honor one another, help one another, pray for one another. To trust and respect one another. This is what the Kingdom is to look like.

 He wants us to be other-centered and to look out for one another, to be kind and considerate with one another.

In addition to all this, he wants us to get rid of all filth and bitterness and evil anger and hate and rage and selfishness. He wants us to be givers, not takers. 

This is what the Kingdom is to be. This is what the King wants us to be like. In others words, He wants us to be like Him. He wants us to be Christlike. He wants us to have the love of God in our hearts. 

The law is not abandoned or abolished or obsolete. This is the the law of Christ. 

Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “(NIV) 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

This is the Kingdom.

(NIV) 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

The law does apply to us, and the Sermon on the Mount shows us how. 

Paul, in Romans 13:8-10 says, “(NIV) 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

We are not under the law as the Pharisee’s interpret it and teach. They are legalists. 

We are under the law of Christ. Jesus came to re-interpret the law. He came to correct wrong notions of the law that have come from men, like the Pharisees, the Saducees and the teachers of the law; the Jewish leaders who Lord it over the people. 

God’s law is perfect. It is loving AND just. It is gracious AND Holy. It is merciful AND righteous. 

This is what the K is and what is is to be like. 

RIGHTEOUSNESS (and a touch on legalism)

Definition: right, righteous, upright; in the NT this refers to God’s proper standards and actions, expressed in the covenants; as a noun it refers to a person in accord with God’s standards, in proper relationship with God:

(NIV) Luke 1:5-6 “In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.”

This verse shows us that Zechariah and Elizabeth observed the law and were blameless. The Pharisees also observed the law, but Jesus found them to be guilty.

What was the difference?

The Pharisees were guilty of legalism, legalistically obeying the letter of the law, without regard for the “Spirit” of the law, or the heart of the law – what the intention of the law – the reason behind the law – what the law was meant to do or achieve or accomplish. Legalistically obeying the law misses the goal of the law. 

1 Timothy 1:3-5 illustrates this. 

“(NIV) 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.’

Righteousness is living in a right relationship with God, not sinless, but sincerely trying to honestly (without fudging or loopholes) trying to obey the law WITHOUT missing the Spirit of the law. 

Our book, at the bottom of pg 54, refers to this when it says, “(Holman Commentary) This righteousness surpasses’ the legalistic religion of the Pharisees…”

The Pharisees were guilty of legalism, focusing on the “letter” of the law, while ignoring the “Spirit” of the law. (See 1 Timothy 1:3-5)

(NIV) Matt 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

(NIV) Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

The Two Camps

There is only good and evil. There is no middle ground. There is only right and wrong. There is no neutral ground. There is only God and Satan. The Two Camps. 

Conclusion/Summary

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus telling us how we are to live in a broken, fallen and messed up world. 

Repent, from your heart. Obey, from your heart.

It is only possible with and by the power and presence of God.

It is a matter of the heart. 

It is not just a matter of doing the right things.

It is a matter of doing the right things for the right reasons. 

The goal of these commands, and all of Jesus’ commands are love. 

For this sums up the law and the prophets. 

Next week:

We start the Beatitudes; Matthew 5:3-6

Please it slowly and prayerfully.