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The Sermon on the Mount

  • The beatitudes…
    • Jesus lifted up his eyes toward His disciples…
      • The Sermon on the Mount is the longest teaching by Jesus recorded in the Bible…
      • It was given on the hillside just north of the city of Capernaum (on the mount)…
      • Luke records the teaching in Luke 6 – Matthew in 3 chapters – Matthew 5-7
      • Though the crowds gathered – the Sermon on the Mount is directed to Jesus’ disciples…
      • This is not written to just anyone – it is addressed to those who want to follow Jesus…
    • The Beatitudes – ‘Oh how happy’…
      • Luke gives 4 ‘beatitudes’ – descriptions of the blessed ‘happy’ man / and 4 ‘woes’…
      • Matthew 5:1-12 – records 8 beatitudes / but none of the woes…
      • Everyone wants to be happy – Jesus here describes to us the Happy life…
      • The ‘blessed man’ – is the one who knows he is for sure going to heaven…
      • The beatitudes don’t tell us how to be blessed  – only what the blessed life looks like…
      • They key to ‘how’ to have a blessed life Jesus gives towards the end of the teaching…
  • The 4 beatitudes… vs. 20-23
    • 1st – Blessed are the Poor (in Spirit) – for yours is the Kingdom of God…
      • Perhaps speaking of physical poverty – no food / no money…
        • It can be hard for us to imagine poverty being a blessing…
        • But when we have nothing – we are constantly looking to the Lord to provide!
        • You are not limited to they money in your pocket – or perhaps in the bank…
        • Instead you have access to all the wealth of your Father in Heaven – His Kingdom!
      • More likely speaking of spiritual poverty…
        • We are happy when we realize that we are poor in Spirit – no good sinners…
        • The only thing that will keep us from the Kingdom of Heaven is ‘our righteousness’…
        • It is when we realize how poor we are – we long for and cling to Jesus righteousness!
    • 2nd – Blessed are you who hunger – for you will be filled… vs. 20
      • If we do not eat for a day – we get REALLY hungry – we NEED to eat…
      • We know what it means to be hungry – but do we have that need for God…
      • Do we seek after the righteousness of God with the same passion as food…
      • When we hunger and thirst after God’s righteousness – He will fill us!
      • John 6:32 – “My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”
    • 3rd – Blessed are you who cry – for you will laugh…
      • When we are saddened – weep – over the lost state of the world around us…
      • Luke 19:41– “Now as [Jesus] drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.”
      • We will be driven by our burden for lost family / friends / loved ones – to share Jesus…
      • And when they also come to know Jesus as their savior – there will be laughter!
    • 4th – Blessed are you when men hate you – for Jesus’ sake… vs. 22
      • When they exclude you – when they make your name and mocking word…
      • A disciple isn’t greater than the teacher / the servant than the master – Matthew 10:24
        • Since the world hates Jesus – how much more those who follow Jesus…
        • John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”
        • The world hates Jesus because he convicts the world of sin and righteousness…
        • If it weren’t for Jesus men could do whatever they wanted without consequence…
        • John 3:19-20 – “This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil…”
        • Like a light shining in the darkness – Jesus reveals the sin of the world…
        • Because men LOVE sin they hate the light that reveals their sinfulness…
        • When people make fun of you – attack you with cutting words – because of Jesus…
        • Because you don’t do the things the world does – convicting the world of their sin… 
        • We have Jesus in us – so as they hate the light – Jesus – they also hate us…
      • Rejoice because great is your reward in Heaven… vs. 23
        • This is exactly how they treated the great men/prophets of the Bible… 
        • Being hated – mistreated – mocked for following Jesus is nothing new…
        • Acts 7:52 – “Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One.”
        • It can be tough listening to the comments – the cutting words people say…
        • As we desire to live and stand for Jesus – and feel the brunt of the world’s hate…
        • But no trial – no comment – nothing here can compare with what’s to come…
        • * II Corinthians 4:17-18 – “Our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!”
        • How many of us have worked hard – ‘suffered’ – only to get paid a small wage…
        • And the money we did receive did not even last very long – we had to work again…
        • How much better to ‘suffer’ for a little while – but get an eternal / everlasting reward!
        • 20, 30, even 40 years of trials – are nothing compared to an eternity in Heaven!
        • I Corinthians 2:9 – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard… what God has prepared…”
  • The contrast of the beatitudes – the 4 woes… vs. 24-26
    • 1st – Woe to you who are rich – for you have received your reward… vs. 2
      • How sad to live for riches here on earth – that only last for a few short years…
      • An in turn miss out on the FAR greater riches that await the child of God…
      • There are only so many hours in a day – we have to choose where we invest our time…
      • Wherever we put the majority of our treasures – we will also find our heart…
      • Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
      • Where do we spend the majority of our money, time, thoughts, and efforts…
      • Are we focused on the things of the Lord – or caught up in the things of this world…
    • 2nd – Woe to you who are full – for you will be hungry… vs. 25
      • Too often in life we strive just to put food in our stomach – only to be hungry again…
      • We may be able to fill our mouth – but the spirit inside of us is empty!
      • Life is more than just rice – if we are living for food – we are missing out on life…
      • * John 6:27 – “You should not be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life…”
      • It is when we learn to seek after Jesus – the bread of life – we are truly full!
    • 3rd – Woe to you who laugh now – for you will mourn and weep…
      • Those who are rich and full – seem to laugh and have the best time – now…
      • * Luke 16:25 – “Son, remember in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.”
      • Which would you rather have – all the riches and comforts of the world for a few years…
      • Only to end up in the eternal torment of the fires of hell…
      • Or share in the riches of heaven – co-heir with Christ – forever in heaven…
    • 4th – Woe to you when men speak well of you – they also spoke well of false prophets… v. 26
      • If those who don’t know Jesus love you – it is often a good sign you are not serving God…
      • James 4:4 – “Don’t you realize friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God?”
      • Many in Jesus’ day recognized Him as the Messiah – but they would not confess Him…
      • John 12:43 – “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
      • There is always a temptation to want to blend into the crowd – to be accepted
      • But if we are not willing to take a stand for Jesus – if we deny Him – Matthew 10:33… 
      • He will not stand for us before the judgment seat of God – He will deny us…
      • If we want to be Jesus’ disciple we must Love Him more than the praises of men!
  • How to be blessed – the Law… Matthew 5:17-20
    • Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets…
      • Jesus did not come to take away the Law of Moses (God’s Righteous standard)…
      • The 613 do’s & don’ts of the Law – the most famous of which are the 10 commandments
      • Not one jot or tittle will pass away (smallest grammar marks in the Hebrew language)
      • Jesus here gives us insight on how to live the blessed life – the key is the Law….
    • Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees…
      • This is the key verse to the whole Sermon on the Mount…
        • If the key to the blessed life is the Law – then what is the standard the Law gives…
        • You must be more righteous than the most ‘holy’ and religious leaders of Israel…
      • This statement would have shaken the very faith of the disciple to their foundation…
        • The scribes and Pharisees were the MOST righteous men of their day!
        • To say that they were not good enough – meant that no one was…
        • It would be like saying the nicest person you know – still not going ‘Good’ enough…
        • If they are not good enough – who then can be ‘Good’ enough to inherit eternal life…
  • The impossible standard… vs. 27-35
    • Having stated the impossible – your righteousness needs to exceed the religious leaders…
    • Jesus goes on to elaborate and give 3 examples of the righteous ‘standard’ of the law…
    • 1st – Turn the other cheek… vs. 29
      • The Old Testament version of justice was an eye for eye – Deuteronomy 19:21
        • The Law was not meant to be vindictive – it was meant to be limiting…
        • Meaning you weren’t allowed to do more to someone in revenge than they had done…
        • We want revenge – if you take my eye – I want to take both of yours, and ears, nose…
        • If you start the fight – I am MORE than willing to be the one to finish it…
      • If you do good to those who do good to you – even sinners do that… vs. 31
        • Those who don’t know Jesus – they are nice to those who are nice to them…
        • Those who harm them – they go after to exact revenge – that is the world’s way…
        • Where the Law says – if someone hits us – we can only hit them back (equal)
        • Jesus says turn the other cheek – let your enemy hit you a 2nd time!
        • Do GOOD to those who do BAD to you – that the world NEVER would never do!
    • 2nd – If someone asks for your shirt – give them your coat – give money to anyone who asks…
      • The Old Testament Law commanded us not to steal from others – Exodus 20:15
        • The idea was to establish the right of property – what’s mine is mine / yours is yours…
        • If I owned a shirt – you could not take it / if I lent you money – you had to return it…
      • If you only give to those who give back – even sinners do that…
        • Those who don’t know Jesus – they will loan money (with interest) to anyone…
        • You can borrow things – but they want them back – that is the world’s way…
        • Where the Law says – do not take what does not belong to you…
        • Jesus says give what is your away – without any hope of getting it back!
        • Give your things – to ANYONE who asks – that the world NEVER would never do!
    • 3rd – Love your neighbor…
      • The law only required that you love your neighbor – Leviticus 19:18
  • We call it the ‘Golden Rule’ – do to other people – what you want them to do to you…
  • The same way we want others to treat us – is how we should treat them!
  • But it was limited to our neighbor – we would say family / friends…
  • If you love those who also love you – even sinners do that…
    • Those who don’t know Jesus – will still love those who love them back…
    • Even the worst criminal takes care of his kids – his family…
    • Where the Law says – you are only required to love your neighbor…
    • Love says – do good to those who hate you – curse you – spitefully use you!
    • Love those who HATE you – HURT you – that the world NEVER would never do!
  • Conclusion… vs. 35-36
    • Therefore – Love your enemies / do good / and give…
      • God – our example of Love – is kind to the unthankful and evil…
      • * Romans 5:7-8 – “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
      • While we were still sinners – unthankful – evil – God showed His love for us…
      • So when we do the same – we show we are also sons of the most high…
    • Be just like your Father in Heaven…
      • Our standard of being good…
        • When someone says they are a good person they are setting a standard…
        • Whom are they good compared to – by what standard are they good…
        • So often we have set the standard ourselves – I am better than the person next to me…
        • The question that must be asked though is what is God’s Standard of righteousness…
      • Be merciful – just as your Father in heaven is merciful…
        • God standard of righteousness – is Himself – Leviticus 19:2
        • Never once having sinned in action or thought – James 2:10
        • Suddenly we no longer look like such good people….
        • It’s been asked why would a God of love send good people to hell  – He doe not…
        • Amazingly He sends sinners to heaven!  The qualification – faith in His perfect Son!
      • The answer to how to live the blessed life…
        • * Romans 3:20-24 – “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin…”
        • The answer is Jesus! We cannot be Righteous on our own!
        • It is only through Faith in Jesus can we have the Blessed life!

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