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
  • 1^st – 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!
  • 2^nd – 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.”
  • 3^rd – 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!
  • 4^th – 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
  • 1^st – 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…
  • 2^nd – 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!
  • 3^rd – 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…
  • 4^th – 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…
  • 1^st – 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 2^nd time!
      • Do GOOD to those who do BAD to you – that the world NEVER would never do!
  • 2^nd – 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!
  • 3^rd – 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!