Our Lord journeyed through Galilee "teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 4:23).
The "Gospel of the kingdom" is the most important subject in the New Testament (cf Matt. 3:2). The Gospel and deeds of Jesus Christ were understood as messianic, especially when Christ was "healing all manner of sickness".
Christ was accepted by the multitude as the Messiah. It was at this moment that Jesus left the multitude and "went up into a mountain" (5:1), which by tradition is located about five miles west of the Sea of Galilee. On this mountain Jesus taught His disciples and other persons.
The Sermon on the Mount was destined to become the universal charter of ethics and higher ideals that have shaped the moral principles of the civilized world.
The Sermon on the Mount reminds us of Moses and the Mosaic law, the covenant and the Ten Commandments, which were delivered on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:3f).
At that time, God appeared in clouds and thunder; but in the Sermon on the Mount, God was present as a divine and human Being, the incarnate Jesus Christ, to utter clearly the revelation for the new creation of mankind.
The main teaching of the Sermon is not so much the kingdom of Heaven and repentance (4:17), which are presupposed, but the new piety versus the old piety of the scribes and pharisees (5:17-26).
The Sermon encourages the Christian to apply in his own life these principles of piety. It opens with the Beatitudes (5:3-12), which describe the character of a true disciple, and of the Christian who glorifies God. and will enter His kingdom.
The Sermon I believe instructs the Disciples and believers, to seek the true righteousness and informs them that their good works are for the glory of God (5:13-16), not for merit and fame.
It indicates that this righteousness is superior to the purely legal kind taught by the scribes (5:17-48) and practiced by the pharisees (6:1-18).
For the attainment of this goal, a series of commandments are given (6:19-7:6 negative, and 7:7-23 positive), and the Sermon closes with the parable of the builders (7:24-27), all to the astonishment of the listeners (7:27-29).
But now, I want you to please notice the very first part of verse 1:1a, This is the beginning of what turned out to be the most famous sermon known to mankind. Within this sermon lies the way for the child of God to live and live a victorious life.
Again, this sermon begins with the Beatitudes of Christ. He teaches that the believers are the salt and light. He covers in His sermon, the thoughts of our heart. He stresses how sacred and binding marriage is.
He tells us to love our enemies, He gives us the way to pray, He tells us NOT to judge. Then, in the latter part of chapter 7 He tell us just who will enter the kingdom of heaven.
In short, His evaluation will determine if you go to heaven or not.... Notice again, the very first part of verse 1 of chapter 5. “And seeing the multitudes”.
The word “multitude” means : A large indefinite quantity”. And if you noticed the word here is “Multitude(s) the word is plural.
So, Jesus is getting ready to preach His great sermon, the Bible says: “AND SEEING THE MULTITUDES”.
First of all, Christ sees and knows the heart of every single person. He knows our thoughts even before we think it. So, what does He see in you?
• 1. To be used of God, He must see a clean you... Remember the potters house? (Comment)
• 2. To live a life pleasing to God, .................(A) He Must see obedience... (Comment)
.(B) He must see a strong prayer life... (Comment) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Notice the words “Effectual” and “Fervent” Effectual means: “Exerting strong physiological effects”.
And the word “Fervent” means: “Extremely hot” So, in other words: “The great effort of an extremely hot prayer is going to work.
(C) He must see perseverance. In other words a continuation ... (Comment) Eph:6:13 -18 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
(D) He must see endurance... {The power to withstand hardship or stress.} (Talk) Matt:10:22: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
James:1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. They are more temptation now that ever before. It is very easy to fall into temptation. Have you ever been tempted to just quite?
Romans:7:19: Paul told the church in Rome: “For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Paul says in essence: “The good things I want to do, I do not do them and the things I don’t want to do, I do.
Although we are obedient, although we have a strong prayer life, although we persevere and although we do endure, there comes a time in our walk with God we will become weary, we become tired, and sometimes we get ask ourselves :: “What’s the use anymore? Or: “Why am I here”? Then you begin to get depressed, you feel guilt? You feel lonely.
It seems sometimes that God had abandon us. And we all know who we’re talking about. That old snake, the devil will cause you to doubt
Joh:10:10: put’s it well: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: Do you remember the story of the prodical son? Who once had it all and then walked away from it? (Comment)
• Lastly: (3) To get to heaven; He must see His blood that covers our sins. God was talking to the children of Israel when they was in captivity in Egypt. Ex:12:13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Question...Are you ready to meet God? (Explain)....... If you are ready to meet God, what does God see in you? Let’s imagine being with Christ on that day and He looks around and sees you. Looks directly at you. What does He see? A broken heart? A heart full of guilt? An unhappy relationship, in your family? A lonely person? A joyless person? An unforgiving heart? Come to Him.
