The Sermon on the Mount is perhaps the most famous part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. I think it’s safe to say that more people are familiar with at least parts of this series of sermons than are the account of the cross.
In Matthew’s gospel (which is ordered topically more than chronologically) they are the first real words of Jesus.
There are perhaps five or so ways of interpreting the Sermon on the Mount. Some of them are downright silly, but a couple bear consideration.
1) The impossible ideal. The ideals in the Beatitudes (latin: beatus, blessed) and the Sermon on the Mount as a whole show us how sinful we really are and how much we need a Rescuer. Paul said the law was a tutor to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24). The Sermon on the Mount is pretty radical stuff because it flies in the face of a religion that relied on external behavior, when pleasing God really comes from the heart outward, not the actions inward.
2) Kingdom Age. That these are going to be what it is like in the kingdom age and that now they are just examples of what is to come
3) Social gospel. Some take these to mean Jesus was giving us ethics to help usher in the kingdom age here on earth by reforming society.
4) The New Testament law. It’s just the law restated in Jesus’ words.
Others suggest that the Sermon contrasts the “now” with the “what will be.” We have parts of the kingdom age now, but will be fully realized when Jesus returns.
What’s my take on it? I really borrow from all of these, really. One way to look at this is a reintroduction of God. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, God took them to Mt Sinai where he married them and introduced his character to them in the Law. Now Jesus, God in the flesh, stands on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee and re-introduces God’s character personally. The face of God was hidden in a dark cloud, but Jesus’ face is right out there for all to see—just as the Law somewhat hid the true depth of God’s righteousness, now Jesus reveals it fully.
Mt. Sinai Sermon on the Mount
The letter of the Law The Spirit of the law
The Law revealed The Law explained
The surface of God’s character The depth of God’s character
A character sketch A character fully realized
So is the Sermon on the Mount “Jesus’ Guide to Living a Better Life?” A lot of people think that it contains a set of principles to follow. I think it is about presenting a man to follow. Think about Matthew’s point in this gospel and Jesus’ mission.
Satan tempted Jesus to be something He was not: selfish. Now in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reveals that character more fully—to love God and love others selflessly is what God is like. Jesus has come to rescue and restore. But first He has to let us know just how bad things are so He can then reveal how good He is and the way of salvation He makes for us. It seems counter to that purpose to simply tell us how to live, when He knew we could not do it.
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Already by this time large crowds followed Jesus. Matthew’s gospel is arranged topically, so already he has done much healing and teaching throughout Galilee.
There were no public address systems in that day so Jesus used a natural one, sitting on a hillside. Most scholars agree that the teachings were aimed at the 12 disciples, but that many others were present and listening.
I see in the Beatitudes a beautiful picture of sin, salvation, and walking with Jesus.
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Notice first off that there is a difference between the first statement of Jesus and all of the others. He says for those who are poor in spirit that “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This is a present tense verb. The kingdom of heaven is available now. Most of the rest of the “results” are future—something that will happen fully later.
What does blessed mean? Blessing is being favored by God. It is joy and hope apart from your circumstances.
Being poor in spirit means being bankrupt in yourself. You know you cannot please God no matter what you do. It is the first thing we as humans need to realize when approaching a holy God—we don’t measure up.
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How can you be blessed when you mourn? Mourning is the result of realizing how spiritually needy you are. What are you left with? What hope do you have for the future? God doesn’t promise to undo the cause of our mourning, he promises comfort. The comfort is in the coming Rescuer who deals with our lack by giving us His abundance of life. God doesn’t ignore or wink at sin, he obliterates it!
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The word “meek” (used only three times in the NT) means “gentle.” It conveys an attitude towards God—a trust in Him rather than in ourselves. As we mourn over our sinful condition, we begin to see that it is only by trusting and relying on the Lord that any good can happen. The good that happens in Jesus is that we inherit a new life in a new dimension. The new heavens and the new earth spoken about in Revelation 21 and 22 is going to be well beyond all of our imaginings in its beauty; and living in that dimension will be so much better than this one. We mourn loss, but the new earth will be so much better than the old one we will have wished we’d dropped off this earth at Goodwill a long time ago!
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When we begin to see our sin, our lack, and our need to depend on God for our life, we begin to desire that more than we desire what this age offers.
Ps 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? NKJV
Many people think that what this age offers really satisfies. The needs are real, the way of satisfying them is not—it is fake and only temporary. We desire intimacy and think that by sleeping around we satisfy that—but in reality the satisfaction for intimacy is only met by a relationship with our creator. We think that having power over others is the way to satisfy our need for purpose. But being owned and filled by the Holy Spirit, and given a mission by Him is the real and only way to find the true satisfaction to that need.
As we begin to want that character that God has, then we seek him.
In Deuteronomy, the Lord told the children of Israel that they would disobey and be taken into another land. Then he adds this promise:
Deut 4:29-30 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. NKJV
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The next step is to reach out for God’s mercy. It’s one thing to hunger for His righteousness, it’s quite another to get it. We only receive God’s life through His mercy. This is also a quality of God’s character—and that character begins to flow out of us as we are transformed into His character. It’s not a contingent thing, though. It’s not that we only get God’s mercy if we first show mercy. But it is a result—seeking God’s mercy means we receive it and will be merciful people.
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After God’s mercy we receive that purity in heart—through the blood of Jesus. Being pure is the only way to see God’s face. Moses asked to see the face of God but God said “you cannot see my face, for no man shall see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20). But after being purified by Jesus, we shall be glorified and see the Lord face to face.
1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. ESV
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The purification by Jesus also means we are no longer enemies of God.
Rom 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ESV
Jesus is called “the prince of Peace” (Is 9:6-7). So too, God’s children will be peace makers. Some suggest this means that politically we need to be ones who go around ending wars. I think the higher purpose in promoting peace is to promote peace with God. True peace between people cannot begin until they have peace with God.
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Unfortunately, those that seek to promote peace with God through Jesus Christ run into those who simply do not want it.
John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God." ESV
Matt 10:22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ESV
For those who see their lack, and see their lack fulfilled in the righteous life of Jesus, there will be persecution. But Jesus says here not to despair, we are in good company and in the end there will be an inheritance waiting that far surpasses the negative of dealing with those who hate the light.
Conclusions
Your Attitude – PreChristian
What’s more important to you—short term happiness joy that lasts forever?
What’s more important to you—self sufficiency, or recognizing a need and relying on the source for fulfillment?
What’s more important to you—getting along with everyone but God, or having a real relationship, and with it the risks that some people will see, others will reject?
Your Attitude – Christian
We who already know the Lord can also benefit from looking at the Beatitudes—what is our attitude about sin and the Lord? Do you recognize your lack without the Lord? Do you mourn over sin, or ignore it? Do you hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness, pureness of heart and seek the mercy of God and peace with God? Let Jesus’ words help you start over.
Finally, I don’t know about you, but I sometimes find it hard to attach blessing with persecution and “all kinds of evil against you.”
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." ESV
Persecution here means you are being effective in sharing the gospel. It means God deems you ready to be honed by trial, it means the Holy Spirit will be with you, angels by your side. And it means that God is working eternal things for your benefit.
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