Discourse #1 - The Sermon by the King
Matthew 5 - 7
Introduction
Hanging Bathroom Shower Curtains. Usually 12 rings that you have to snap in place. They are the hardest things to snap. When the curtain is secured to the rings which is on the pole, you usually have a curtain that does what it is supposed to do. Keep the floor dry and water from the shower in the tub.
The book of Matthew is like this in many ways. There are some rings on which you must hang the teaching in this book by,[7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1] that once hung in the bathroom of your mind, that you might understand clearly the OT, the NT, who Jesus is and how He connects these two covenants.
Matthew contains the most systematic teaching of Jesus. There is more information in this book about the messages, teachings, doctrines and preaching of Jesus then any other NT book. Matthew is basically emphasizing the Kingdom of Heaven or God (51 mentions) which means the Rule or Reign of God in the universe, in the world, and in my heart.
Traditionally known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus sets out a new look at or a new system of thinking and practice regarding the kingdom which has an impact on people individually and on a society. The Sermon is a presentation in contrast between the law as given by Moses and the of heaven as presented by Jesus the King. After looking at the contrast you can see that the kingdom of God is far superior to the Law of Moses.
Jesus shows himself as the Royal or Kingly Teacher whose authority is far greater than Moses’ the Great Father of Judaism or David the Greatest King of the Jews.
To understand this sermon you must see clearly that Jesus is offering the Kingdom to the Jews now. And the way to enter the Kingdom is to Repent(have a change of heart). (4:17) Every Jew had a real question on his mind here; "Am I qualified to enter the Kingdom of God? Do I have enough righteousness to be apart of Messiah’s Kingdom?" The sermon therefore shows How a person in right relationship with God should conduct himself on earth and demonstrate that they are actual citizens of this Kingdom of Heaven / God. Carrying out the Law of Moses is not enough, what you need is a change of heart. The Kingdom must rule in your heart.
Repentance = it is more than a change of mind or feeling sorry for sin. It is a radical and deliberate turning or returning to God that results in moral and ethical change and action.
Prepositional statement: You must have a change of heart if you are to enjoy the blessing of Kingdom living today.
1) Discourse #1 - The Sermon by the King - 5 - 7
a) Bible Academy on the Mountainside
i) V.1 What did the Master Teacher do?
(a) Saw the Crowd - He Looked around -He GAZED around
(b) Went up on the Side - He Went up - He GOES up
(c) Sat on a Stone - He Sat down - He GETS down
(d) Began to teach His Disciples - He GIVES out
ii) What did the students do? - V. 2
(a) Learners come to the Teacher
(b) The Teacher imparts the Truth
b) Blessed Are You… 5:3-12 - Being Passive
i) From a root word which is "to pronounce happy or blessed; to declare blessed". It refers to not just the character / person but the nature of the person.
ii) Eight times Jesus tells his followers, "You know you are blessed when you realize:-
(1) You are Poor in spirit -v. 3
(a) Brokenness of spirit, Realizing heaven is a gift given by God and not something to be worked for. Psalm 51:16,17
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
(b) Inwardly you realize you have no real way of pleasing God - Romans 3:9ff
(c) Pride has no place here
(2) You are Powerless to save -v. 4
(a) Mourners realize they are helpless, Powerless to do anything about death.
(b) Recognizing your need for a saviour and then telling Him (Jesus) all about it as He alone can do something about it.
(3) You are Prostrate before the saviour -v. 5 CF. Psalm 37:11
(a) Meekness is gentleness and humility under God’s control.
(b) This is having a sober or proper view of yourself before God -
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29
4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:4
(c) Meekness for Jesus is strength under control, yet for you it is realizing that you have no strength but for Jesus.
(4) You are physically satisfied, spiritually -v. 6
(a) In other words you have a strong Spiritual appetite. You have a continuing or consuming desire for more of God’s righteousness. Both learned and practiced.
(5) You are a Proponent of mercy -v. 7
(a) Showing to others what has been granted to you. Mercy.
(6) You are Pure in your being -v. 8
(a) Heart refers to the centre of your being including the mind, will and emotions
(b) Realizing in your nature you have been cleaned from sin by faith in Jesus Christ and yet always remembering your sinfulness before God. 1Jn. 1:9
(7) You are a Peacemaker -v.9
(a) Showing to others the inward peace with God you have been given.
(b) This also enables you to practice peace in the world.
(8) You are Persecuted for being right and doing right. -vs. 10-12
(a) You desire God’s righteousness even though you know it will separate you from the world.
(b) If you are you will do. Be Righteous and you will act righteous. BUT know that this type of living will bring persecution.
c) Blessing You Are… 5:13-16- Be Proactive - Be a Blessing
i) Preserving what you have learned - v. 13
(1) As Salt you create a thirst in others to know why you are righteous and how they can get what you have.
(2) As Salt you are a preservative agent to the evils that exist in society.
(a) What do salty people do?
1. Preserve Life / Do not Kill- 5:21-26
2. Preserve Trusting Relationships / Don’t commit Adultery - 5:27-30
3. Preserve Marriage / Don’t Divorce - 5:31-32
4. Preserve Honesty & Obedience / Keep your promises-5:33-37
5. Preserve Peace / Are not given to Violence - 5:38-42
6. Preserve Testy Relationships / Love their enemies - 5:43-48
7. Preserve Giving / Always Giving - 6:1-4
8. Preserve Faith / Always Praying - 6:5-15; 7:7-12
9. Preserve Sacrifice / Conviction / Ever Fasting - 6:16-18
10. Preserve God’s view of Success / Have a proper view of Success- 6:19-24
11. Preserve Trust in God / Don’t Worry / Anxiety - 6:25-34
12. Preserve Fairness / Have a proper view of Judging others-7:1-6
ii) Proclaiming what you have learned - v. 14-16
(1) As Light bearers you are to dispel the Darkness
(a) Shine as one of Christ disciples
(2) As Light bearers you are to give Direction
(a) Point others to the path you took
(i) Belief in Contrast - 7:13 - 29
1. The Narrow Gate vs. the Wide Gate - 7:13 - 14
2. The Tree and Its Fruit - 7:15-23
3. The Wise man vs. the Foolish man - 7:24-27
Application
What is Jesus Saying to you?
Have you experienced the Rule or Reign of God in your heart?
Are you a person in right relationship with God?
Are you demonstrating on earth that you are a citizen of heaven?
Blessed people have a heart change.
Has your heart been changed by the King?
Blessed people ought also to be a blessing
What does the world see when it looks at you?
