Title: The Sermon on the Mount

Text: Matt 5 - 7

Date: 6-14-2009.am

Introduction:

We have messages from Malachi chapter 1-2 the past few weeks that made two broad statements to us. The first that God loves us in spite of ourselves. The second we are continually dishonoring God. This morning I want to begin a series of messages on the Beatitudes found in the first 12 verses of Matt 5 from The Sermon on the Mount, but I want to begin by giving and overview of the sermon itself.

I have mentioned before that while these are often referred to as the blessed attitudes they are really character traits and they are not intended to describe different individuals, but collectively describe what we might think of as kingdom citizen, a Christian. They are in a sense progressive in that they build upon one another in a deliberate spiritual order. It is Jesus' description of what He wanted and expected His followers to be and to do. Over the next few weeks we'll look at each of these and hopefully see how they apply to each of us ad how we are to apply them to our lives.

In the early 60's the late D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, pastor of Westminister Chapel in London, England, said the one word that could describe the church of his day was the word superficiality. He was referring of course to the church in general and meant the church was more concerned about the outward appearance to the world and acceptance by the world rather than being a transforming influence in the world. It describes a shallow, cursory type of faith. That's exactly what Malachi was talking about.

I think if that described the church of the 60's it even more so describes the church of today. I mentioned the book Christless Christianity and this is exactly the point of that book. I believe John Stott makes a very accurate statement in his book on the Sermon on the Mount when he wrote the, "essential theme of the whole Bible from beginning to end is that God's historical purpose is to call out a people for himself;" that these people are a "holy" people, set apart from the world to belong to Him and to be obedient to Him. They are to be different in outlook and behavior. (John Stott, "The Sermon on The Mount" p. 17)

The church, the redeemed people of God, is to follow the commandments of God. We are to follow His footsteps rather than taking the lead from the world around us. Using some computerese, His program is to leave a big footprint on our hard drives! Peter wrote in 1 Pet 2:9, ". . . you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for {God's} own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" (NAS)

Malachi, Peter and the New Testament as a whole teaches that the church universal, Bethel Baptist Church in particular, and each of us individually who have placed our faith in Christ Jesus are called not to superficiality but to authenticity or genuineness. As Jesus said, and I seem to say so often we are to be salt and light. We are to influence the world with goodness and righteousness, rather than be influenced by the world with amorality and immorality. We are called to be a new society, not a political entity, but a spiritual one that impacts the world. We are called to a higher standard of living that embodies the ideals and the teachings of Jesus Christ - our Savior, our Lord and our God. We are called to have a righteousness that exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees (Matt 5:20). Because it is to be a righteousness that comes from the inside not just visible on the outside.

We saw the charges Malachi made against the priests, as we move forward a few hundred years in history we see in the first century a continuation of those same things. The Scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders, were concerned with the external outward appearance of righteousness, what men see. That same kind of attitude continues today. We are called to live beyond what men see. We are called to a moral, ethical, religious standard that goes beyond far beyond appearances because it flows from the inside outward as a result of the grace of God towards us and our yieldedness to the Spirit of God within us.

The "Sermon on the Mount" describes the life and conduct of the disciple, the follower of Christ, the person who has come under the influence of the grace of God. It teaches what Jesus Himself expected of each of His disciples. It is the character Jesus himself modeled for us.

This morning I want to give you a brief overview of the Sermon on the Mount which covers chapters 5 - 7 and particularly the beatitudes in verses 3 through 12.

Chapter four tell us that multitudes ever how many a multitude might be, began to follow Jesus. The were attracted by His miracles, His healing of the sick, and they came from all over. Verse 25 says they came from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. (NKJ) As we begin chapter five Jesus goes up on at mountain and His disciples came to Him and He begins to teach them.

There are 7 divisions within this sermon;

I. Christian Character 5:3-12

The teaching Jesus gave was primarily to genuine disciples, not just the twelve, but all who have truly come into a relationship with Jesus by grace through faith. The Bible says the crowd heard Jesus, but "Jesus was not telling a spiritually lost crowd they could be saved by 'feeling' poor in spirit. This was not a call for self-generated self-depreciation." Jesus wanted to make it perfectly clear true discipleship was more than superficial infatuation. (Wm. B. Tolar, Southwestern Journal of Theology, Vol 35, Fall 1992, p. 4).

The eight beatitudes are marks of Christian character and conduct that are not self-generated, but Spirit born within disciples. They are extraordinary in their description of and demand upon the believer. They demonstrate not only the radical demand of Jesus on those who would be His followers but also the radical transformation the Spirit of God brings about in a person who places faith in Jesus Christ.

II. Christian influence 5:13-16

We've talked about this passage many times. I don't know that I would say this is my favorite passage, but it finds its way into a lot of my sermons. Jesus used two metaphors, salt and light to describe what true Christians are and to describe the influence we are to have in our world as a result of the distinctive character portrayed in the beatitudes.

III. Christian Righteousness 5:17-48

The third division of the sermon deals with Christian righteousness. This is the longest division of Jesus teaching. As we alluded to earlier, Jesus rejected the traditions of the scribes and the Pharisees as being merely external ritualism. He reaffirmed the authority of the Old Testament, but drew out the full implication of God's moral law. God's law was not intended to be just a matter of external obedience to a set of rituals. Obedience was to be a matter of the heart. Outward obedience was to flow from the inner transformation. If obedience is not a result of the grace of God applied to the heart it is simply an exercise if futility. If the heart is not pure the work of the hands no matter how good is also not pure. If the blood of Christ, however, has been applied to human heart by grace through faith, obedience to His commands is the supernatural result of a transformed life.

IV. Christian Piety 6:1-18

Piety simply means personal holiness or devotion to God. Christians are not to be hypocritically self-righteous. Ours is not to be a superficial devotion, but rather our lives are to be characterized by sincerity and the reality of living in the presence of God at all times.

V. Christian Ambition 6:19-34

Ambition is a strong desire to achieve something. Human ambition usually deals with success, wealth or fame. Jesus wants to be Lord of our ambition as well as the rest of our lives. When He deals with ambition in this passage it is not to tell Christians that we are not to have goals or set standards for achievement in our lives, but that our lives are to ordered with the right priorities. Our first priority or ambition Jesus says in Matt 6:33 is to". . .seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." We are to change our attitude concerning the place of material wealth in life.

VI. Christian Relationships 7:1-20

As humans and as Christians we are involved in a complex network of relationships. This section deals with our relationship towards God and others. It is often misunderstood and misquoted and taken out of context.

It teaches that we are to make sure of our own relationship with God. We are to be properly related to Him through Jesus Christ which is to be reflected in character, influence, righteousness, piety and ambition. When it is it changes and shapes our relationships with others so that we are not to make hypocritical, self-righteous condemning judgements upon others.

VII. Christian Commitment 7:21-27

The final section of the sermon concerns a Christian's commitment to the authority of Christ in their lives. It is the issue of Lordship in principle and in application. It is as relevant for us today as it was when Jesus went up on the mount and taught His disciples.

It is not enough to simply call Him Lord, Jesus said in Luke 6:46"And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (NAS) and it is not enough to simply hear His teachings the Bible says in James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (NAS)

The authenticity of our profession of faith is revealed and proved by our commitment to obedience to the teachings of Christ and to following Him in all situations no matter how difficult or how unpopular. The Christian life will stand through the storms and trials of life when it is grounded a commitment to the Lordship of Jesus and the leadership of the Spirit of God.

Let me ask you this. What would your reaction be today if you were there among those listening to Jesus as this message unfolded? The Bible tells us that eventually many left because His demands were too great, they excused themselves like the priests of Malachi's day saying it's too much trouble. Today many conclude no one could measure up to His demands and I'm as good as the next person. Would you be one of those who turned back, or would you be convicted because your life didn't measure up to His righteous standard and be committed to living a yielded life where Jesus is Lord and His commands, and teachings are the desire of your heart?

F B Myer said, The supreme test of goodness is not in the greater but in the smaller incidents of our character and practice; not what we are when standing in the searchlight of public scrutiny, but when we reach the firelight flicker of our homes; not what we are when some clarion-call rings through the air, summoning us to fight for life and liberty, but our attitude when we are called to sentry-duty in the grey morning, when the watch-fire is burning low. It is impossible to be our best at the supreme moment if our character is corroded and eaten into by daily inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and besetting sin. (F.B. Meyer in Our Daily Walk)

Jesus challenged the multitude and He challenges us to a life of faithful, truthful lasting discipleship will you accept that challenge and live for Jesus?