The Sermon on the Mount::

Context:

- the 12 disciples have been selected.

- people were coming from Galilee and the Decapolis, from Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre and Sidon.

- they wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.

- they wanted to be healed of their diseases.

- they wanted to be freed of demons.

- the audience was large.

- Jesus sat down on the mountain and gave the most important sermon of all time.

- His teaching was to His disciples, with many onlookers.

Jesus works closely with a few. Many others are affected.

Which group are we? Are we close or peripheral onlookers?

- He taught that God’s values were radically different than the culture of the day.

- Are God’s values radically different than the culture of our day?

The Beatitudes: Matt. 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-23

Matthew 5:3 “...Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven...”

Luke 6:20 “...Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God...”

Who are the poor in spirit?

- those without resources, either material or spiritual.

- in Jewish circles the Aramaic term meant the pious and oppressed who trusted solely in God.

Luke 5:11 “...And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him...”

How are they blessed?

- theirs IS the kingdom of heaven.

- what’s the difference between WILL BE and IS? Is the kingdom immediately available?

How can having resources hinder people?

- self sufficiency prevents surrender and dependence.

- is independence contrary to the intentions of God?

Contrasting Woe:

Luke 6:24 “...But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation...”

Why is the consolation of the rich not enough? It’s a temporary status and benefit, which doesn’t translate to the kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:4 “...Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted...”

Luke 6:21b “...Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh...”

Who mourns and weeps?

- those who have lost something that they valued (loved ones, favor).

- those who are sorry for the things that are happening.

- those who are pained by the situations and sin that surround them.

What is the blessing for those who mourn or weep?

- they SHALL BE comforted. They SHALL laugh.

How can this assurance of coming blessing be an encouragement?

- Jesus is aware of all our pain.

- a promise from Him that it will turn to laughter allows us to patiently process life.

Contrasting Woe:

Luke 6:25b “...Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep...”

Which side will we be on when the tables are turned?

Matthew 5:5 “...Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth...”

What does it mean to be meek?

- Wesley said it’s those that hold all their passions and affections evenly balanced.

- Wikipedia defines meek as God fearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient.

- to quietly and graciously trust all to God.

- to bear with the insults of life without harshness.

- meek is not weak!

What is the blessing for the meek?

Psalms 37:11 ”...But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace...”

Who gets the earth as an inheritance? Do you want it?

Matthew 5:6 “...Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied...”

Luke 6:21a “...Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied...“

What does it mean to hunger for righteousness?

- desire for rightness in all aspects of life, as opposed to the wrong that currently exists throughout the earth.

Is hungering for justice the same as hungering for righteousness?

- justice is a part of righteousness, but when desire for judgment becomes a central theme, we lose sight of the glory of God’s plans for reconciliation.

What is the blessing for hungering for righteousness?

- satisfaction.

Contrasting Woe:

Luke 6:25a “...Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry...”

Matthew 5:7 “...Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy...”

When can a hunger for justice be the opposite of mercy?

- when we want judgment rather than reconciliation, we don’t have the heart of God.

James 2:13 “...For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment...”

- mercy offers forgiveness for the guilty and kindness toward all.

What is the blessing for being merciful?

- receiving mercy.

Matthew 5:8 ”...Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God...”

What is heart purity?

- the rabbis developed a complex system of laws for maintaining ceremonial purity.

- their effort to maintain external purity failed to create heart purity.

- a pure heart has no self driven agenda, but is totally consistent with God’s perfect intentions for humanity.

How does one obtain heart purity?

1 Peter 1:22 “...Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart...”

- obedience to the truth is believing and acting upon the reality of the redemption available through Jesus Christ.

What is the blessing for purity of heart?

- purity allows for perfect love.

- only God is perfect love.

- purity leads to seeing God.
Matthew 5:9 ”...Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God...”

What is the peace toward which peacemakers labor?

- perfect shalom would be completeness and wholeness in every area of life, including relationship with God, neighbors, and nations.

- true peacemakers are simply God’s agents for God’s purposes on earth.

How does our nation fail to demonstrate this peace?

- our nation is filled with aggravated tension, turmoil, and combative philosophies.

What is the blessing for being a peacemaker?

- being called sons of God.

Matthew 5:10-12 ”...Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you...”

Luke 6:22-23 ”...Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets...”

What are some different forms of persecution that Christians face?

- being killed for their beliefs.

- being opposed for their beliefs.

- having evil spoken against them for their beliefs.

How should we respond?

- rejoice and be glad.

- leap for you.

What IS the blessing?

- the kingdom of heaven.

- great reward in heaven.

Contrasting Woe:

Luke 6:26 ”...Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets...”