The Life of Christ: His Sermon

Exegetical Idea: Jesus preached the sermon on the mount to show through the law the depth of our sin, the extent of his salvation, and the power for discipleship.

Theological Idea: Through the law, God shows the depth of our sin, the extent of the gospel, and his provision for discipleship.

Homiletical Idea: Our sin is greater than we know, Christ covers more than we imagine, and his grace empowers us more than we believe.

Our sin is greater than we know, Christ covers more than we imagine, and his grace empowers us more than we believe.

Introduction: Spurgeon Quote:

Charles Spurgeon was one of the most important and most famous preachers in the world. He was sometimes called the “prince of preachers.” This is how he described what made a good preacher...

“He that can toy with his ministry and count it to be like a trade, or like any other profession, was never called of God. But he that has a charge pressing on his heart, and a woe ringing in his ear, and preaches as though he heard the cried of hell behind him, and saw his God looking down on him–oh, how that man entreats the Lord that his hearers may not hear in vain.” - Charles Spurgeon

And if that description applies to anyone, it applies to Christ. We often associate Christ’s ministry with his actions, or with his stories, or his disciples, or the events. And those are important. But most of Christ’s ministry was not his miracles, it was not those key, iconic events, it was his preaching. Christ was above all a preacher. He went from town to town, preaching in synagogues. He preached in villages, on mountains, in the temple, in the streets. Jesus was a preacher. And so, it is only fitting, as we are preaching through the life of Christ in the book of Matthew, we will devote a bit of time to Christ’s teaching, this week and next week, and after easter we’re going to do a bit of an extended series on some of his teaching. But today we’re going to talk about what is probably Jesus’ most iconic sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.

It is no mistake that the Sermon on the Mount is the most iconic of all Christian instructions. It is as high as a mountain, as deep as an ocean, it tugs at us like a current, it rebuffs us like a sharp wind, it chills us like a freeze, it warms us like a fire. In the Sermon we see Christ to face, and we are found wanting. But in the Sermon, we see Christ face to face and we find him all satisfying, all compelling. It is no mistake that the book of James has 18 differnet points of connection with this sermon, and Peter 5.

You can read Jesus’ sermon in Matthew chapters 5-7. It takes about twenty minutes give or take a bit to read it from beginning to end. In that sermon, some of Jesus’ most iconic teaching, such as the beattitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Golden rule are found. In the Sermon, Jesus’ most important exhortations are given. Our church was blessed to read through the sermon last fall. It is one of the most foundational portions of Scripture for Christians, and I am going to try to give you a basic understanding of it today. So, to do that, I want to ask 3 major questions. First, what was in this sermon, what is the basic outline of teh sermon. Then, I want to ask, why did Jesus preach this sermon? What was its purpose and function in the life of Christ and in the gospel of Matthew? Third, I want to ask, how does this matter for us today? How shoudl we apply it? What should we learn from this sermon.

What did Jesus preach?

So what is in this sermon? What is the basic outline of the sermon on the Mount? Well, I think you can more or less understand this sermon under six headings.

How can I have blessing? The sermon begins with what are perhaps the most iconic words in the sermon. Jesus begins by telling his audience, how can you have blessing. Jesus says, “Do you want to have the kingdom of heaven, do you want to be comfoted, do you want to inherit the hearth, do you want to be satisified, do you want to redeive mercy, do you want to see God, be called sons of GOd? Well here is how: you be poor in spirit, you mourn, you hunger and thirst for righteousness, and merciful, you be pure in heart, you be a peacemaker, you let yourself be persecuted.” The first portion of the sermon tells us how to have blessing.

How can I live righteously? The second portion of the sermon, from 5:13-5:48 tells us how we can live righteously. In fact, Jesus says this is necessary, in 5:20, he says, “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” And then Jesus goes into detail describing how to be righteous. And Jesus’ point is that righteousness begins in the heart. It’s not enough not to kill, you must not be angry. It’s not enough not to commit adultery, you must not lust. It’s not enough to divorce lawfully, you should try to stay married. You should live lives of integrity. You should not retaliate to persecution. You should love not just your friends, but even your enemies.

How can I worship aright? Then Jesus goes into detail about what kind of worship pleases God. And he contrasts these two types of worship. One type of worship is outward and oriented towards God. It is all about pleasing man. it’s all about impressing man. But the other kind of worship is about pleasing God. It’s all about the kind of worship that isn’t htere to impress others, but to be devoted to God. This is how we live in relationship with God.

What should I treasure? But then in 6:19-34, Jesus moves on to describe what humans should treasure. What should we treasure and value and prioritize? SHould we treasure earthly things or heavenly things? Should we treasure God, should we treasure his word, his people, his priorities, or should we treasure earthly and needs. Because jesus knows that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

How do I view God and man? Then Jesus moves in chapter 7:1-12 to describe how we should view God and man. What should our relationship with God be. Do we view him as father? How do we think about him? And how do I live in relationhiop wiht others?? Do I treat them how I want to be treated? Do I love them? Or do I ignore them?

How can I enter the kingdom? ANd jesus ends his sermon by asking, will you really enter the kingdom? He says, in essence, “it’s not enough to be mostly good, you have to be perfect.” He says, in the end, many will say to me Lord, Lord, did we not propehsy in your name and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” No our house must be built on teh rock that is Christ, and not one pillar can rest on the sandy shallows of the earth.

And Jesus’ words are so authoritative and strong that it says the crowds were astonished at his teaching. Even as we’re summarizing this, we can see why this has been so important and foundational for so many Christians throughout the ages. I love how Daniel Doriani starts his excellent book on teh Sermon on teh Mount,

“Among Jesus’ teachings, the Sermon on the Mount is perhaps the most beloved, the best known, the least understood, and the hardest to obey. Its attraction is obvious.” - Daniel Doriani

Why did Jesus preach this sermon?

What did Jesus preach?

So why did Jesus preach this sermon? Why was it so important that Matthew would record it in so much detail? Well, I think there are a couple of reasons that it was important.

First, it was a sample of Jesus’ Preaching. So if you read the other gospels, you will see similar sermons. ANd it’s not necessarily that one of the writers got it wrong and the other got it right, it’s just that Jesus probably had some stock sermons that he preached over and over. And sometimes he emphasized certain points, and sometimes he left some details out. But the core sermon that he preached is recorded for us in the gospel of Matthew here.

Second, it provided a foundation for the gospel of Matthew. So throughout the gospel of Matthew, after this we see echoes of this sermon showing up again and again. For example, as we’l talk about next week, often the parables of Jesus echo back to the sermon on the mount. And as Jesus says, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” What is the yoke that Jesus is talking about? He’s talking about his teaching in the sermon on the mount. When Jesus has risen from the dead and he was talking with his disciples, he said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in teh name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you and behold I am with you always, even until the end of the age.” Well, we’re supposed to teach all that he has commanded. What has he commanded? Well, we find the best record of what Jesus said and the best summary of his teaching in the sermon on teh mount.

Third, and most importantly, it pictures Christ as the better Moses. You see, for the Old Testament believers, the foundation of the Jewish religion was the “law” or the first five books of the Bible. It was collected and written by Moses. And in Moses received and gave what is called the “decalogue” or the ten commandments. And that was to be the foundation of the Jewish mindset. But Jesus is the better Moses. Like Moses, Jesus gives the law on the mountain. Like Moses, Jesus spoke with authority. But Jesus, as the greater and better Moses, is able to say throughout the sermon what we are not, “You have heard it said, but I say to you...” He is not saying that there is something flawed in the law. But jesus is a greater lawgiver, so he gives a greater law. ANd his law penetrates to the heart. ANd reveals the intentions behind our actions. The sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ instructions how his people can live a life that is pleasing to him.

Now, some people will say, “This isn’t a law like the 10 commandments, all this does is just describe what a life of a disciple looks like.” Of course, the problem with that is that Jesus clearly connected this sermon with the law.

This is why Jesus two different times in the sermon connects his instructions to the law. He says this in and again in . As the greater lawgiver, Jesus gives a greater law. This is why those who do not obey it are called workers of “lawlessness” in 5:23.

Now, some people will say, “This isn’t a law

If you think of the ten commandments as basic morality, the sermon on the mount is expert morality. It is God’s moral law. It is Jesus Christ’s interpretation of the ten commandments. It shows what was behind the ten commandments, and pointedly applies it. It is the greater law given by the greater lawgiver for the people of God.

How does this matter for us today?

So how should we take this today? Well, I think the Sermon on the Mount does 5 things for Christians.

This reveals the image of God: This sermon that Christ preached reveals the image of God. Because I do not believe that there is any person who can read through the sermon and not feel their heart leap at it. One great example is what we have often called the “golden rule.” It says, “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the prophets.” (7:12) You will find echoes of htis throughout human culture. In fact, many other religions who have strayed far from God are so compelled by this that they can’t get away from it. This is why even a committed Muslim like Reza Aslan can call themselves, “genuinely committed disciple of Jesus of Nazareth.” You see, God created each one of his in his image. And even though we fell from grace, we still have a sense of the divine inside us. The image was effaced but not erased, damaged but not destroyed. This is why even though Satan is doing everything he can to erase the knowledge of God on earth, there is something inside of us that is compelled by God’s truth. It is not htat all religions are the same, it is that false religions have perverted thet ruth of Christianity. Now, that being said, the problem most people have, is that they take some of what Jesus said, and they leave apart the rest of the sermon. They pick and choose. But if you love the golden rule, you have to love the whole sermon. You can’t pick and choose with godliness. You have to obey everything. This is why immediately after Jesus gives the golden rule he says in 7:13-14...

This reveals the sinfulness of men. If this sermon reveals the image of God in us, it also reveals just how far we have fallen from grace. You do not have to read any farther than the beattitudes to see just how sinful we are. Jesus says you want the blessings of the kingdom? Here’s what you have to be: poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker, you have to be persecuted for righteousness sake.” He will actually say in … He penetrates to the marrow of the matter. Perhaps no commandment Jesus gives is harder than what he says in … Here is Jesus’ point: You must be as perfect as God is to enter the heavenly kingdom. In fact, there are many people who will be kind of good, but still miss the mark. This is what he says in … You do miracles? You prophesy, you cast our demons? Not good enough. You must do perfectly do the will of the Father who is in heaven. No exceptions.

Daniel Doriani says this so well, “The sermon on the mount is as daunting as it is appealing. We may be the light of the world, but we still fail to meet God’s standards… The Sermon on the Mount shows how easily pride and self-interest become false gods, even when religious people are performing religious duties." - Daniel Doriani

How do you measure up to this standard? Do you measure up perfectly? Do you measure up pretty good? Are you perfect as your heavenly father? Are you as good as him? Does your righteousness live up to the standard Christ set? Do you keep the law in perfection?

If you read the Sermon on the Mount with a feeling of pride in your chest, you haven’t really read the Sermon. If you read the Sermon on the Mount with a list of things to work on, you haven’t really read the Sermon on the Mount. If you read the Sermon on the Mount with a smug self-righteousness, you are missing the point. The sermon on the Mount is meant to make us despair at ever entering the kingdom on our own. It is meant to break us of our pride. It is meant to bow us down in humility. Only then will we be ready for what Christ promises.

This reveals the righteousness of Christ: Because, not only does the Sermon show God’s image and man’s sin, but it also shows Christ’s righteousness. You see, far and away, the most important part of the sermon is what Jesus says in . Jesus says, “I will fulfill the righteousness of the law.” You see, the reason that Jesus sets the standards of the law impossibly high is because he wants us to realize that we need someone to fulfill it for us. We need not only a perfect law-giver, but a perfect lawkeeper. This is what Jesus does. Again and again in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is said to fulfill the Old Testament requirements for the Messiah (read passage list of πληροω). Even more, Jesus says in . The point of the Sermon on the Mount is not to see what kind of righteousness we can have, but what kind of righteousness we need. THis does not reveal our law-keeping, but his.

This reveals the Spirit’s empowerment: And because of the righteousness Christ gives us, this shows us how the Spirit empowers us. This shows us the kind of fruit that the Spirit produces in us. This shows us the way that we should grow in holiness. For Christians who have trusted in the blessed One for the blessing, we will begin to live in a blessed way. Because if you and I have put our faith in Christ, we have been reborn, recreated, made able. This is what is at the bottom of the passage right after the Beattitudes in the Sermon which says in … What is the point of that passage? It’s that if we retain the satliness or the light, we will bring glory to God. But what is that salt and light? It is Christ himself. If we center around Christ, who in the next verse is said to fulfill the law, then we will begin to look like Christ. This is why Jesus says in … If you are a believer in Christ, you will produce good fruit.

John Stott says this so well, “For men are in their nature ‘evil’. It is out of their heart that evil things come and out of their heart that their mouth speaks, just as it is the tree which determines its fruit. So there is but one solution: ‘Make the tree good, and its fruit good’. A new birth is essential. Only a belief in the necessity and the possibility of a new birth can keep us from reading the Sermon on the Mount with either foolish optimism or hopeless despair.” - John Stott

For men are in their nature ‘evil’. It is out of their heart that evil things come3 and out of their heart that their mouth speaks, just as it is the tree which determines its fruit. So there is but one solution: ‘Make the tree good, and its fruit good’. A new birth is essential.

Big Idea Statement: When we see this, we see that Christ’s sermon reveals God’s image, our sinfulness, Christ’s righteousness, and the Spirit’s empowerment. We might put it this way, the sermon on the Mount gives us a path towards the gospel-centered life. Christ’s sermon on the Mount leads us into Christ-centered living. Christ’s sermon on the Mount leads us towards Christ-centered living.

Application: So let me make this simple application. If you want to live a life that is Christ-honoring, if you want to live a life where you are cast upon teh throne of grace, if you want to understand what pleases and displeases God, you cannot afford to ignore the sermon on teh Mount. Read it. Cherish it. Love it. Be convicted by it. Call out to Christ, who alone can fulfill it. As I look back on my own life, and I look at the parts of my life where I have felt an intense desire to please God and to live a life that honors him, I can trace its roots back to the sermon on the Mount. You would do well to learn it and know it and cherish it. Take some time, read it. Make it the cornerstone of your life. Come back to it. Rehearse it. Learn it. Know it. Love it. And you will become like trees planted by living water, producing fruit in due time.

Only a belief in the necessity and the possibility of a new birth can keep us from reading the Sermon on the Mount with either foolish optimism or hopeless despair.

Conclusion

Stott, J. R. W., & Stott, J. R. W. (1985). The message of the Sermon on the mount (): Christian counter-culture (p. 29). Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

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