The Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount:

The Character, Heart, and Choice of the Kingdom

I speak a lot about the need to share our faith. It is not only about sharing the good news of Jesus only, but we are commanded to go further than that.

Matthew 28:19-20 tells us, “19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Notice what this is saying. We are not to only make converts, we are called to make disciples. This includes two steps:

To evangelize and baptize those who accept Jesus.

To teach them to observe everything Jesus commanded us.

It is that second one, teaching them to observe everything Jesus commanded, that worries most people. Even as your pastor, I can tell you I still have so much to learn about the Bible. Even when I am learning a lot, I can forget. Even today, it is humbling to open up this word and teach and preach. Who am I to do this? I don’t know everything. But it is not only not knowing everything…

Where do I begin? Once we get past basic evangelism, what do I teach then? Once I get through the gospel tract, the Roman Road, the three circles…what next? We can feel totally paralyzed by all the options and what to do next. It's like when you look at your spouse and ask, “What do you want for dinner?” and they answer, “Whatever you want…” You forget what restaurants even exist because there are so many options.

Thankfully, when it comes to “what should we teach”, we can look and see what Jesus would teach. Matthew records for us the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus, surrounded by the crowds, goes up on the mountain, sits down, and begins to teach.

I think it is fair to say that whatever Jesus teaches, it is probably a great place to start.

Why do a Summary?

The Sermon on the Mount is of major importance. Why is that? It is a summary of everything Jesus taught.

The late great theologian D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says, “This sermon may be said to be a perfect picture of the life of the kingdom of God.” To the point, he goes on to say, “If this Sermon is not relevant to you, then you are not a Christian.”

The early Church spoke about it constantly. Irenaeus, Tertullian, and even Augustine spoke about these three chapters often. Augustine called it “a perfect standard of the Christian life.” If it was important to them, it probably would be incredibly important to us.

It must be obeyed. Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “The only proper response to this word which Jesus brings… is simply to do it.” While it is for us to follow, we often don’t. Theologian John Stott says, “The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best-known part of the teaching of Jesus… yet arguably it is the least understood, and certainly it is the least obeyed.”

My hope is that if we take our time, try to look at the big picture, we will not only understand these teachings better, but also be able to do them.

The Character of the Kingdom (Matthew 5:3-16)

How does Jesus begin his sermon? Jesus does not begin by telling us what to do. He does not begin by even telling us what to be. Jesus begins by telling us the blessedness of who we are.

If you are a Christian, you automatically receive these blessings because these are the marks of people transformed by Jesus. If you be a Christian this should be your attitude. Often, people read the beatitudes as, “This is what you need to be,” or “you need to work on this!” Instead, Jesus is saying if you are in His Kingdom, this is what you are.

The characteristics of the blessed are all characteristics we see in the Old Testament. “Blessed are the meek” is quoting the Old Testament scriptures. Why is that a reality? The Kingdom of God is completely opposite to this world.

The World vs. The Kingdom

The world tells you if you want better you gotta be better. Grab the bull by the horns. Nice guys finish last. If you want something, you do whatever it takes. Life is all about you and what you can do to get whatever you want.

The Kingdom of God tells you that you are not good enough by yourself. You cannot earn the blessings of God. The world says fill yourself. Jesus says empty yourself.

This is why the characteristics of the blessed look so strange: the poor in spirit, the mourning, and the persecuted. It is all because you are required to lose your life and allow God to give you everything you need. Matthew 16:25 tells us, “25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.”

Christians are blessed, not because they earn their own gifts, but because they are ready to receive the blessings of God.

What are the blessings?

When we talk about blessings, we often mean temporal blessings: Your health. Your wealth. Your career and influence. Your relationships.

These are all great, but they are all temporary. We will all eventually die. You cannot take your money and stuff with you. They will replace you as soon as you are gone. All our earthly relationships end as they exist here. Are these real good blessings if they are corruptible? This is why Jesus says, “For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”

The real blessings Jesus is talking about are not corruptible; you cannot lose them.

How do we get those blessings?

The only way to receive the real blessings is you have to receive them. Look at the verbiage we see here:

Inherit — not earned but given.

Shown mercy — not earned but given.

Filled — not earned but given.

If you are a Christian, the beatitudes show us who you now are and what God gives you as blessings. You mourn over your sin. You give mercy because you receive mercy. You can endure persecution because you know the promise of Heaven.

Jesus then reminds Christians WHO they are. Jesus brings up two identifiers of Christians: Salt and Light

What that essentially means is if you are a Christian, your major job in this world is to preserve and grow God’s Kingdom here on earth. Who we are always leads to what we do. We never start with doing. Once we accept the blessings, and accept who we are in Christ, then what we do will flow out of that.

If you are not excited by these blessings, if you are not allowing yourself to be used, then the beatitudes simply ask if you be a Christian at all. The Sermon on the Mount is not just teaching us how to behave better. It is exposing how deeply we need Jesus. Which leads us to the Heart of the Law.

The Heart of the Law (Matthew 5:17-48)

Why focus on the Law? One of the reasons people do not accept Jesus is that they ask, “Why do I need him?” You will answer, “To be in a relationship with God… to go to Heaven.” And I have heard this over and over: “God and I are good.” “I am a good person.”

Then they will tell you all the things they consider makes them a good person: I pray every night. I help people when they ask. I am a good parent. I am a hard worker. And while I am sure you are a fine parent… And I am sure you are a good worker… Your goodness isn’t compared to little Johnny across the road. Your goodness isn’t compared to Susie Q who works down the hall. Your goodness is compared to goodness itself.

You are compared to God. Are you good like God is good? I hope you have enough humility to admit no. It reminds me of when I went to school. One time I didn’t do great on a test. I didn’t think it was a big deal because everyone did bad on the test. So I showed my mom the test and confidently told her, “Don’t worry everyone did bad on the test.” You know what she told me? “I don’t care what everyone else made, I only care about what you made.” Anyone else got a mama like that? She did not try to compare me to the other kids, she only cared about my grade. God does the same thing. He does not care how you compare to your neighbor. He does not care how you compare to your coworker. He only cares whether you have scored a perfect score, if you have perfect righteousness.

The Law shows where we failed. One of the things we do as humans is we try to create lists in order to justify if we are good or not: I have never murdered. I have never cheated on my spouse. I wouldn’t say I am a liar.

However, we tend to give ourselves a ton of credit for not doing the “big bad stuff” while making excuses for the other things we do. The Pharisees do the same thing. The Pharisees focused on performative obedience, technical innocence, and surface level righteousness. They were always worried about looking good. Jesus goes after: Motives, desires, and the inner person.

The Law was not a check list to cross off; the Law was a mirror to self-examination. “You have heard it said.” Jesus is here to expose the excuses we hide behind. He calls out the sin and uncovers the deeper truths we tend to try to write off.

Jesus calls out: Anger, not just murder. Lust, not just adultery. Honesty, not just your promises. Loving your enemy, not just those who love you.

What is the standard? Jesus tells us in the last verse of this chapter, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” If you were honest, even for a moment, you know you don’t meet and cannot meet that standard. When we take a look at the Law, we recognize how much we need Jesus. Jesus tells us, “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

We, again, receive our blessings, not because we earned them, but because Jesus restores what we cannot. So Jesus exposes something in Matthew 5 — we are not as good as we think we are. But in Matthew 6, He goes even deeper, because even when we try to do good… we often do it for the wrong reasons.

The Sincerity of the Soul (Matthew 6)

God cares about your intentions. Matthew 5 shows you are not as righteous as you think. Matthew 6 shows even your righteousness is not as pure as you think. Jesus shifts from what we do to why we do it. The Pharisees did all the “what.” They gave to the poor, they prayed, and they fasted. But the Pharisees did it for the wrong reasons. They wanted to be seen, to be respected, and to be admired. Jesus is saying their actions are not the problem, their why is the problem. They wanted to be seen. If they wanted to be seen, Jesus says no problem, you got your reward.

Who are you living for? Are you here today to worship God, or are you here to be seen? This begs the question: Why do you worship? Can we be honest about this? Have you ever come to church just so you can say you went to church? Have you ever come to church to make your wife or your husband happy? Have you ever come to church because you know you should have your kids in church? I am not saying these are bad things, but if the reason you are in church is primarily because of people and not because of God, I think we need to reevaluate some things. Can I be honest? I’ve gone to church before because I worked there. I didn’t come locked in on God. I have come so I could be seen by others and keep my job. I have had to repent of this. I know how easy it can be for me to go through the motions that it can happen to ANY of us.

The right thing done for the wrong reason misses the heart of worship. We can all put on our church clothes, perform and act like good Christians, but Jesus isn't just looking for religious activity; He is looking for people who have come to worship him.

We do not need just better behavior, we need a transformed heart. If you are trying to do good without the power of God, even your good works will not be good enough. Isaiah 64:6 tells us, “All of us have become like something unclean and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment.”

What is the right motivation? You must seek to do good for God. This means: You give generously, when no one else would know. You pray often when no one else sees. You even fast for the purpose of being close with God, not to impress others.

Jesus describes it as what you do in “secret.” The reason you would do this in secret is because you want to please and know God. God sees this and blesses by revealing more of Himself to you. So, why are you here today? The Sermon on the Mount demands a response. Every great sermon ends with a decision or a challenge to be made. Jesus points to the decision you need to make today. To choose the narrow gate, or the wide one.

The Choice of the Two Ways (Matthew 7)

You have two choices. Jesus makes it clear over and over again, you have two choices: Two gates, two fruits, two foundations.

When looking at the gates, one is broad and easy. It requires no change. Doing whatever you want to in life. One is narrow and hard. Dying to yourself. Trusting completely in Jesus.

When looking at the fruit, bad trees produce bad fruit. Good trees produce good fruits. Whatever is inside eventually is seen on the outside.

When looking at the two foundations, one house on the sand. One house on the rock. When the storms come what is left standing? Both houses look fine before the storm. But soon one house will fall while the other will be standing.

You cannot fool God. Ecclesiastes 12:14 tells us, “For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.” You can fool your family. You can fool your friends. You can even fool me. You will never fool God.

You must make a choice. Either you will choose Jesus, choose the narrow path, and follow Him. Or you can play the dangerous game of trying to be good enough on your own. The most sobering part, to me, of all this is verses 21-23. Jesus tells us, “21 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?” 23 Then I will announce to them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!”’”

Do not try to fool God. Do not straddle the fence. You either give God your all today, or not. This is your decision and all the blessings, all the promises, and your eternal salvation depends on what you choose.

Main Point: Seek First the Kingdom.

The Sermon on the Mount forces us to stop pretending. Jesus shows us that Christianity is not about: Looking religious, acting morally, or trying harder than everyone else.

The Sermon on the Mount shows us that our hearts are broken, our motives are mixed, and our righteousness is not enough.

But instead of leaving us hopeless, Jesus calls us to Himself. The Christian life is not about impressing God; it is about being transformed by Him. The question you must ask yourself this morning is have you been transformed by Jesus, or could you be one whom Jesus says, “I never knew you…”

Challenge

Do something for God alone: Pray privately. Give secretly. Serve with no one knowing.

Just do something to worship God without any other agenda.