Lesson Forty-One: The Sermon on the Mount (introduction)

41.1  The little town of Capernaum, where Jesus lived during His second year of ministry, has been called the cradle of Christianity.  If Capernaum was the cradle, then a mountain five miles to the north was the birthplace.  For it was on that mountainside, near Bethsaida, that Jesus first gave the "Sermon on the Mount" containing the formative teachings of His Church.  These included the Beatitudes, The Lord's Prayer, and The Golden Rule.

41.2  The "Sermon on the Mount" is not a loose collection of Jesus' sayings gathered together at some later date by His followers.  Matthew makes it clear that these teachings were all spoken at the same time, on one occasion.  There are obvious threads of logic connecting the sermon.  Jesus' thoughts are organized, and to the point.  The sermon contains an introduction, several well connected themes, and a conclusion.  On the other hand, any great teacher must teach the same truths over and over again.  There is no doubt that Jesus preached this same sermon, or parts of it, more than once.  That is why you will see parts of His Sermon on the Mount in the other gospels.

41.3  The disciples needed to be taught.  The disciples' thinking had to be changed.  The foundational GRACE of the Kingdom of Heaven had to be contrasted with the popular (Pharisaic) theology and religious practices of the day.  The crowds were secondary; but they too would hear and know what the true disciples of Christ already possessed, and what their lives in the Kingdom of Heaven would be like.  The children of the Kingdom are governed by grace!

41.4  "The Kingdom of Heaven" and the goodness of our Father in Heaven are the two great themes of the Sermon. 

41.5  The following outline is suggested:

The Children of the Father in the Grace, that is theirs.

    I.   Introduction  (Matthew 5:3-16):  

The blessed children of the Father in the Kingdom of Heaven - who they are - how blessed of God they are - despised of men - they are salt and light.

    II. The Law is in their hearts - and so controls their conduct  (Matthew 5:21-48):

The original intent of God's Law as contrasted with the corrupt teachings of the Pharisees.

    III. Beholding the Father they are freed from hypocrisy.  (Matthew 6:1-34)

Examples: Beholding the Father in prayer, forgiving, fasting, - and putting their treasures in heaven.

    IV. Correct Judgment: Seeing with the Father's eyes.  (Matthew 7:1-12):

Do not pass judgment on others - but judge yourselves to be needy of the Father's good gift - the Holy Spirit.

    V.  Following the Holy Spirit  (Matthew 7:13-23):

Live by the Law of Love. Enter by the narrow gate (by God's grace).  Follow the narrow way.  Beware false prophets who preach a different gate / false followers who follow a different way.  

    VI.  Conclusion: (Matthew 7:24-27):

Build your house (life) upon this solid rock - Jesus and His sayings.

41.6  Jesus sat on the side of a mountain near Bethsaida, but He spoke from heaven - and with that authority.

No one has seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, - He has declared Him.  John 1:18

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?  No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.  John 3:13

Jesus also had the authority of living what He said.  Following His sayings is following Him.  He is the example.

41.7  A disciple is one who learns by close association with his teacher.  Already James and John, Peter and Andrew, Nathaniel and Phillip were following Jesus as His disciples.   No doubt the other disciples, also from Galilee, heard Jesus speak that day.  All future generations of Jesus' disciples would follow the same doctrines and practices, and learn from their close association with Jesus!

41.8  The Bible records that when Jesus had finished speaking all the words of the Sermon on the Mount, the people sat in stupefied silence, they were so awed by what He had said.   For truly the Sermon on the Mount was a declaration of grace and freedom for all mankind.  The stunned audience could only sit there in silence, trying to grasp and remember everything they had just heard.  Then the buzzing began.  The fame of Jesus began to be spread abroad.  The crowds that hung on His words began to grow.

41.9  The "Sermon on the Mount" has correctly been called the Constitution of the Church!

Discussion:  Why has the "Sermon on the Mount" been called the Constitution of the Church?

Memory Verse: No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father,
                           He has declared Him.  John 1:18

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