A different kind of message

Not filled with political correctness

The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:28-29

 

I.    Introduction. 

A.     Here is a much needed message, one the people had not heard from any of their political or religious leaders. 

1.      A message they knew was straight from God, as it spoke directly to their hearts. 

2.      The common people wanted a message with the authority of God behind it, and when they heard the words of Christ, they knew he spoke with authority, and not as the scribes. 

B.     There are three points to this message. 

1.      The true Christian life, as opposed to everything else. 

2.      The people that hear God’s message are the “missionaries” God is sending as a light to the world. 

3.      A detailed clarification as to the way to follow Christ in spirit and in truth. 

 

II.    Point # 1 – The true Christian life, as opposed to everything else. 

A.     Matthew 5:1-12 – Jesus began his message with “How to find true happiness”. 

1.      Not the sick kind of happiness that comes from trying to be self-fulfilled, or from satisfying the desires of selfish motivation. 

2.      This happiness is now, and grows to greater happiness. 

3.      This happiness comes from a full satisfying life of giving of yourself to a cause much nobler than fulfilling the selfishness of self-proclamation or self-assertiveness, or self-proclamation. 

4.      Christ taught the source of true joy, and true self-sacrifice for a nobler cause: the result of knowing and possessing eternal life. 

5.      Verse 11 positively intermingles earthly happiness in persecution because of doing good. 

6.      Christ did not want his followers to believe is some sort of utopian mindset that caused them to feel sorry for themselves or be discouraged with the true way of life because others did not understand their lifestyle and made fun of them. 

 

III.    Point # 2 – The people that hear God’s message are the “missionaries” God is sending as a light to the world.  (This is not a paid earthly position, as in many religious organizations!)

A.     Matthew 5:13-16 – Jesus immediately encouraged his followers by boldly proclaiming them to be the salt of the earth. 

1.      Jesus did not lambaste the Pharisees or religious leaders, and by his lambasting cause his followers to be encouraged. 

2.      That would be negative. 

3.      Instead, Jesus immediately encouraged his followers in the correct path, giving them strength to walk the narrow path even if they faced persecution. 

4.      Jesus never mentioned getting even with those who would persecute them for their lifestyle, instead taught his followers to be faithful to eternal values, as the foundation of their happiness. 

5.      Jesus did not teach his followers to follow their heart – instead he taught them to follow the teachings of the law, which is the next point he will discuss with them. 

6.      Jesus taught higher values, spiritual values, not lower values or retaliation for anything. 

7.      There is no mention of any sort of retaliation in all the Sermon on the Mount. 

8.      That single point should speak to our conscience about our own retaliation or feelings of retaliation. 

B.     Jesus instructs his disciples that if any do not see the true values of an honest lifestyle, there is only one way they will ever see those values – by observing the correct lifestyles of his followers. 

1.      Notice carefully the words Jesus chose. 

2.      The lives of the true followers of Christ are a constant witness to those who do not understand Christian values. 

3.      Jesus did not say to go preach to them and “hound” them with the Bible. 

4.      Instead he instructs his followers to be faithful daily to true Christian principles. 

 

IV.    Point # 3 – A detailed clarification as to the way to follow Christ in spirit and in truth. 

A.     Matthew 5:17-20 – The first thing Christ desired his followers to understand is that he preaches nothing new. 

1.      Christ freely declares the spirit and purpose of the law of God. 

2.      The religious folks of that day (and this day) have perverted the purpose of the law from “instruction in how to live before a most holy God” to “instruction in how to be saved”. 

B.     From Matthew 5:21-48, Christ began each section of his message with words similar to “you have heard it has been said” to “here is the correct interpretation”. 

1.      Matthew 5:21-26 – A correction on personal anger. 

2.      Matthew 5:27-30 – a correction on personal purity. 

3.      Matthew 5:31-32 – a correction on marriage and divorce. 

4.      Matthew 5:33-37 – a correction on personal integrity – keeping your word. 

5.      Matthew 5:38-42 – a correction on satisfying personal vengeance. 

6.      Matthew 5:43-48 – a correction on obtaining peace in the midst of persecution. 

C.     From Matthew 6:1 to Matthew 7:27, Christ instructs his follows in true religion with no comparisons to any other religion or anything they have previously been taught. 

1.      Matthew 6:1-4 – regarding religion – how to give tithes and offerings to God. 

2.      Matthew 6:5-15 – regarding religion – how to pray: spiritually and effectively. 

3.      Matthew 6:16-18 – regarding religion – how to fast: without being a hypocrite. 

4.      Matthew 6:19-34 – regarding religion – how to be rich: without loving money. 

5.      Matthew 7:1-5 – regarding religion – how to judge truth/error the way God would judge them. 

6.      Matthew 7:6 – regarding religion – how to keep the truth without wasting it. 

7.      Matthew 7:7-12 – regarding religion – an insight into God lovingly providing for the earthly desires and necessities of his children. 

8.      Matthew 7:13-14 – regarding religion – be aware of the path you are on, knowing there are many false ways – continually re-evaluate your own progress according to the revealed will of God – the holy Bible; do not fool yourself, but evaluate yourself as God would evaluate you. 

9.      Matthew 7:15-20 – regarding religion – recognize the difference between true and false prophets. 

a.      There is no vengeance against false prophets, but an awareness of them. 

b.      Vengeance belongs to God. 

c.      I am sure it is proper to warn others of false prophets, especially those in your care, but their earthly and eternal destiny is left to God. 

10.  Matthew 7:21-23 – regarding religion – every person is accountable for himself. 

11.  Matthew 7:24-27 – regarding religion – the time to build is in the sunshine, not the storm.