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.