Challenged By The Sermon On The Mount

Feature 3 – November 2010 – Grace & Truth Magazine

CHALLENGED BY
The Sermon On The Mount

Some of the most profound words ever uttered are found in the Gospel of Matthew 5:1-7:29. A short parallel version, called the “Sermon On The Plain,” is found in Luke 6:17-49. In both places, Jesus taught His disciples while surrounded by a multitude of listeners. Let’s look first at what the Sermon on the Mount is not, and then look at what it is.

This teaching is not a prescription for how to obtain eternal life, as if our fulfillment of its demands would guarantee eternal blessing. Neither is it a “Magna Carta” for the Church, a piece of legislation that would give authority to the body of Christ for a special position in this world. Nor is it only for the disciples at that time, without application to the Church today, for Paul repeats many points in his letters for our instruction. Instead, this teaching is simply the proclamation of the King concerning His Kingdom. His subjects will be governed by these righteous principles when His kingdom is established in this world. But for today these principles should rule in the hearts of His people.

Righteousness Defined: Blessed Are ... (Mt. 5:1-12)
All too often our perception of righteousness is in outward appearances, such as clean-cut, well-dressed, first-class, etc. None of these things are mentioned in Christ’s teachings. In fact, many who have been perceived as righteous have fallen into grave sin. You can’t tell a book by its cover, but by what’s inside. All of these attributes from Matthew 5:3-12 are found in the inner man – poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peace making, persecuted for righteousness.

Specific blessings are promised to those who have this inner righteousness. We read in the Bible about individuals who have exhibited some of these characteristics, and we can exhibit them as well. Imagine a world where everyone valued such attributes and sought to display them!

Test Of Righteousness: Salt And Light (Mt. 5:13-20)
Salt penetrates; light reveals. Salt brings out the true flavor; light brings out the true color. Salt preserves from corruption; light rebukes corruption. Salt smarts the wound of sin; light searches out secret sins. True righteousness sanctifies in these ways, especially under persecution for righteousness’ sake or for His name’s sake (Mt. 5:10-11). Jesus’ character and conduct were always in perfect harmony with what was written previously by the prophets. If Christ occupies us, our appreciation of His perfection will allow us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, for we will purify ourselves, even as He is pure, with the salt of His character and the light of His conduct reproduced in us (1 Jn. 3:3).

Thus our character and conduct are revealed as we look to Him who did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it (Mt. 5:17). Let us walk in the light as He is in the light, and let our speech be with grace, seasoned with salt (1 Jn. 1:7; Col. 4:6). Our righteousness does not stem from an outward appearance like that of the Pharisees, but from the mind of Christ that now dwells in us to fulfill all righteousness, because He is righteous.

Results Of Righteousness: The Extra Mile (Mt. 5:21-48)
Obedience is often the result of fear. The Old Testament Law, with its sure and severe judgments, was conduct-oriented. But Christ wants our behavior to be in line with His heart, simply doing God’s will out of love for Him and for those He loves. This is one aspect of going the extra mile: not merely showing outward obedience, but having a steadfast, inward desire to do what is right. He expands upon the Law by condemning the desire to sin in the heart as much as the act of sinning. Hating our brother is the same as murder; lusting after a woman is the same as adultery. If we thought we were good enough to be accepted by God on our own merit, think again, for who has never hated or lusted?

We must go the extra mile to repent of every hidden sin and purify ourselves even as He is pure, even if it takes plucking out the “lust of the eye,” cutting off the “lust of the flesh,” subduing the “pride of life” (1 Jn. 3:3, 2:16 KJV). We must turn away from every temptation to adultery, whether physical or mental, and stay with the spouse God has given us, loving, respecting, and leaving the result with God. There is no need to make an oath to God; He has done all on our behalf already. We should do all in our power to let our word be dependable, as His is, but recognize that we do not have His power to control circumstances. Then, in service, turn the other cheek as Christ did, go the extra mile for others, and give as Christ gave of Himself. We should love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that despitefully use us. Why? So that we may be the children of our Father in heaven. If we belong to Him, we should be like Him.

Righteousness Towards Man, God And Self (Mt. 6:1-18)
We serve mankind by acts of charity. We serve God in prayer. We serve ourselves by fasting. Let’s examine our motives for doing good in these ways.

Do we do good to others – whether volunteering to serve, giving money or other material assistance, or even preaching the gospel – because we want to be seen and praised by men, or because we simply want to do what the Lord says to do? Do we pray to impress those around us with our eloquence, or to speak with our Father in heaven? Do we repeat the “Lord’s Prayer” as a “vain repetition”? He said we should pray “after this manner” (Mt. 6:9), not necessarily using these very words. This “Disciples’ Prayer” – the Lord’s is in John 17 – gives us points to consider when praying, recognizing that all prayer must be according to His values in order to be “in His name.”

Fasting is much misunderstood, because it is so often practiced selfishly. It is not that we could eat but don’t, as in some self-control programs, but that we simply do not. The reason we don’t eat is because we are too busy doing the Lord’s work, or we have given our food to those in need (Isa. 58:7). Godly self-control is not eating the food put in front of us, but rather it is giving to others before giving it to ourselves, and being silent about it. As we see it, this is a true fast.

Righteous Attitudes (Mt. 6:19-34)
When it comes to the cares of life, it is easy to forsake righteous attitudes and start to fret and worry, especially when it is a day-by-day struggle to pay the bills and get enough food or clothing. Instead, we are to look beyond our present circumstances to eternal things and prepare for them. This is not to say we do not meet our responsibilities to our family and friends (1 Tim. 5:8; Prov. 13:22). In many right actions, we are setting our hearts on things above by what we do here on earth. Our motives play the major role in determining whether we are laying up treasures on earth or in heaven: “If the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Mt. 6:23).

Are we saying one thing, yet living another? Can we serve two masters? (Mt. 6:24). The cure for our care, as He shows us by His care for the birds and flowers, is simply not to be anxious. It is a decision we have to consciously make regardless of unemployment, loss of savings, or damage to property. Our heavenly Father knows our every need. Our part is to seek first His kingdom, His righteousness and His will. He will take care of the rest.

Righteous Relationships (Mt. 7:1-12)
Relationships are the cornerstone of our existence. Even when all else is gone, relationships will endure. Relationships are cause and effect dependent. If one says or does a certain thing, the other will say and do something in response. Problems arise in relationships when we think more highly of ourselves than the others in the relationship. Thus the exhortation not to judge. Matthew 7:1 is probably the most wellknown and most misused verse in the Bible today. And because we don’t understand the context, we become blind to all the unrighteous acts of men, saying we “don’t want to judge.”

The point of “judge not” (Mt. 7:1) is that we should not have a fault-finding attitude, condemning someone when we have no right to do so, since we ourselves may be guilty of the same or worse. However, to point out in a caring way what is obviously sinful is always appropriate. King David condemned to death the man who had taken his neighbor’s little lamb to feed a traveler, (a hard-hearted thing to do, but not a sin worthy of death), when he himself was guilty of far greater sin (2 Sam. 12:1-12). If we really want to help people we need to examine ourselves first, clean up our own lives, and with meekness build relationships with them.

Within this context, then, we should never settle a disagreement with a fellow believer by going to court before unbelievers (1 Cor. 6:1-6), here called dogs. It would be far better to take the wrong. Why should we cast such a precious relationship before the unwise, who are like swine? We only open ourselves to their unholy judgment and the mockery of neighbors and co-workers who know we call ourselves Christians. If we ask, seek, and knock, and God responds favorably, should we not respond favorably to our fellow believers? The golden rule is to do to others whatever we would want done to ourselves. Arbitration will be unnecessary in such cases.

Hypocritical Righteousness (Mt. 7:13-27)
Many rest in a false sense of righteousness and so require these warnings. There is a way that seems right, but that way leads to death (Prov. 14:12). Whatever is “right” in our own eyes can really be dead wrong if it is not in line with the narrow way of obeying God; the definition of iniquity is doing our own thing, going our own way. Religious pretension always walks that broad way. We can recognize it by what is done in comparison to what is said. Only good trees bring forth good fruit (Mt. 7:18). What fruit of grace do we see in a person’s workplace, home, and close relationships? If they speak contrary to the Word of God, there is no light there (Isa. 8:20). They may say that they did wonderful things in the Lord’s name, but He will say “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Mt. 7:23).

Are we scared that He might say that to us? This concern should move us to do the will of the Father in heaven. His primary will is for us to trust in Him alone and not in ourselves in any way: “And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life” (Jn. 6:40). That’s building on the rock, so that when, in the storms of life, fears and doubts assault, we will be able to stand and not fall into condemnation. “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12).

Challenged By His Sermon
Those listening to Jesus on the mount that day were astonished at His teaching. Are we? He has all authority under heaven given to Him, and we are under His authority. Let’s live accordingly.

By Tom & Susan Steere