Home Bible Study: How the Sermon on the Mount Shapes Christian Living

August 12

Step 25: From a Galilean Synagogue to Mount Tabor 

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ longest and probably most important recorded sermon. 

  It represents Jesus’ foundational instruction on what life in God’s kingdom looks like. This sermon also teaches traits that Jesus thinks a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven should have. 

                                 You will find parts of the Sermon on the Mount in these scriptures:

Matt.5:1-7:29; 4:24-25; 10:2-4; 12:15-21Mark 1:12; 3:7-19; Luke 6:12-49; 12:22-31, 57-69;16:17

Summary

I think we can sum up the Sermon on the Mount with these words: Jesus loves us and blesses us, not because we are perfect or righteous but because He is perfect and righteous. 

1. The Beatitudes – Matt.5:3-12   Teaching the rewarding but almost impossible task of living as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

• The example of Salt and Light – Matt.5:13-16    The effects a Christian life has on the world.

• True Righteousness- Matt.5:17-48  Jesus has completed the law. When we serve Him, we find a meaning that is deeper than the shallow teachings of the Pharisees.

• Love without hypocrisy-  Matt.6:1-18   Examining our motives for giving, praying, and fasting. 

• The True Christian Wealth-  Matt.6:19-34  We are freed from anxiety and fear when we serve God with a singleness of purpose and put His kingdom first. 

• Warning Against Judgement- Matt.7:1-6  The danger of judging others carelessly and harshly. Consider this: Jesus uses the word brother in this passage.  Are we being warned against judging fellow Christians or all people?  How does v.6 figure into the teaching about Judging?

• An Invitation to Pray- Matt.7:7-12   The blessing, privilege and responsibility of prayer.              Look at where the Golden Rule fits in here. Could Jesus be saying to us, “If we don’t treat people the way we want people to treat us, we cannot expect God to treat us the way we want Him to treat us.”

• The Two Ways That Men Follow- Matt7:13-20  Choose your path wisely; the easy path is seldom the right path. Choose your leaders and teachers wisely; carefully examine their fruit.  If he offers an easy way, be very skeptical. 

• To Obey God is Better Than Talking About Obedience.   Matt.7:21-27                                                                 The Jewish Pharisees thought that they were righteous and were going to heaven because they had obeyed the law perfectly.  We know that is not true because if you break even one small law at any time in your life, you are guilty of breaking all the laws.                                                                          I think there may be a danger in the Sermon on the Mount: some Christians may fall into the Pharisaical trap.  Knowledge of Jesus’ teaching is not enough; we must apply His Word to our hearts and lives.  

Tetelestai

Matt.7:28-29

When Jesus finished teaching, the people were astonished. Unlike the scribes, who taught from someone else’s writings. Jesus taught with the authority of the author Himself. 

From the Bible

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.17-20.NKJV

Douglas Huff

From Down Where the Pavement Ends

www.pavementendsministry.com