School of the Bible - Sermon on the Mount 1.2

  • Gordon Simmonds
  • Jan 27, 2009
  • Series: School of the Bible - Sermon on the Mount

5. Background To The Sermon On The Mount

Matthew 5:1-2

5.1 Matthew 5-7 is one of the most practical areas of teaching, because Jesus was instructing His disciples on how to live their lives in front of people.

5.2 Augustine referred to it as the highest standard of morality and as the perfect measure of the Christian life.[1]

5.3 "The Sermon on the Mount's call to moral and ethical living is so high that some have dismissed it as being completely unrealistic or have projected its fulfilment to the future kingdom."[2]

5.4 This sermon was probably early on in the ministry of Jesus. He had been baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit had descended upon Him, and the voice of God came from heaven saying, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Soon afterwards He went into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, and when He came out, He was filled with power.

5.5 This teaching was specifically to the twelve disciples and not the multitudes, who followed Him. It is quite likely that as many as 60,000-100,000 people followed Jesus at times.

  • 5.5.1 Here he sees the need of the masses is so great that He separates Himself, goes up into a mountain where it is difficult for the masses to follow Him, He takes His disciples with Him where he teaches them the Sermon on the Mount. About halfway through chapter 7, the masses again find Jesus.

5.6 What is interesting is that Jesus only teaches a basic salvation message when the multitudes are around (second half of chapter 7), but in chapters 5, 6 and the first half of chapter 7, Jesus deals with the tougher issues when only the disciples are present.

5.7 The Sermon on the Mount is progressive:

  • 5.7.1 It starts with a simple teaching Matthew 5 recognizing and isolating sin.
  • 5.7.2 Jesus then talks about the sins of murder, adultery, taking oaths and retaliation.  
  • 5.7.3 In chapter 6, He leaves the area of sin and gets into good things like giving, prayer, and fasting. 
  • 5.7.4 He then deals with motives.  
  • 5.7.5 As we progress through chapters 5 and 6, we are approaching maturity. When we get to chapter 7, He talks of the easiest sins a believer can fall into when growing up -the areas of pride and judging others.


Lesson 2 - The Beatitudes #1

Outline

  1. Introduction to the Beatitudes
  2. Blessed are the poor in spirit
  3. Blessed are those who mourn
  4. Blessed are the meek.

1. Introduction to the Beatitudes.

1.1 There are eight beatitudes.

  • 1.1.1 Even though they are separated into eight verses we should consider this as a whole, not selecting ones to apply but looking to the entire passage as wise counsel for kingdom living.

1.2 Each beatitude starts with the word "blessed".

  • 1.2.1 The Greek word for blessed makarios means happy, jubilant. It comes from a root mak, meaning large, lengthy.
  • 1.2.2 In the beatitudes, the Lord indicates not only the characters that are blessed, but the nature of that which is the highest good.

2. Blessed are the poor in spirit

Matthew 5:3         Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2.1 In contrast to the word for blessed, the word for poor (ptochos) has connotations of bankruptcy, being a beggar.

2.2 Poor in spirit refers to someone who sees himself empty outside of Christ.

2.3 When a person is poor in spirit, he has a complete absence of pride, no self-assurance and no self-reliance.

2.4 To be poor in spirit describes the believer who no longer places his confidence in material security or other false gods (the kingdom of the world). Instead he places his trust in God and thereby will experience the kingdom of heaven.

  • 2.4.1 The New English Bible rendition of this is: "How blest are those who know that they are poor." One thing that is clear is that in order to receive the blessing associated, one needs to have a revelation of his state of "poverty"!

2.5 The Kingdom of Heaven/God:

  • 2.5.1 The result of being poor in spirit is "the kingdom of heaven". The term "Kingdom of Heaven/God" is used more than 80 times in New Testament.
  •  2.5.2 Is there a difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God? 
  • No! The phrases are used interchangeably in Mathew and the other gospels e.g. "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" Matthew 10:7, while in Luke 9:2 "the kingdom of God is at hand". 
  • 2.5.3 What then is the Kingdom of Heaven? 
  • The Greek word basileia from which the word "kingdom" is derived has two principle meanings: "a king's rule, reign, dominion, or authority" and the territory or people over whom a king reigns."  
  • 2.5.4 We can therefore say that the believer who is poor in spirit will reign in life! 
  • 2.5.5 Is the Kingdom of Heaven future or present? 
  • Both! When Jesus defeated Satan, He in effect began to reign and will reign forever, even though the effect of His kingdom will become greater in the future. 
  • 2.5.6 Is the Kingdom of Heaven an inner spiritual reality or an outward visible rule? 
  • Again the answer is both! When there is a transformation inwardly, it must make an impact outwardly. 
  • 2.5.7 The new birth is the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. John 3:3. From here the person who applies the Word grows and experiences more of the reign of God in his life. This is the blessing associated with the "poor in spirit"!

Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 5:19; Matthew 7:21; Matthew 13:31; Romans 14:17;

1 Corinthians 4:20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:24 

Challenge: Believers are to be humble not haughty, never having a know-it-all attitude. There should be a showing of respect both upwards and downwards.