NOTES: 11/13/11 PM
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The Gospel According To Matthew

11-13-11 PM

Session 2

Sermon on the Mount 5:1–7:29

The setting 5:1, 2… And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.

The Beatitudes

² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Those who are humble by choice & by discipline

⁴Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Actively sharing the hurt of Jesus over this fallen world

⁵Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Gentle as a lamb in ones own cause; strong as a lion in the cause of Christ

⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Passion for righteousness displayed practically in society & the church

⁷Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

Sparing judgment, showing compassion & demonstrating kindness to those too weak to help themselves

⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Motives holy & conscience clean

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Positive Intervention to create peace

¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.¹¹“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Godly integrity that is rewarded with worldly venom

The Similitudes

¹³“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

Salt seasons, preserves & creates thirst

¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.¹⁵Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

We are to reflect the light of Christ

We must never shade the light

We must always display the Lord’s light at the greatest point of advantage for His Kingdom

Jesus Fulfills the Law

5:17... “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸

Jesus discharges all responsibility to the law

He does this by meeting all legal requirements

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. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ 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.

Not one punctuation mark will be omitted

You break one- you break them all

Unless your righteousness is beyond the righteousness of religion you cannot go to heaven

Life Is A Heart Issue

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ (Continued)

²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

Anger management is a Number “1” priority with Christ

And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Raca= Aramic for empty headed; ignorant

You fool= Declares responsibility- empty on purpose

²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Reconciliation more important than religion

²⁵ Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.²⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Fess up- & Pay up

Adultery

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’²⁸ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Lust is a heart issue

²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

A bombastic exhortation to put away anything that hinders your faith walk

A warning most serious to the danger of undisciplined thinking

Divorce

³¹“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³² But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Divorce is a disaster to any family

The most amicable divorce still leaves scars

Divorce sets the stage for future deceptions

Oaths

³³ “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Speak the truth all the time & you won’t have to affirm the times when you are speaking the truth

Retaliation

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰ If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Here is the principle of tolerance

Be twice as tolerant as you want to be

Love

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Love is not validated by the response

True Love is not motivated by the response

Love is a manifestation of godly character

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