Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
The Sermon for This Week is: Introduction To The Sermon On The Mount - Matthew 5:1-2 - And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and
when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
INTRODUCTION
1. In Matthew 5-7, we have recorded the most famous sermon that has ever been preached...
a. Commonly referred to as The Sermon On The Mount
b. It has touched more hearts, and in turn has sparked more sermons than any other
2. The setting for the sermon is given in - Matthew 5:1-2 - And seeing the multitudes, he went
up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
a. He
saw the multitudes that were following Him - Matthew 4:25 - And there followed him great multitudes of people
from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and
from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
b. He therefore ascended a mountain
1) Many believe this refers to a natural amphitheater between the “Horns of Hattin”, on a
slope that arises above Capernaum (Believers’ Study Bible)
2) This may be the same occasion as The Sermon On The Plain - cf. Luke
6:17-49 - And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great
multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and
to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude
sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. And he lifted
up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are
ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when
men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil,
for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward
is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto
the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn
and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to
the false prophets. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which
hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy
coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that
taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love
them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if
ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what
thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your
enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of
the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the
evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running
over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the
ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his
master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the
beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull
out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast
out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble
bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance
of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which
I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to
whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation
on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded
upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built
an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house
was great.
c. When His disciples came to Him, He sat down and began to speak
1) It was common to speak while sitting, rather than standing as we do today
2) Cf. Matthew 13:1-2 - The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And
great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the
shore. - John 8:2 - And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him;
and he sat down, and taught them.
3. What is Jesus talking about in this sermon?
a. What is the main theme?
b. What is the content of this sermon?
[In this study we shall introduce The Sermon On The Mount by seeking to answer these two questions.
To begin, let’s determine...]
I. THE THEME OF THE SERMON
A. NOTE THE SETTING LEADING UP TO THE SERMON...
1. We read of the preaching of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:1-3 - In those days came
John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For
this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way
of the Lord, make his paths straight.
a. Who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord
b. The theme of his preaching concerned “the kingdom of heaven”
2. In Mt 4, we read of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry
a. After His temptation, Jesus preaches a message similar to John’s - Matthew 4:17 - From
that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
b. His preaching in Galilee pertained to the “gospel of the kingdom” - Matthew 4:23 - And
Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner
of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
-- Could Jesus’ theme be “the kingdom of heaven”?
B. NOTE A PHRASE USED THROUGHOUT THE SERMON...
1. “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” - Matthew 5:3 - Blessed
are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” - Matthew 5:10 - Blessed
are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
3. “...shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven” - Matthew 5:19 - Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least
in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
4. “...shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” - Matthew 5:19 - Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least
in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
5. “...will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” - Matthew 5:20 - For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness
of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
6. “Your kingdom come” - Matthew 6:10 - Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
7. “But seek first the kingdom of God” - Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
8. “. . . shall enter the kingdom of heaven” - Matthew 7:21 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven.
-- Isn’t Jesus talking about “the kingdom of heaven”?
[Both the setting and His repeated use a particular phrase should lead us to conclude that the theme
of Jesus’ sermon on the mount is: “The Gospel Of The Kingdom Of Heaven”. With this in mind, let’s
briefly consider the content of the sermon as I offer the following outline...]
II. THE CONTENT OF THE SERMON
A. THE CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM...
1. Their character and blessedness - Matthew 5:3-12 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are
the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall
be filled. Blessed are the
merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are
the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness'
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice,
and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
a. Qualities to be found in those who will be citizens of this kingdom
b. The blessings enjoyed by these citizens
2. Their relation to the world - Matthew 5:13-16 - Ye are the salt
of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but
to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are
in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven.
a. They are the salt of the earth
b. They are the light of the world
B. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE KINGDOM...
1. In contrast to the “traditional interpretations and applications”
of the Law - Matthew 5:17-48 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom
of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,
ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them
of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and
whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be
in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest
that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy
way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine
adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the
judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou
shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard
that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you,
That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that
thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend
thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable
for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife,
let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away
his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced
committeth adultery. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou
shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you,
Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his
footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou
swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication
be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Ye have heard that
it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye
resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy
cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with
him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou
away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine
enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be
the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain
on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do
not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more
than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
a. Jesus has not come to destroy or show disrespect to the Law
1) It will not pass away until it is fulfilled
2) Those who violate it teach contrary to it (while it exists) will be least in the kingdom
b. Jesus does require that the righteousness of those in the kingdom exceed the righteousness of the Scribes
and Pharisees
c. He illustrates by a series of contrasts concerning:
1) Murder and anger
2) Adultery
3) Divorce
4) The swearing of oaths
5) The taking of revenge
6) The treatment of enemies
-- In each case His teaching is consistent with the Law, but not the traditional interpretations and applications
of the Law
2. With respect to man’s relation to God - Matthew 6:1-33 - Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your
Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine
alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou
doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in
secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou
prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they
love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto
you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when
thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be
not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive
men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men
their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast,
be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily
I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and
wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret:
and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is
in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold
to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you,
Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is
not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they
sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And
why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the
oven, shall he not much more clothe
you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What
shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all
these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
a. Charitable deeds
b. Prayer
c. Fasting
d. Materialism
e. Anxiety
3. With respect to man’s relation to man - Matthew 7:1-12 - Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall
be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest
thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out
the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample
them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek,
and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there
of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he
give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,
how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
a. Judging others
b. Asking, seeking, knocking
c. The golden rule
C. THE EXHORTATION TO ENTER THE KINGDOM...
1. The beginning of the way - Matthew 7:13-14 - Enter ye in
at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad
is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which
go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow
is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find
it.
a. It will be narrow and difficult
b. Not many will find it
2. The progress along the way - Matthew 7:15-20 - Beware of
false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their
fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt
tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither
can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth
not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
a. Beware of false prophets who are wolves in sheep’s clothing
b. You will know them by their fruits
3. The end of the way - Matthew 7:21-27 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart
from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a
wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built
his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
a. In which “sayers” will be contrasted with “doers”
b. In which “hearers” will be contrasted with “doers”
CONCLUSION
1. In view of its content, we can appreciate why this sermon has been called...
a. The Magna Carta of His Kingdom
b. The Manifesto of the King
2. Our next study will begin a look at the sermon in closer detail...
a. With the first of two lessons on The Beatitudes - Matthew 5:3-12 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they
shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are
they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for
they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great
is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which
were before you.
b. In which we examine the character and blessedness of those who are citizens of the kingdom of heaven
Have you responded to the exhortation to enter the kingdom? Remember the words of our Lord to Nicodemus in John 3:3-5 -
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter
the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15-16 - And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Prayer:
Lord I truly thank You for giving me the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will
give them Your eternal blessings and accept them into Your heart - this I pray
in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Amen
Peace
be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace
be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. - Ephesians 6:23-24
This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement: That it never
be used for profit.
