Ep. 221. Matthew 5 | Sermon on the Mount Part 1

EPISODE 221

SERMON ON THE MOUNT PART 1: MATTHEW 5:1-20

When approaching the section of Scripture we call "The Sermon on the Mount," we have traditionally been taught to read them as moralistic instructions for believers. In this first section, "The Beatitudes," we are generally encouraged to follow the kind of behavior and attitudes outlined in these verses. It takes little time to see the problem with that moralistic approach because it inevitably makes salvation a product of works rather than faith.

Consider, if you will, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy." We have to ask ourselves if we believe God's mercy is reciprocal to our showing of mercy or if God's mercy is gifted to us by grace through faith. It isn't hard to realize that God showed us his mercy long before we even had a concept of mercy.

Or what about, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God?" There isn't a single one among us who is pure of heart on our own accord. Purity of heart is the benefit of having come to God in faith. But if we miss that all of these verses are related to Old Testament texts, then we will likely miss the point. Remember, the gospels are the revelation of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament texts.

The biggest mistake we make in Matthew 5 is the misunderstanding of "I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them." People often interpret the first part, "I have not come to abolish the Law," as an instruction for the believer to keep holding to the Jewish Law. Yet, we seldom discuss the fact that Jesus said, "but to fulfill them." We tend to question how Jesus might have come to fulfill the rules, but we miss the point that "the Law," from the Jewish perspective, constitutes not just the first five books of the Bible but also the prophets and the Psalms.

We will do better as believers and Bible readers when we remember that the Bible's story is, first of all, the story of redemption, not a moral guidebook.

ADDITIONAL READING: 1 Corinthians 14:34; 1 Corinthians 9:9; Acts 13:15; Luke 2:24; Matthew 11:13; Matthew 12:36; Luke 24: 44-45; Luke 5:32; Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17; Philippians 2:15; John 8:12; John 12:36; Romans 9:4-5; Matthew 23: 29-36; Isaiah 61:1-3; Psalm 107:9; Isaiah 55:1-2; Psalm 24; Isaiah 57:15; Psalm 37:11; Psalm 18:25