Sermon Tone Analysis

A “Ministry in Motion”

Matthew 4:23 (CSB)

23 Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

The ministry:

Teaching, because Jesus wants us to know who God is.

Preaching, because Jesus wants to motivate us to action.

Healing, because Jesus is concerned with our wholeness.

verse 25 also adds that many people from all over the region came to hear him and be around him.

There is something different happening here.

Jesus isn’t just another travelling rabbi.

People are coming from a long distance away.

There is a new, fresh authority of Jesus— and it’s being recognized.

Some folks have tried to figure out exactly where something like this would have happened near Capernaum:

Luke also describes the sermon— he even states that it happened on a “plain”— but we can see from the photo that both are possible, and it would have made good sense for Jesus to ascend one of these hillsides to teach such a large crowd.

Matthew 5:2 (ESV)

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

This was a common phrase in both Greek and Hebrew culture:

-It meant (Greek) that what followed was a “grave and significant” saying

-It meant (Jewish) that what followed was from the heart and mind.

Remember, that we have pointed out that Matthew has a goal within writing this book that Jesus, born in the royal line of David, born of a virgin fulfilling prophecy, is also an authoritative teacher— much like Moses.

This next section of scripture— in fact all of chapters 5-7 here are what is contained in the teaching that Jesus is about to do.

Scholars believe he may have delivered this “sermon on the mount” over the span of a couple days.

But take a closer look at the similarities, but also the contrasts we can see with Moses teaching (delivering the Law), and Jesus teaching (the gospel of the kingdom):

When the law was given, God descends on a mountain, Jesus ascends a mountain to deliver his teaching.

God spoke the law in lightning and thunder, Jesus speaks in a still small voice.

The people were instructed to keep their distance then, but now they are encouraged to draw near.

His disciples, particularly are welcomed to press in and listen carefully, because what he is about to teach is descriptive of what the gospel of the Kingdom of God is all about— it’s descriptive of what the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven will be like.

How they will act, what they will do— how they will respond and live.

There is no other section of scripture that is so thorough a record of what Jesus taught.

It is our best record of how Jesus declared that his followers are “set-apart” and different from everyone else.

This is a message to his followers.

We Christians must understand these words.

The Beatitudes (v.3-11)

Most people don’t understand these next passages.

They are often interpreted as trite little phrases that people might find on a greeting card— but they are far more than that.

These are matters of the heart.

This is basically a structured introduction to the whole sermon.

And you will see, that this sermon, delivered on a hillside near the sea of Galilee over 2000 years ago is just as direct, and speaks as clearly to us today— as it did to those who heard it live back then.

Blessed are...

We often think of blessed, as someone or something that is getting a benefit.

“I was blessed to receive whatever”- but in this context it might be better defined as “approved”, or affirmed.

One who is divinely approved.

It infers that this one is going to be truly “happy”.

It is a sign that God is working in us to make us more like Jesus.

Another key element before we dive into these 9 statements— I want you to consider that these are somewhat grouped:

Two groups of 4 attributes or traits of those who are approved by God.

How we relate to God:

Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

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

Poor is a difficult term.

Poor seems desperate.

Poor is inconvenient.

Rich is a much better term to us.

Even regarding spiritual things.

I want to be rich— I don’t want to be poor.

But don’t think about this in merely financial or material way.

It’s poor in spirit.

It’s self-aware.

It’s aware of it’s own faults and weaknesses— how it’s not complete.

It acknowledges that God is big, and we are small.

God is creator, we are the creature.

He is God, and I am not.

Yes, destitute.

Yes, it’s bankrupt.

But I think Jesus starts out here challenging us—

“Is there anything inside you — like your spirit, or your merit, that would commend you to God.?” Anything that would impress God?

What inside you right now makes you worthy to receive the benefit or approval— a Blessing that awaits a person with this attribute?

Nothing.

Who earns the Kingdom of Heaven?

Nobody--Those who know they don’t deserve it will receive it.

The Apostle Paul is a good example of this type of mindset:

Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

The first thing we think of is when we lose someone we love, right?

They say that mourning is a process that we must go through— I know some of you know this first hand.

It is indeed a process— but Jesus is stating something more profound here--- Do you know that there are people who are mourning right now?

We can join them in that sorrow.

I might suggest that there is a “godly sorrow” that we experience when we see and realize that something isn’t right.

Whether that be over our own sin, over something in life that we see.

It’s the ever-present knowledge that this world is not our ultimate home.

We mourn the brokenness that is inside us— and the brokenness we see around us— and God says that we are not only approved and affirmed because of that mourning— but that we will be comforted by Him.

We don’t walk around crying and wailing all the time, but we do have a sense of compassion and mourning in our hearts all the time.

Matthew 5:5 (NIV)

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Meek is not weak.

It’s actually to have all the strength in the universe, but not exert it.

This refers to those who have a spirit that is quietly yielded to God, and is tender toward all people.

These people are not easily provoked.

They have a self-control about them.

They can either return offense with silence, or with a softly spoken answer.

We are reminded of Jesus, at his accusers and eventual executioners— he was silent before Pontius Pilate— even though he had all power in the world to free himself— he yielded to his Fathers will first.

Do we understand how to live like this?

How do we respond when we are wronged, or when someone who is dead wrong accuses or comes at us? Meekness shows restraint, self-control, and a calm strength even in the hardest of times.

And what is waiting for those who will be meek?

— We will inherit the EARTH!

Matthew 5:6 (NIV)

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

Hunger and thirst are physical appetites that keep returning and continually need addressed.

There are so many things that we can hunger for in our lives.

Take a brief inventory of the things you crave…Do you understand the need we have for righteousness?