A Public Display of an Inward Reality: Part 1

Sermon on the Mount Context

The Sermon on the Mount began with the Beatitudes for a reason: address the norms of the Kingdom of Heaven. Before anyone attempts to address the behaviors or heart condition of man, we have to understand the unmet goal. We have to under the standard the rules before we play the game.

The Beatitudes sets the stage for Christian living by establishing the rules, or economy, of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Poor in spirit = obtaining the Kingdom of Heaven

We have nothing to offer God.

Mourning = comfort

We are broken over sin.

Meekness = inheriting the earth

We have an appropriate perspective of ourselves.

Hunger and thirst for righteousness = satisfaction

We desire righteousness because we recognize our desperate and hopeless situation.

Merciful = receiving mercy

We show mercy because we have received perfect mercy.

Pure in heart = seeing God

We are genuine in our efforts.

Peacemaking = being a child of God

We seek to be a help to the brokenness of the world.

Persecution for righteousness’ sake = obtaining the Kingdom of Heaven

We do not see persecution as hopeless but know that our hope is higher than this world.

If we align with the rules, expectations, and results of being a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven then it has to go beyond ourselves. For the Beatitudes to be true in one’s life, they cannot be only private. This kind of heart will flow out into life.

Salt

Matthew 5:13 “13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

Preservative

Salt was used as a preservative. If Jesus commands us to be the “preservatives” of a rotten and dying world, do we see ourselves as such?

The world needs some level of preservation to keep from being completely rotten. Of course, we know that the world is dead spiritually but God has given us a responsibility to be his hands and feet, seeing that there is at least some amount of life in the world.

Christians cannot remove themselves from the world. There is a healthy balance that we live in the world yet do not engage in the things of the world.

1 Corinthians 9:19-27 “19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 “14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

We should not lose hope for the world and abandon the cause. Salt does no good sitting on the shelf. Salt has to be placed on the food to be useful. We should be a “preservative” wherever we are placed. The only way to be used is to be poured out at the risk of being dirty or even disappear.

The food will rot eventually but there is a slight redeemable nature to the salt which can slow the process.

Don’t lose heart because your classmates, teammates, or family members aren’t changing. Be consistent and faithful!

Seasoning

Salt is used as seasoning which changes the flavor of the same food.

Christians should be the salt which correctly “season” the blessings of God.

Relationships can be peaceful.

Parents can be respected.

Sex can be biblical.

Money can be a godly resource.

Success can be glorifying to God.

Thirst

Salt makes you thirsty when consumed.

Anyone who has had salty food knows how incredible a glass of water afterwards!

Do we make people thirsty for Jesus?

John 4:13-14 “13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Song of Solomon 5