Sermon Tone Analysis

Psalm 15 / Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus & Moses

Hebrews 12:18-24 “18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.

20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”

21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”

I say we should see in the opening of Matthew 5, a strong parallel to Moses and Sinai.

In the former, God was making an ethnic people into a nation, and establishing His Covenant with them as such.

In the latter, the Lord Himself teaches the fledgling New Testament church about its nature, purpose, and requirements.

When at the last supper Jesus says the cup IS the New Testament in His blood, that Covenant ceremony began in Matthew 5:1.

This is Christianity 101.

This is Church 101.

There is non distinction.

Who is blessed?

This is counter-cultural / bohemian

This is Wisdom:

This is Kingdom Focus:

Hebrews 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.

And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”

Let the imperatives flow from the indicatives

To the extent you are bound for, and looking toward the consummation of the Kingdom; God’s forever paradise, you will realize Kingdom blessings in this life, and the next.

Who are You?

Psalm 32:1 “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;”

Church Family, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is a Covenant charge to His people.

In the Beatitudes (The pronounced blessings), Christ Himself was telling us both who we truly are and who we should strive to be.