Sermon on the Mount

Blessed: Happy, Spiritually Blessed

Possessing favor from God, Marked by the fullness of God

Are we more concerned with Spiritual Blessing or Physical?

Matthew 4:18–25 CSB

18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 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. 24 Then the news about him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And he healed them. 25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Jesus calls His disciples, they follow, he teaches, preaches Matt 4:23

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.

Healing them Matt 4:24

Matthew 4:24 (CSB)

24 Then the news about him spread throughout Syria. So they brought to him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And he healed them.

Results:

Matthew 4:25 CSB

25 Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

he sat down - Position of the rabbi teaching in that day.

What Does He teach?

He is teaching “Good News of the Kingdom”

The Kingdom Interpretive Approaches:

Utopian ideal ethic

Millennial ethic

Spiritual Elite ethic

Call to repentance

Principles fo life for Kingdom citizens.

“Sermon on the Mount is the best known teaching of Jesus, the least understood, and the least obeyed.” ~ John Stott

Teaching the Kingdom is Counter-Cultural

“It describes what human life and human community look like when they come under the gracious rule of God.” John Stott

Who were the kingdom representatives of that day? Who were the ones responsible for pointing people to the Kingdom?

Key Verse in this passage:

Matthew 5:20 CSB

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3 CSB

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

Spiritually bankrupt:

Psalm 34:18 CSB

18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.

Rom 3:10,23

Romans 3:23 CSB

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB

21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.