Matthew 6-10

Ethics of the Kingdom

Sermon on the Mount Visual Commentary

Review

What is a Gospel? Who is Matthew’s audience? What are some of the major themes of Matthew? Who does Matthew see Jesus as? How does the sermon on the mount fit into that vision of Jesus?

Jesus is the new Moses, the New David, and God with us.

In that case we see that the Sermon on the Mount is the Deuteronomy of the NT.

Deuteronomy Overview

How did Deuteronomy fit into the Old Testament?

Deuteronomy are the writings that explain and apply a Covenant between God and Israel to their specific situation.

The Jewish understanding of a Covenant is a promise made by God to his people establishing the relationship with them.

In their mind, when covenants are given, writings immediately follow. The example they have of this is the Covenant with Moses. A covenant is established with Israel as a nation, and then writings are given to tease out the meaning, theology, and ethical implications of that covenant.

This is why the NT writings were seen by the early Church as scripture (inspired word of God to be accepted), because the Jewish mind expected new scriptures to go along with a new covenant to explain and apply it.

What is the Big Picture of the Pentateuch?

Genesis tells the origin story of the world and origin the story of the nation of Israel as a people group.

Exodus tells the story of God’s victory over the gods of Egypt and how he created the nation of Israel from nothing.

Leviticus tells the specifics of how people are to purify themselves in their approach to God.

Deuteronomy is a sermon that applies and expands the ten commandments to apply to all of life.

Structure of Deuteronomy.

1 Moses opening speech tells the story of Israel and calls them to faithfulness.

2 The center portion is a collection of laws governing worship, Israel’s leaders, and civil laws.

These laws should be seen as case law. They are a summary of the way that Moses and the Elders applied the ten commandments that God gave at siani to individual situations that arose in the time since. They are an application of eternal principles (the 10 commandments) into the culture of the day. This is why we don’t see a rejection of slavery or other things in deuteronomy. This is a filtering down of God’s eternal principle in a way that a 1500’s bc near eastern peasant could understand and adopt. Because of this they were reformable by new revelation(Jesus teaching on divorce etc.) but still inspired.

Progressive revelation-

3 The last section is moses final speech that gives the people an ultimatum based on their belief and obedience.

God and Moses set a choice before the people. There are two paths, one of life and one of death.

The Shema:

The core of the sermon is the shema - Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 ESV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

The key defining tennent of being in the kingdom was to follow YHWH exclusively (the Lord is one means that the Lord is the only god you worship), and to chose to be loyal to him in your mind, your emotions, and your physical actions.

The shema is a declaration of exclusive loyalty to YHWH. It defines who is is Israel. It’s not those of the right blood, its those of the right loyalty. Everything else flows from and is an application of that principle.

If you want to know the kind of person in the OT who is living the type of life God approves of, it isn’t the biggest, or the richest, or the smartest, or the most militarily successful. The person God approves of in the OT is the person who (with their mind, emotions, and actions) worships God alone.

Deuteronomy and the Sermon on the mount.

Why do we think these two sermons are related?

Why does Jesus go up to a mountain?

Who comes to hear the message?

What is the core message of the sermon on the mount?

What does Jesus sermon mean typologically?

Deuteronomy 18:15 ESV

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

Deuteronomy 18:18 ESV

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

The people were looking for someone to come who would be like Moses and would have God’s words, and would re-form Israel.

Jesus is showing himself to be the Prophet like moses who speaks like moses and interprets the law.

Jesus disciples are the new Israel, part of the kingdom of the heavens that God will work through to do his work of redeeming the earth.

Sermon on the Mount.

What is the sermon on the mount?

The longest collection of Jesus teachings. In in the context of Jesus disciples being the citizens of a heavenly kingdom.

Jesus is forming a new people who will be citizens of his heavenly kingdom. This sermon is the code of ethics of the new covenant that brings them into that kingdom.

Kingdom of heaven is a real kingdom that exists in the supernatural realm. God is the king, sitting on a throne.

Those loyal to him rule in the supernatural along side him.

That kingdom has influence on earth as it pushes back evil spiritual influcence. There are real evil spirits that have influence and are driving the power structures of the world.

God’s kingdom doesn’t operate by grabbing power from the physical power structures. It works by taking spiritual authority in Christ, winning souls, and winning the world bottom up.

It has physical influence on earth through the Body of Christ, the visible church that gives Body to the invisible church - the Kingdom of Heaven. Made up of the saints and angels ruling spiritually now.

This kingdom is a re-formed Israel and is the eternal kingdom that was promised to David.

The sermon on the mount interprets the same eternal principles that Deut. interprets, but applies them a perfect, filled up way, not the imperfect that Deuteronomy applied them given the hardness of their hearts.

By living according to the laws of the heavens, we can embody that kingdom on earth now.

What is the structure of the Sermon on the Mount?

Structure mimics the structure of Deuteronomy. The structure of the SOM is intentional. It calls back to deuteronomy because:

God has eternal patterns of truth in Himself that He repeats in the story He is telling on earth.

Jesus meant to reveal who he was to those who were paying attention in the structure, method, and content of his teaching.

The human/divine writer of the book is conveying who Jesus is through those details

There three main parts of the sermon are the same as the three main sections of Deuteronomy. (that are themselves split into three parts)

Kingdom Identity

Answers the question “If we look around in the world, who is it that is faithful to God?” “Who is a member of the true Israel, the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Righteous living

Answers the question, “How does God’s Law apply to those who are faithful to Him?”

The Choice.

Answers the questions,“What is the consequence of following or not following this way? How do we know who is following the way?”

Kingdom Identity Vs 3-16

If we were to look around us and wonder “what kind of person is it that is a member of God’s kingdom?” and “who is it that is living a life reflective of that kingdom?” it is the ones described in the beatitudes.

The lowly outcast and the ones rejected by the system. Jesus isn’t rejecting the Shema (loyalty to only YHWH alone is the ground of inclusion). He is showing us who are the ones who actually are loyal.

The ones who are truly loyal to YHWH exclusively will pursue his kingdom in heaven. As a result, they will not pursue power and influence on earth.

This is related to the eternal type of life, the life that is no longer driven by fear of death. This type of life does not seek riches, religion, or power, in order to leave a legacy.

Unlike the assumption of many, that Loyalty to God will result in power on earth, Jesus says that the earth has its own kingdom, and a good way to see what kingdom we are loyal to is what king rewards us.

Possible chiastic structure where v 3 and 11 are related, v 4 and 10 are related. Chiastic structure would imply that Mercy towards others because of mercy from heaven is the key value that unlocks the rest of the values.

The next section makes two points based on that kingdom identity. Being a member of the kingdom should “salt” the world around you, and should be something that expands outwards to draw others in. (How? through mercy). Being a member of the kingdom means you are called to embody the city of Heaven on earth. Drawing others to you through a different type of goodness.

Completed Righteousness

The middle portion is Jesus commentary on righteousness. What sort of righteousness is it that God requires of those who are in his kingdom? Just like deuteronomy, these are the applications of God’s eternal law to his people. Deuteronomy’s middle section was a case law application of the ten commandments to the situations that arose for the Israelites. Moses and God condescended to the people by fitting eternal principles according to the hardness of people’s hearts. Jesus hear brings us back to the eternal principle

The three sections answer three general questions about the new covenant and new kingdom righteousness.

Question 1: How do the citizens of Jesus’ kingdom relate to the Law?

Jesus starts by saying that he fulfills the law -

What does it mean to fullfill the law?

To Satisfy all the requirements?

To perfectly apply eternal principles?

To increase the difficulty?

To change to focus inward?

To focus on the spirit instead of the letter?

Fullfillment theme in Matthew: Remember in this case matthew’s overall theme of Jesus fulfillment of the OT prophecies concerning the messiah. In this case Matthew is emphasizing that Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law, not only in the earthly, but in the eternal. He fulfills (fills up to fullness) all that the law required and all that the law promised and pointed forward to. - All things are accomplished shows this. His phrase is about the fact that the law was a prophecy, a temporary steward of God’s people, that pointed forward to a time when it would be filled up.

Jesus is about to physically accomplish the end, purpose, or telos of the group of writings containing the law, but he is also bringing the purpose, spirit, end, telos of the eternal law of God out for the citizens of his kingdom.

He then proceed to raise the bar from what “was said” in Exodus and deuteronomy (quoting from the OT) with six ethical case studies. Where he reveals the eternal principle behind the applied law in the OT

Progressive revelation towards an eternal principle- God reveals himself throughout history in a way that is comprehensible to the people. Over time we see Him more and more clearly as He reveals more of himself. The picture of God and the supernatural in Genesis is less flushed out than in Revelation.

Different types of commands in the bible - Eternal principles- Culturally applied.

Ex. Head coverings - this was a rule for the early church because the aristotelean view of hair was that it was a sexual organ involved in the retention on semen through a vacum/pump effect. So when paul says that women should cover their hair, he is applying a principle of modesty to the culture he was in. We can obey and apply that same principle today without wearing hats.

He ends with a statement that we must be as perfect and complete as our father in heaven is.

How does this work? is the standard for morality the perfection of God? Yes, but even more so, this is a call back to the beginning of this section. Who is it that Completes the law? Jesus. and we must also be “Complete” in our relationship to the law.

How are we to be complete in the law? We are made complete with regard to the law through Union with Christ.

Christianity as a faith is not a set of axioms we have to believe and agree to. We are required to study and know about God, but we also must pursue mystical union to and connection with God being partakers of the divine nature. And being united to Christ in his sufferings and death through baptism, communion, and our own sufferings. This means there are three components to the faith.

Belief and Assent to truths.

Action based on that assent.

Mystical experience of the divine nature.

We must believe that God exists and rewards those who seek him, humble ourselves and turn to him following his ways, and be joined together to Christ spiritually. In being joined to Christ we are forensically justified yes, but we are also healed of our sin nature as Christ’s active obedience (fulfillment of the law) is gradually given to us and we are transformed to be mature and complete.

2 Peter 1:4 ESV

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Romans 6:6 ESV

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Romans 8:17 ESV

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Ephesians 4:12–13 ESV

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

James 1:3–4 ESV

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Question 2: How do the citizens of the kingdom relate to religion and religious practices?

True reward

If we give to get reward in the earthly kingdom we will not have reward in heaven.

True Devotion

If our prayer and fasting is to have reward in the earthly kingdom we will not have reward in heaven’s kingdom

True Wealth

If we collect treasures and possessions on earth, we have our reward in the earthly kingdom, and not heaven’s kingdom.

The answer to the question is that there is a way to practice religion, even if it is loyal to YHWH in name, that really serves to cement your place in the kingdom of this world.

The evidence that your religion worships the king of this world and not the King of Heaven is who you are expecting a reward from.

You expect a reward from the king and kingdom that you serve. Do you seek a reward on earth in your reputation - being seen by men, by expecting that you get money back from your giving, or that you will become rich by your service? You are following and worshipping the kingdom of earth. This is a supernatural evil kingdom with a supernatural king that works through and in governmental and religious power structures to corrupt them towards his ends.

True religion that is loyal to YHWH gives all its good to YHWH and expects all its rewards from him in Heaven, when his kingdom is realized on earth.

Question 3: How do the citizens of the kingdom relate to others?

Money and Anxiety

Seek the kingdom of God and he will provide for you on earth

Your neighbor

How to relate to your neighbor in light of the kingdom.

Golden rule.

One last summary that completes all the obedience of the law with regard to your neighbor. Do to them what you wish they did for you - emptiness of self and care for the other.

The golden rule points back to Jesus’ fulfillment language at the beginning and wraps the whole structure up. He began with completeness - Jesus was the purpose of the law. And he ends with completeness, to love your brother as you wish to be loved (MERCY) is the telos, meaning, purpose, spirit of the law.

The Choice

The last section echoes moses conclusion to deuteronomy by putting the choice before people between life and death. Ultimately, there are two kingdoms that are illustrated in three ways by three examples. Do we decide to hear and obey Jesus with Faith? Or do we continue in the default kingdom of the world?

Two Gates

It will be easy to follow the kingdom of the world and hard to follow Christ.

Two Trees

We will know what choice someone has made by their works.

Two Houses.

The first choice is to hear Jesus words and to act or not act on them.

Do we act on his words by becoming his follower and chasing the kingdom of the spiritual world and joining the ranks of the slave, the poor, the mourner, the oppressed, and the hungry?

What does this sermon say about Jesus?

He is the new Moses who has authority to form a new Israel, reinterpret and apply the law, complete and fulfill the law. And our faith in him is the difference between life (entering the kingdom of YHWH) and death (exclusion from the kingdom of YHWH).

What is the ultimate response that we (putting ourselves in the place of the Jewish reader of matthew) should have to this sermon? Jesus is not a normal Jewish rabbi. He at least thinks he is the Deuteronomy 18:15 prophet like Moses. He also promised to fill up what the law promised and looked forwards to. And he calls me to follow him in order to be a part of YHWH’s kingdom, or be crushed like the world. He also at this point is beginning to hint that the religious system of the day is not loyal to YHWH, but has been corrupted by the king of this world. This Guy is radical and either is the Messiah, or is a fraud.

What should we contemplate this week in prayer?

Be perfected by being Joined to Christ.

How should we act this week in response to this text.

The fruit of that union should be Mercy and Sacrificial Love.