Untitled Sermon (4)

THE KING’S SERMON

Matthew 5:1–20

Single Point

Jesus exposes false righteousness to drive us to true righteousness that only He can give.

Everything hangs on that sentence.

1. HOOK — 

False Confidence Is Easy

 (3 minutes)

Aim: Disarm religious confidence without attacking people.

Hook language:

Most people think they’re “basically good.”

Especially religious people.

We assume:

sincerity = acceptance

morality = righteousness

effort = obedience

But Jesus opens His most famous sermon by saying:

“Unless your righteousness exceeds the most religious people you know, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

That means:

This sermon is not encouragement.

It’s confrontation.

The Sermon on the Mount is not meant to make us try harder —

it’s meant to show us where our confidence is misplaced.

Transition:

Before Jesus tells us how to live, He tells us who actually belongs.

2. LOOK — 

Two quick observations (no exposition yet):

1. Who Jesus is talking to

He sits → authority

He speaks to disciples → insiders, not outsiders

This sermon is not evangelism to the crowd.

It’s examination of the committed.

2. What Jesus is not doing

He is not replacing Moses

He is not lowering the standard

He is not offering tips for improvement

Jesus isn’t fixing behavior —

He’s revealing hearts.

Transition:

Now let’s hear how He does that.

3. BOOK — 

Matthew 5:1–12 ESV

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Minimal explanation (30–45 seconds):

Notice what Jesus blesses.

Not achievement — emptiness.

Not strength — dependence.

Not control — surrender.

These aren’t virtues to perform.

They’re conditions to admit.

The kingdom doesn’t begin with doing.

It begins with knowing we can’t.

Matthew 5:13–16 ESV

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. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Key observation:

Jesus doesn’t say, “Become salt.”

He says, “You are salt.”

Identity before activity.

But salt that loses its savor?

Light that hides?

That’s righteousness that looks right but has no power.

Matthew 5:17–20 ESV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Slow down here. Let verse 20 land.

“Unless your righteousness exceeds the scribes and Pharisees…”

Jesus doesn’t raise the bar so we’ll jump higher.

He raises the bar so we’ll stop pretending.

4. TOOK — 

What Are We Supposed to Do With This?

Clarify the tension:

The Sermon does not save

The Sermon does not excuse

The Sermon exposes

The Sermon on the Mount doesn’t tell us how to enter the kingdom.

It tells us what life looks like once the King has us.

So what do we take?

Three takeaways (short, punchy):

Stop grading ourself on a curve

Comparison is not righteousness.

Stop confusing effort with obedience

External obedience without heart change fools people — not God.

Let the sermon do its work

Exposure is grace when it drives us to Christ.

FINAL LANDING (30–45 seconds)

The most dangerous place to be is confident and wrong.

The Sermon on the Mount doesn’t ask:

“Are you trying?”

It asks:

“Who are you trusting?”

Blessed are the poor in spirit —

because they’re finally standing in the truth.