Visible school

the sermon on the mount deals with heavy theological concepts, kingdom concepts that focus on the heart. When you think of the sermon on the mount think of it as non-invasive open heart surgery. Its a verbal cutting of the matters of the heart. This is essential and a pivotal point in the teaching of Jesus, for it goes against the grains of normal religious piety.

The normal religious way was to do religion, look religious and keep it moving. That’s the problem Jesus is preaching to in this great sermon. Jesus is fighting against Pharisees, who by all intentions were masters at doing religion and doing the Law. They were so good, they created a new way of righteousness by taking the law and adding to it, appearing to be super religious.

Jesus says, this looking religious and not being Gospel centered is killing Gospel penetration to the world. Now Jesus was not against the Law, rather he took it up a notch. Look at

Matthew 5:17–20 ESV

“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. 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. 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. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus is after the heart, after the heart. He proves this with examples of the difference between outward vs. inward actions.

(walkthrough a few from mat 5)

Our text specifically looks at heart issues, that if unchecked, can cause Spiritual Heart attack.

Actions

Preaching the Word: Sermon on the Mount—The Message of the Kingdom Chapter 18: Christianity Without Hypocrisy

The Russian author Turgenev wrote, “I do not know what the heart of a bad man is like, but I do know what the heart of a good man is like, and it is terrible.”

“acts of righteousness”- false acts, visible acts, looks great on the outside

“acts of righteousness”- false acts, visible acts, looks great on the outside

done for the wrong reasons

You can’t imagine how much this happens; this is a visible sign of righteousness.

Doing things to look like you care, when you really don’t. . . ever been there?

Dating-being nice to friends and family to make yourself look better-Examples (gangster rapper changing life to date a lady)-Mr. Del

Attitude

don’t sound the alarm

Sit down, Be quiet

Giving to the needy was an important to a society without a welfare system. It was an important aspect of being religious. . Giving to the needy. But this became sport for some to make themselves look better than others. The concern was not the individual in need, rather the glory one can receive or the attention for being a big giver.

Jesus says: “don’t blow the trumpet” don’t be all loud and flashy with the giving. The trumpets were big during this day. It is said the trumpets would sound at the temple signaling for people to come forward with their gifts.

those who are loud in their giving, get the reward they want. . the attention and applause from man.

Award

as believers, our greatest reward will not come in this life, But if we endure God will AWARD us in heaven. He will also Award us openly here in this life.