Lesson 1- Introduction

Matthew 4:25-5:2

The “Sermon on the Mount” has been called that because that is precisely what it is a sermon preached on a mountain. It has also been called “The Ordination Address to the twelve” “The Compendium of Christ’s Doctrine” “The Magna Charta of the Kingdom” “The Manifesto of the King.” It would have been somewhere around Capernaum but we are not told exactly what mountain or where it was. It would have given a greater listening range as well as space for a larger crowd. It also shows as one of the early church fathers pointed out the difference in the dispensations, the difference between law and grace. “The severity of the law was first given by Moses on the mountain, but the people were forbidden to draw close. Now with Jesus, all are invited to draw near to him to hear of the gift of the gospel. [i] J Vernon McGee said, “The Sermon on the Mount is Law lifted to the nth degree.” [ii]

Mountains appear to be important to Matthew. A mountain was the setting for Jesus’ third temptation, will be the place of his great commission and ascension, why wouldn’t it be the place of his first sermon.

The scene brings to mind two other mountains; one has already been mentioned Mount Sinai and the other is Mount Zion or Jerusalem. Isaiah describes it as the place where all nations will stream in the end time to be taught by God Isa 2:1-4 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. (2) And it shall come to pass in the last days, thatthe mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. (3) And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (4) And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

and Mic 4:1-4 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. (2) And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (3) And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (4) But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make themafraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

This is more than just a sermon, or a collection of good points, or a system of ethics and morality, it is God beginning the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. It is the essence of the doctrine of Christ not only to his inner circle of chosen men, but to the crowd gathered so they could hear as well.

The People

We are informed in Matthew 4:25 which Adam Clarke declares should be the first verse of chapter 5, that great multitudes of people followed him. To give us an idea as to what great multitudes mean the writer gives us a list of where these people came from, Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea, and beyond Jordan. The writer gives us not motive of following other than Jesus’ fame had spread because he had revealed his healing power, as well as teaching and preaching everywhere he went.

We also note that the scripture seems to indicate two groups of people. The large crowd just mentioned, and a smaller group, his closest disciples, probably sitting in a semicircle in front of the Master. The larger group would be scattered down the slope of the mountainside. The message was meant for his disciples who were chosen by him, the others seemed to be allowed to listen in.

Jesus is found sitting, the traditional way to teach in Jewish circles we can see this in Matt 23:2 where the religious leaders would sit in Moses seat. Jesus used various customary ways to teach his disciples his doctrine, but this technique was used often. Matt 13:2 we find that Jesus sat in a ship and spoke to his followers. In Luke 4:20-21 after Jesus read the scriptures He sat down and all the eyes were on them and he began to teach them.

We are then told that “he opened his mouth and taught them” This is a poetic way to introduce important teaching.

The Sermon on the Mount is the longest recorded teachings by the Savior although he possibly had much longer discourses this one is preserved for us in the Holy Scripture. William Barclay suggests that this may not have been delivered at one time, but a combination of the sermons of Jesus. He takes as supporting evidence the fact that both Matthew and Luke give a version of the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew records 107 verses while only 29 of these are found in Luke’s version while 34 verses are scattered all over Luke’s gospel.

We need to understand the Sermon on the Mount is not a code of ethics or a legal code of morality; it is a Doctrine of a transformed life.

Why study the Sermon on the Mount

James Boice gives four reasons why the Sermon on the Mount should be studied. I have reworded them but in essence this is what he says;

1. It shows us the necessity of being born again (and might I add as a holiness minister the need of the second work)

The Sermon on the Mount does not encourage righteousness in man apart from Christ; it condemns him for falling short of God’s righteousness, and it drives him in desperation to the cross.[iii]

2. It points to Jesus “The preacher of the Sermon on the Mount is the Sermon on the Mount, and we are constantly brought into the most intimate contact with him”

3. It shows the way to blessing

4. It shows us how we can please God

What we need to remember

1. The Sermon on the Mount is Gods uncompromising standard.

2. The Gospel is not found in The Sermon on the Mount

3. Living up to the commandments and laws of the Sermon of the Mount do not make us a Christian. We live by them because of the empowering indwelling Holy Spirit. This is not taught here, but is prefacing His [the Holy Spirit’s] coming.

4. The sermon on the Mount gives the ethic without supplying the dynamic J. V. McGee

What I hope to learn

1. What Jesus taught his disciples

2. What I can learn from them

3. What truths can I apply to my heart

4. How can I share this with others.

[i]Simonetti, Manlio: Matthew 1-13. Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press, 2001 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture NT 1a), S. 77 [ii]McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary: The Gospels (Matthew 1-13). electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1991 (Thru the Bible Commentary 34), S. 69 [iii]Boice, James Montgomery: The Sermon on the Mount : An Expositional Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Books, 2002, S. 10