The Sermon on the Mount for the 21 st Century WesleyanLive Course Robert Jewett, Instructor Mel Luetchens, Coordinator

Session 6 The Narrow Path of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:24; 7:13-14; 21-27; Luke 6:47-49; 13:23-24, 26-27; 16:13) Introduction Obeying the law was the key to moral discipline A new discipline of grace replaced the older discipline of law

I. The Problem of Legalistic Discipline If you obeyed the law you would be blessed in this life and the next God rewards the righteous by granting them prosperity and well- being and punishes the wicked with destruction The heavenly record book insured that if credit did not come in this life, it would be granted in the next The Sadducees felt that they were not responsible to help the needy The Pharisees boycotted violators of their oral laws The zealot strategy resulted in civil war within Jerusalem itself The Essenes took pleasure in the other groups destroying each other

II. The Narrow Gate into God’s Kingdom The night gate was so narrow and low that only one person at a time could enter, without baggage and with head down The narrow gate is unquestionably the entrance to the kingdom” of God The imperative form is plural: “You’all enter the narrow gate!” The broad path refers to the widely shared methods of enforcing legal conformity Disciples were required to travel without baggage or armor Armed conflict would no longer be necessary

III. Serving God or Mammon Betz: “Serving Mammon” implies that it becomes “a pseudo-deity” with “demonic or even magical character.” Jesus places Judas the Galilean and his followers on the side of Mammon The rejection of “serving Mammon” becomes an anti-zealot statement The original critique of revolutionary avarice authorized by religion in its various forms still needs to be heard!

IV. Seeking Superiority through Religious Activities The formula “Lord, Lord!” is being employed to prove superior status The issue is whether those who utter such confessions and exercise such charismatic gifts are superior "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.“ (Luke 18:10-14)

IV, Continued We can only enter the kingdom of God as children who have fulfilled no obligations and have nothing to claim So they are playing God, with disastrous consequences

V. The Wise and Foolish Builders The usual interpretation deals with the verdict in the final judgment This passage was originally intended to fit the context of the forthcoming conflict with Rome To follow the teachings of Jesus was to build one’s house on the rock It is more appropriate to associate the rock with the narrow gate The center of Jesus’ message was to enter God’s kingdom without claiming merit

Conclusion: The Issue of Earning Merit Jesus “radically discards all thought of merit” “The claim to reward is thus rebuffed as radically as possible.” Jesus retained the idea of reward, but did so “only at the same time to transcend it” "Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink'?... So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'“ (Luke 17:7-10)

Conclusion: We who follow Christ will never be in the position of “earning” the stars in our crown “Just as I am, poor wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind, yea, all I need in thee to find, O Lamb of God I come I come. Just as I am, thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God I come I come.” Send comments to Mel Luetchens at n.edu