Introducing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-7 Matthew 5:1-2 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying... Matthew 7:28-29 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

In Matthew’s Gospel there are five alternating sections of Kingdom practice then Kingdom proclamation. PracticeProclamation Matthew 3-4Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount) Matthew 8-9Matthew 10 Matthew 11-12Matthew 13 Matthew 14-17Matthew 18 Matthew 19-23Matthew 24-25

The Kingdom of God/Heaven refers to the movement through which God is reclaiming and restoring what was lost in the fall. The Sermon on the Mount is an extended description by Jesus of life in this Kingdom. How are we to respond to Jesus’ Sermon?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (5:48) But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. (5:22) But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (5:28-29)

Taken at face value, the Sermon presents not “good news” but a “law” much more demanding than that of the Old Covenant. Our natural response is high expectations for ourselves and others, often coupled with a critical spirit and feelings of shame and guilt for our failure to attain to these expectations. Is this what Jesus intended? Is this what Matthew intended? Is this what God intends?

Christian interpreters have suggested a variety of solutions to this problem. “The Sermon is not for Christians.” “The Sermon is not for ordinary Christians.” “The Sermon aims to make us realize our need for Jesus.” “Some parts of the Sermon are more important than others.”

Whereas each of these solutions sheds some light on Jesus’ Sermon, they all fail to take seriously enough the context and teaching of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount must be understood in light of what Matthew records before and after it. Two key passages that guide our understanding of Jesus’ Sermon are his Baptism (Matthew 3) and Last Supper (Matthew 26).

Jesus’ Baptism Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17 (cf., Isaiah 42)

In his Baptism, which precedes the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus “fulfills all righteousness” by taking on Israel’s role as God’s Servant and living it perfectly. Both Jews and Gentiles now find life not in trying to keep God’s covenant demands, but rather in looking to Jesus, the only one who keeps the covenant. Living in the Kingdom means looking to and trusting fully in Jesus’ Story rather than our own.

The Last Supper While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the (new) covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." Matthew 26:26-29

Jesus keeps God’s covenant in our place, and offers his life freely to us. Our weekly celebration of Communion is a symbol of our ongoing participation in his Story. His baptism is ours His approval by the Father is ours His victory over temptation is ours His resurrection is ours His obedience is ours His abiding relationship with the Father is ours His prayer life and peace and worship are ours And so on!

With Jesus’ Baptism and Last Supper in view, we can now look again at his Sermon, which is Jesus’ teaching on life in the Kingdom of Heaven. At the center of Kingdom life is Jesus himself. He announces and teaches about the Kingdom. He embodies the Kingdom in his life and ministry. HE OFFERS US HIS OWN KINGDOM LIFE AND MINISTRY. We participate in the Kingdom by following his baptismal example of a life lived in the power of his Spirit.

What are we to do with Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount?

We must let Jesus’ Sermon lead us to Envision the kind of community life he desires and has called us to. This community life reflects the perfect community of the triune God. Worship him for being the only man ever to fulfill God’s expectations, and to offer his life of Kingdom obedience to us as a gift. Depend more fully on the Holy Spirit, recognizing that alone we cannot fulfill God’s expectations, but Jesus does. It is only through God’s Spirit that you and I can participate in and enjoy the Kingdom life Jesus’ proclaimed and practiced.

Romans 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.