The Teacher We All Need. Matthew 5-7
If you want to be truly great at something one of the first things you’ll need to do is find a great teacher. For those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus, this means going to the greatest teacher.
Throughout the Gospels there are multiple discourses. In the Gospel of Luke you’ll find the famous “sermon on the plains”. In the Gospel of John you’ll find the famous “Olivet Discourse” which dives into what is to come. Potentially the most famous of these is the sermon on the Mount found in the Gospel of Matthew.
My church recently has been doing a sermon series on this specific sermon. Now if you grew up in the church this doesn’t seem very weird and you know about the sermon on the mount. However if you didn’t grow up in the church this is a VERY WEIRD topic to study! Like why should we preach sermons on a sermon?
What comes to mind when you hear the word sermon?
Most people outside of the church have generally negative opinion. They think fire, brimstone, and or worse they may think of it as an opportunity to take a nap! In fact many people inside the church have a negative opinion on sermons. So why take time to study this one in particular?
Why this one?
The truth is this is the greatest sermon ever taught. To understand why, we need to take a look at a few verses.
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” Matthew 5:1-2
Jesus in the first century, there are crowds of people, wandering about going about their business. He’s fairly well known for his healings at this point. Some of them are expecting Jesus to do something - some of them are not. He calls his disciples and begins to teach from the mount. His choice to sit down represents his authority to them culturally. His choice to teach from the mount representing that he is the new and better Moses. He will now correctly interpret the law for them. This is how Jesus sets up and then he begins to teach. The response?
“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 7:28-29
The response is shock, awe, the crowds - notice its not longer just the disciples - are overwhelmed by the power of his words. They are riveted to the spot. They are struck to the core. Studying the sermon on the mount is one of the most encouraging, difficult and challenging things you and I can do. Today I would encourage you to take time to reach through Matthew chapters 5,6 and 7 but before you do there’s three things I want you to keep in mind.
I. This is the day God talked about everything.
A friend of mine told me this, “The sermon on the mount takes 12 minutes to read… but it takes an entire lifetime to live.” The concepts and ideas that Jesus touches has implications on every area of our lives. Harry S Truman said this about it, “I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.”
II. This is the day Jesus established his authority.
The first century rabbis would only teach as they had been taught. They taught from the words of those who came before them. Saying things like, “Rabbi so and so said…” and then continue. Unlike the pharisees and the teachers of that day - Jesus taught as one who had authority. One of the most frequent sayings you’ll read is this, “You have heard it said… but I say to you…” He speaks from a place of authority, as one who not only heard the law but has the authority to interpret it for the people. The implication would not have been lost on the people!
III. This is the day Jesus announced the Kingdom of God.
He ruthlessly goes after the principles and stuff we value most and shows just how far we are from God. This is ultimately Jesus bringing our thinking and our lives in alignment with himself. It’s flipping the world upside down. He is showing that when you are part of the Kingdom of God you are no longer apart of this world.
“The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of principles to be obeyed apart from identification with Jesus Christ. The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is getting his way with us.” - Oswald Chambers
The sermon on the Mount is the greatest teaching ever - it has inspired and impacted countless numbers of followers, children, parents, pastors and leaders. Now you have an opportunity to let it impact you. My prayer for you is that you would hear the words of Jesus and how they change everything.
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1. Read Matthew 5-7, What did you take away from reading it today? What stood out to you?
2. How can you apply this to your life this week? Today? What section holds the most challenge for you?
