The Greatest Sermon
Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Jesus delivered the most comprehensive teaching on living in the Kingdom of God. Matthew Chapters 5-7 record this great sermon. This sermon is considered by most Christians as Jesus’ greatest sermon that He preached during His earthly ministry. You may be familiar with the beginning verses which contain the Beatitudes. There have been several views suggested for Jesus’ sermon. One assessment by the late Dr. James Montgomery Boice in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount described some past understandings of Jesus’ purpose in this sermon.
The leaders of the social gospel movement used the Sermon as the basis to focus the church on social justice. They saw the Sermon as the impetus to bring an end to oppression and injustice in the culture. Over the years, politicians have adopted this view in promoting their agendas by appealing to Jesus’ words.
In addition to the social gospel view, there are other misunderstandings of Jesus’ purpose for His sermon. Some incorrectly see the sermon as simply another delivery of commands from on high. As Moses received the Ten Commandments, it is suggested that Jesus gave an expanded version of those commands of God. Still another view of Matthew’s text believes that Jesus issued impossible commands and since they are impossible to keep, this view proposes that Jesus’ Sermon is not applicable to Christians now living in this world.
Following this proposition, traditional Dispensationalism understands these impossible commands to be the foundation upon which the future messianic kingdom would be established. They suggest that the teachings of Jesus given in the Sermon are for a future age.
In contrast to the views above, I believe what the church has believed for centuries, that there are four direct applications for the church today. First, the Sermon on the Mount reveals the absolute necessity of the “new birth” otherwise known as being born again, or more accurately, regeneration. Second, as is the case for all Scripture, the Sermon on the Mount points us to Jesus. Third, the Sermon reveals the way of blessing. Fourth and finally, the teachings given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount tell Christians how they might please the Father and that reliance upon the Holy Spirit is essential for life in the Kingdom.
In summary, however, the Sermon on the Mount is Christ’s life-ethic. It details how He lived. As you read the sermon, know that Jesus fulfilled every aspect of His teaching in it. The main purpose of Jesus’ teaching is to drive every Christian to his knees in dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Let’s briefly examine the introduction.
“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying…” (Matthew 5:1-2).
The beginning of Matthew Chapter 5 recorded the setting. The setting revealed the source, significance, and intended recipients of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus saw the crowds gathering and went up on the mountain. The crowds were gathering because of Jesus’ teaching and healing, as stated at the end of Chapter 4. The press of the crowds led Jesus to go up on a mountainside. Matthew didn’t identify the specific mountain. The main point was to show Jesus’ sovereign authority. He was sent from the Father and He taught as one who had authority!
The following five observations of Matthew’s introduction help us to understand Jesus’ teaching in its revealed context:
- Jesus saw the crowds.
- He went up on the mountain.
- He sat down.
- His disciples came to Him.
- Jesus taught His disciples.
The significance is not found in the exact location or specific mountain, but that Jesus went up on it. The idea of a mountain was significant to the Jews. God delivered the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai. So this description gives the impression that God was delivering His word from on high. As I think of mountains, I immediately think of majesty. The Lord of Majesty, Jesus, sat down in a setting appropriate to His sovereign Lordship. Sitting down was the posture of a master teacher in the ancient world. So, the Master of all sat down to teach from on high.
The first three observations concern where Jesus spoke and the significance of His posture. The final two observations point to the intended recipients of Jesus’ teaching.
His disciples came to Him and He taught them. The Sermon on the Mount had as its primary audience Jesus’ disciples. By implication, all that is contained is for all followers of Jesus. This Sermon is for every citizen of the Kingdom now! If you are in Christ, you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God. This is God’s revelation of the economy of His Kingdom. As we apply it, we are driven to our knees in dependence of the Holy Spirit.
