Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7)

Here are some insights taken from J.O. Sanders, For Believers Only.


Keys to interpreting the Sermon on the Mount:
(i) Constitutes a portrait of the Preacher Himself.
(ii) Not a series of rules but principles for spiritual growth.
(iii) Peotical portions need to be interpreted appropriately. Oriental minds appreciate concrete illustrations of truths much more easily than abstract ideas.
(iv) Extreme hyperbolic way of conveying truths (eg. 5:29-30) and proverbial method of teaching (eg. 6:21).

Two views concerning the Sermon found in Luke 6 and Matthew 5-7:
(i) Discourses reported by Matthew and Luke are entirely separate and distinct. Jesus most likely repeated His teachings concerning the laws of the kingdom many times.
(ii) The two discourses are the same and there are no insuperable problems in reconciling the apparent differences. Luke omitted various matters of special interest to Jewish leaders eg. Mt 5:17-42 and other material which he himself purposed to give later eg. Lk 11:1-4; 12:22,27.

"The Sermon on the Mount was spoken in the ear of the church, and overheard by the world.” Bishop Gore

The Beautitudes (beautiful attitudes) are divided into two groups:

1 Passive personal qualities (5:3-6)

 Poor in spirit: oppositie of pride and self-sufficiency. We can be Chrisitians but still live a life independent of God; depending on our own wisdom and strength.

 Mourn: not of bereavement but over sin or the pain of others. Do we mourn over our lack of spiritual attainment or slowness of growth in divine life? Do we mourn over inward depravity or bondage to besetting sin?

 Meekness: opposite of haughty and self-assertive spirit; it represents forces of character held firmly in hand like the breaking-in of wild horses. The meek person will yield to no one where a point of principle is involved, but he will be strong enough to give way when a matter of purely personal advantage is at stake.

 Righteousness: not conformity to an impersonal law but that of outlook and character (ethical righteousness). Hunger and thirst here are used to convey the passionate desire for holiness. These are two of the most agonising and intense of human appetites.

2 Active social qualities (5:7-12)

 Mercy: something we deserve but God withholds eg. punishment. It can only be exercised to the undeserving. Even though God is merciful, yet He does not condone our unrighteous acts. He is able to by-pass judgment over us because of what Christ has done for us.

 Pure: freedom from alloy; sincerity and integrity. Cleanness of heart brings cleanness of vision. Sin so befogs the heart that God becomes invisible. There are moral conditions for spiritual vision.

 Peace-makers: those who reconcile people who are estranged, in whose healing presence tension and discord give way to peace and harmony. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6). Children bear the likeness of their fathers; even so we bear the likeness of our Heavenly Father if we are peace-makers.

Jesus stipulated three qualifying conditions for the blessings of the persecuted (5:10-12):

1 It must be for righteousness sake; doing what is right at whatever the cost to himself.

2 The reviling must be falsely based ie. the disciple has not brought it on himself through his own sin or failure.

3 It must be for Christ’s sake; arising out of the disciple’s unwavering loyalty to his Master.

Let us examine our life in the light of what our Master has taught, pressing on into the new year with a resolve to work on our inward beauty so that it can be seen in our outward demonstration. 
Wishing you a blessed New Year 2010 in the Lord!