Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7)

Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7)

1. CH5: LAW, CH6: PRACTISE, CH7: KOG + WARNING ELEMENT.

2. Matthew's audience: JEWISH BACKGROUND= Is Jesus being portrayed as the new Moses?

   • IS IT ATTAINABLE? IMPOSSIBLE? DID IT REALLY HAPPEN OR DID MATTHEW JUST PUT TOGETHER A COLLECTION OF SERMONS?

3. CHAPTER 5- THE ANTITHESES: (just before= calling of fishermen= first leaders of early Church).

   • 1. The Beatitudes (Blessed)
     • MARGINALISED IN SOCIETY WILL INHERIT THE KOG
       • "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
       • "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
   • 2. Salt and Light
     • V13-16: " You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven."
       • Do not say you are a believer if you do not show it/act it. Spread the word of God, do not hide it, share it with others.
       • Guidance + instruction for the early Church
   • 3. Fulfilment of the Law
     • V17: " Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them."
       • States he is NOT changing Law but fulfilling it= implies Pharisees and Scribes are not already doing so.
   • 4. Murder
     • V21-22: " You have heard it was said to the people long ago, 'you shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement. BUT I TELL THAT anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement."
       • Antitheses meaning= opposite. Looks like Jesus is changing the law, but really he is CHALLENGING TRADITIONS OF THE LAW.
         • e.g. healing man with withered hand on the Sabbath= work? People were forgetting TRUE MEANING of the Law, Jesus was completing and strengthening it.
           • TRUE ACTIONS: ISAIAH= People are becoming so obsessed with the idea of tradition, they are forgetting the true meaning of the Law.
     • V23-24: "If you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother/sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."
       • 1st Antithesis: RECONCILLIATION: (rather than revenge), there is no point in saying sorry to God if you haven't actually reconciled with your enemy.
   • 5. Adultery
     • V27-29: "You have heard that it was said, 'you shall not commit adultery' BUT I TELL YOU that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
       • Not changing the Law, but going one step beyond (INNER MOTIVATION).
         • True motivation of your acts is what you are judged on: is your reward from yourself or from God? = ISAIAH= TRUE ACTIONS (OT)
       • IS JESUS DEMANDING PERFECTION?
   • 6. Oaths
     • V34: "BUT I TELL YOU, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne, or by the earth, for it is God's footstall; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King."
       • V37: "All you need to say is simply 'yes' or 'no'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
         • = We should just be honest people, rather than having to make oaths/swear over something, because you have sinned in the past.
   • 7/8. Eye for Eye/ Love for Enemies
     • V39: "BUT I TELL YOU, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." (eye for eye)
       • V44: "BUT I TELL YOU, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (love your enemies)
         • DOES JESUS DEMAND PERFECTION?

4. CHAPTER 6- Instructions + guidance.

   • 1. Giving to the Needy
     • V1: "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of other TO BE SEEN BY THEM. If you do, you will have NO REWARD from your father in heaven."
       • V2: "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others."
         • V4: "Your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
           • Almsgive for the intention, not to look good. Do it in secret.
         • Attack on religious leaders and teachers who publicise their worshipping.
   • 2. Prayer
     • V5: "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others."
       • Targeting people who publicly pray not for the greater good but for themselves and to look good. TRUE INTENTION. God will listen and reward you when he sees what you do in secret.
     • V7: "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like the pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Your father knows what you need before you ask him."
       • Do not babble- give your prayers meanings. Reflect on what you say.
   • 3. Fasting
     • Once again, do not tell people you are fasting- your reward will come from God not the pagans.
   • 4. Treasures in Heaven
     • V19: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth" V20: "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" V21: "FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO."
   • 5. Do not Worry
     • V25: "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink" V26: "Look at the birds in the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
       • As long as you are PIOUS (truly holy) you will get into KOG.
   • IS JESUS ASKING TOO MUCH OF ORDINARY PEOPLE? PERFECTION? "AN IMPOSSIBLE ETHIC".
     • YES. Many give up/ is it written for those in the religious life? e.g. Priests, nuns = more possible to them?!
     • NO. It is more of an aspirational ideal/something to word towards. FOUNDATIONS FOR EARLY CHURCH.

5. CHAPTER 7-ENTRY INTO KOG.

   • 1. Judging others
     • ATTACK ON RELIGIOUS LEADERS
       • V3: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own?"
         • JUDGEMENT: unless you are perfect yourself, you cannot tell others how to live their lives.
   • 2. Narrow and Wide gates
     • KOG=narrow gate=FUTURE ESCHATOLOGY
   • 3. True + False Prophets
     • V15: "Watch out for false prophets".
       • WARNING= ATTACK ON LEADERSHIP.
     • V17: "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
       • OT motif/imagery, (similar to Mark's fig tree= parable attacking leadership for forgetting the meaning of the law= SAME CONCEPT).
   • 4. Wise and Foolish Builders
     • Message to early Church about making firm foundations for maximum flourishing. (Apocalyptic language).
     • WARNING: YOU WILL BE JUDGED ON YOUR EVERYDAY ACTIONS.

6. SCHOLARS

   • Harvey: " Strenuous commands " = difficult to achieve.
   • Windisch: " Presents demands to be literally understood and literally fulfilled. "
   • Von Harnack: " An ethical message. Jesus taught a higher righteousness and commandment of love, aimed at individuals.
   • Weiss + Schweitzer: " Sermon only applicable for a brief time before God established KOG. Since end did not come immidiatly, both argue that the Sermon has no use today. Demands of Jesus are impossible to fulfil= no guide for ordinary conduct.