TEACHING NOTES Introduction The most famous sermon of Jesus is the Sermon on the Mount. Many people read this sermon as a nice idealist approach to life. Most Christians see this sermon as a list of suggestions that are almost impossible to obey. But that is not the intention of Jesus at all. The Sermon on the Mount is the new law of Christ that He expects His followers to obey. Therefore, just as the Israelites read, studied, and memorized the Torah, followers of Jesus must do the same with His teachings. ​ Matthew 5:1 ESV 1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. Seeing the crowds = In order to understand what kind of people are in the crowd, we have to go back to Matt. 4:23-25 “23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” The audience at the Sermon on the Mount was made up of outcasts who were almost certainly poor and had little to no social status. No one considered these people “blessed” by God, but rather stricken or punished by God. On the mountain = This entire scene represents a new Mt. Sinai where Moses received the Law (covenant) from God and shared it with Israel. Jesus is bringing in a new covenant with new laws on a mountain. Deut. 18:18-19 “18 I will raise up for my people a prophet like Moses from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will hold them accountable.” Just as Moses ascended Mt. Sinai to receive the Law of God (covenant) for His people, Jesus ascends a mountain to explain the New Laws of the New Covenant. Isaiah 43:18-19 “18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Before Yahweh gave the covenant to Israel, He began by explaining what kind of people He wants to create. God wants a “kingdom of priests” who are set apart from the world around them (Ex. 19:6). In the same way, Jesus begins His explanation of the New Covenant by identifying the kind of people who will be His kingdom on earth. Jesus calls these kingdom people “the blessed ones.” Today and Next Sunday: WHO are the blessed ones? — Identity WHY are the blessed ones? — Purpose His disciples came to him = In Matthew’s chronology, Jesus has only called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him so far in the story (Matt. 4:18-22). Therefore, the disciples referred to here must be a large group of people who are showing up on a regular basis to listen to Jesus. In the Gospels, Jesus has 12 close disciples (later called apostles) and a larger group of over 70 disciples (see Luke 10:1). Matthew 5:2–3 ESV 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed = This section is commonly called the Beatitudes (Latin for blessed). There are eight (the last two are actually one) statements of blessing. Why eight? In the Jewish mind, seven represents completion and eight represents a new beginning. Eight beatitudes communicates that Jesus is changing the rules and something new is about to start. Blessed are the poor in spirit = This refers to people who are both externally and internally destitute. Their situation in life is so bad that they have lost hope. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven = For the poor in spirit, their earthly kingdom has oppressed them and left them with nothing. But Jesus says the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit. How can Jesus call poverty a blessing? Later in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is going to contrast treasures on earth with treasures in heaven. Those who want to be and experience the kingdom of God must be willing to give up their pursuit of worldly treasures. The wealthy will struggle with this, but the poor are already in a position to accept the kingdom. ​ Matthew 5:4 ESV 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Those who mourn = These are people who mourn because of their condition or circumstances. Jesus’ audience is likely mournful over the way the world had become. Even the religious community had become oppressive and abusive. They shall be comforted = The Greek word for comforted used here is parakaleo, which means to call to one’s side. Therefore, Jesus is saying that those who mourn will be blessed with His presence at their side. ​ Matthew 5:5 ESV 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. The Meek = Grk. praus - To be gentle, mild, considerate, humble. The meek are unimpressed with social status and prideful positions. The meek do not pursue notoriety or elevated status. They shall inherit the earth = This must refer to the new creation when God’s kingdom totally covers the earth. It cannot refer to the current world because the meek do not succeed in wordly kingdoms. Follower of Jesus choose the path of humility and will enjoy their inheritance in the future new creation where there will be no elevated positions of pride. ​ Matthew 5:6 ESV 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Hunger and thirst for righteousness = Righteous is not merely doing good works, but a state of right relationship with God and others. To hunger and thirst for righteous is to strongly desire as essential a right-standing with God and others. They shall be satisfied = Grk. chortazo - To be filled to overflowing, to be content. Those who desire righteousness are promised to receive it with God and others, both in this life and in the next. ​ Matthew 5:7 ESV 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Merciful = Grk. eleemon - A deep desire of compassion and sympathy for those in need or the lowly. A merciful person understands that all people need mercy. As Jesus also said, he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47). They shall receive mercy = Those who give mercy will also receive it when they are in need. This relates to Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness as well (Matt. 6:14-15). Those who give mercy and forgiveness will also receive it in this life and in the next. ​ Matthew 5:8 ESV 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Pure in heart = Grk. katharos ho kardia - To be clean on the inside. In Jesus’ context, the Jewish teaching on purity was mostly external. This is why the Pharisees are hyper-focused on washing their hands and having clean dishes. Jesus’ sermon repeatedly focuses in the inner self (the heart). External rituals cannot purify the heart. They shall see God = Those who are pure in heart will see God face-to-face in the new creation. They will also know God more closely in this life. ​ Matthew 5:9 ESV 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Peacemakers = Grk. eirenopoios - Those who move toward conflict to accomplish reconciliation. Peacemakers do not avoid conflict to “keep the peace” but move quickly into conflict to create reconciliation. Follower of Jesus desire reconciliation with people and reconciliation with God. They shall be called sons of God = People who work for reconciliation will be recognized as unique and different from other people. They will be seen as children of God. ​ Matthew 5:10 ESV 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Persecuted = Grk. dioko - Those who are pursued and persecuted. For righteousness’ sake = They are persecuted for trying to bring righteousness and reconciliation. Peacemakers are often persecuted because sinners love drama and conflict. Forgiveness and reconciliation is so misunderstood by religious people that it is often the religious who are the persecutors. ​ Matthew 5:11–12 ESV 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Revile = Grk. oneidizo - To be insulted and/or denounced. When someone can’t find a good argument against what you are doing, they will use insults and personal attacks as an attempt to discredit you. Persecute = Grk. dioko - Being chased down and persecuted by those who disagree. Utter evil against you falsely = The most popular form of persecution is a personal attack of false accusations or using one’s past against them. Rejoice and be glad = Why? Because righteous people (like the prophets) have always been persecuted by religious/evil people. If you are being persecuted, you are probably doing something righteous. If you are never being persecuted, you are probably doing something wrong. Modern Problem: In the modern church, most people freak out at the hint of any persecution and demand that it be stopped. This is the opposite attitude of what Jesus is teaching us. This is also the opposite attitude of the early church. In Acts 5, the apostles had been arrested for the third time, “40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” (Acts 5:40-41). True believers see persecution as a blessing and as an indication that we are truly following Jesus. Who is blessed? In the worldly kingdom those who are rich, happy, proud, successful, cruel, corrupt, lovers of conflict, and comfortable are blessed. In God’s kingdom those who are poor, sorrowful, humble, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure, lovers of peace, and persecuted are blessed. Which group are trying to fit into? Conclusion As we conclude our time together with worship and communion, we should pray that God will transform us into being the blessed ones of His kingdom.