And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 7:28-29
We don’t know how long it took for Jesus to preach the Sermon on the Mount. Could it have been over the period of a few days? Did He offer all of it in an hour? What we know is that when Jesus was finished, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29) It would make sense that they were astonished, because the Sermon on the Mount was incredibly deep and incredibly different than anything that would have ever heard. One might even call it radical for the time. And what is also so astonishing is that this sermon has so much relevance for us, two thousand years later.
The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-11, have been called Prescriptions for Daily Living. Following even one of them can be life-changing. In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth. And 5:14, He calls us “the light of the world”, the one quality that we share with Christ. He encourages us to let our lights shine in the world, so that God can be revealed through our good works.
Jesus reassures His followers and those who were just hearing Him for the first time that His mission was not to abolish the Law and everything that came before but to fulfil the Law and the sayings of the Prophets concerning a Messiah.
Jesus addresses anger but telling us to reconcile with our brothers, rather than take revenge on them. (5:21-26) He expands adultery not only to include acts but thoughts and suggests plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand if it causes us to sin. We know that He is not encouraging self-mutilation but rather gaining discipline over our bodies by casting aside the things that cause us to sin.
While divorce is now allowed in the Church, it is with grave sadness and is offered as a dispensation. It is not what God intended. We are not to swear oaths towards heaven or earth. An “eye for an eye” is changed by telling us to turn the other cheek. Jesus tells us to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (5:43) He then sets the bar to the highest level, saying we “must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (5:48)
Chapter six (remember that in its original form, the Bible did not have chapters and verses as we are accustomed to now) addresses things we all struggle to do. Almsgiving (giving to the poor) is to be done anonymously. God will know and reward the things we do in secret. Prayer is also an act of private devotion, not to be done with self-aggrandizement or with a lot of empty phrases.
Jesus introduces the Lord’s Prayer as the consummate prayer. Indeed, if one can pray, and live the phrase “Thy will be done” (6:10) there is nothing else that would be needed. Because to pray for God’s will and to let His will govern our lives means that we have completely submitted to Him. This is the essence of faith. To forgive as we hope to be forgiven is an indictment on anyone who has ever held a grudge against someone.
Fasting is another spiritual discipline that is to be done secretly, without fanfare, or disfigurement. Jesus cautions us that our hearts follow where we invest our treasure. So, if we are investing in earthly things, these things will ultimately rust and be consumed. Rather, we are to invest in the eternal things which will never perish. (6:16-21)
The eye is the lamp of our bodies, through which we take in ninety percent of what our senses experience. Therefore, if our eyes are not sound the rest of us will not be sound either. The most beautiful part of the human body is the eye.
If we rank who we serve, there can only be one “number one.” So, who is our number one? Is it God, or is it money and the pursuit of material things? Only one can occupy the top spot. (6:24)
Jesus addresses anxiety, which is still pervasive in the world today, just as it was two thousand years ago. None of us can add to our lives by being anxious, to the contrary. If we are the crowning jewel in creation, but yet God has made the grass and the flowers so beautiful, has He not made us even more beautiful than them? Therefore, there is no need to be anxious because God will take care of us. We are to seek Him first, His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all the other things will fall into place. (6:25-33)
In teaching us to focus on “our daily bread” (6:11), Jesus also encourages us to not be anxious for tomorrow but focus on the challenges of today. (6:34) Personally, these verses have helped me change my outlook on life, so that I’m very focused on the present matter at hand, and so I don’t get too far ahead in my thinking about things that may never happen. Rather it is better to put our emphasis on today and let tomorrow’s worries wait for tomorrow.
Jesus brings the sermon to a close by encouraging His followers to not only look inwardly but to look outwardly.
Jesus warns against judging by encouraging us to address our own inward “log” before looking at the “speck” in our neighbor. We must keep sacred what is holy. We are to ask God for the things we need. The way to eternal life is a narrow path and few choose it.
A tree is known for its fruit, but there is a tendency to deceive ourselves in thinking our fruit is always good. When we are judged, it will be the Lord who will determine if our fruit was really good or not. Finally, a solid foundation is what allows our souls to stand firm in the storms of life, and the foundation of our lives should be Christ, the rock of our salvation.
The Sermon on the Mount is the greatest sermon ever preached. If we know and do everything in the Sermon, there is really nothing more to do, we would have done all that is necessary for salvation. And this Sermon will be relevant to Christians until the end of time. In a world where things are constantly changing, these words are timeless, relevant, inspirational and foundational for what it means to be a Christian.
Lord, Thou has been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God. Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, “Turn back, O children of men!” For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. For we are consumed by Thy anger; by Thy wrath we are overwhelmed. Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. For all our days pass away under Thy wrath, our years come to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength forescore; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of Thy anger, and Thy wrath according to the fear of Thee? So teach us to number our days hat we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on Thy servants! Satisfy us in the morning with Thy steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as Thou hast afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil. Let Thy work be manifest of Thy servants, and thy glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it. Psalm 90
To Him be the glory, to the ages of ages! Amen.
