Sermon on the Mount -1

Matthew 4:22 – 5:3

The so-called “Sermon on the Mount” is the longest of Jesus’ public discourses. It covers three entire chapters (Matthew 5-7 cf. Luke 6:20-49).

The “sermon on the mount” appeals to modernistic churches who teach a “social gospel,” salvation by works, and living by “the golden rule” (7:12). Problem is, no one can keep the “golden rule” in this dispensation of grace.

I’ve heard liberal pastors say, “We need to get back to the sermon on the mount.” That kind of statement reveals the common false assumption that generally pervades modern Christianity—Namely the sermon on the mount is doctrinally binding upon the New Testament church today. Some even consider the sermon on the mount as “a handbook for Christ- ian living.” Those who hold to this assumption have failed to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

We must rightly divide the Scripture dispensationally (the time period it pertains to) and who is being addressed (Jew, Gentiles, or the church).

One criticism against dispensationalists is we totally reject portions of Scripture, like the sermon on the mount, as having no bearing on the church today. Of course, this criticism is not true. While all the Bible may not be directed TO US doctrinally, all the Bible is FOR US as “instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

I. The CONGREGATION (5:1).

A. When Christ came the first time two thousand years ago, He was sent to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt. 15:24). Paul called Christ, “a minister of the circumcision” (Rom. 15:8). The doctrinal application of the sermon on the mount is to Israel (“the circumcision”), not the New Testament Church. [In the next message we will deal more specifically with the spiritual applications of the sermon on the mount.]

B. While the sermon is directed primarily to Christ’s disciples, it was also heard by a multitude (7:28-8:1). This illustrates that while the primary teaching was for Christ’s disciples, there was also a message to the entire congregation in general.