Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-7 Today we finish our study of the greatest sermon by the greatest preacher… Matthew 5-7 Sermon on the Mount

Introduction Kingdom Manifesto “Really, it is far more than a sermon, being what might well be termed the Messiah’s manifesto, the magna carta (or ‘constitution’) of His kingdom, for therein He unfolded the laws and conditions under which alone we can enter His kingdom.” (Pink, p. 436) “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20 “poor in spirit” (5:3) “mourn” (5:4) “meek” (5:5) “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (5:6) “merciful” (5:7) “pure in heart” (5:8) “peacemakers” (5:9) “persecuted for righteousness sake” (5:10) The Sermon on the Mount

Decision Time Introduction Which road in life will we chose to travel? Matt. 7:13-14 The “broad way” that is entered by the “wide gate” but “leads to destruction”; and unfortunately, “there are many who go in thereat.” The “difficult way” that is entered by the “strait gate” and “leads to life”; but unfortunately, there are “few who find it.” The Sermon on the Mount

Final choice: Will we serve God by doing His will or not? Introduction Decision Time Final choice: Will we serve God by doing His will or not? Matthew 7:21-28 Which teacher will we chose to follow? Matt. 7:15-20 The “false prophets” “who come…in sheep’s clothing” but “inwardly they are ravenous wolves”; and they lead us away from truth, away from the road that “leads to life.” Or, the teacher of truth who will help us enter the “strait gate” and navigate the “difficult way…that leads to life.” The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:21-23 3. The danger of self-deception Jesus throws another jarring statement at us! Matt. 7:21-23: ”Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:21-23 3. The danger of self-deception We need to appreciate just how jarring and dramatic these statements were and are! More claiming to be the Lord’s disciples will be lost! He’s not talking about a “few”; but “many” ! v. 22; cf. vv. 13-14 These are not indolent, shiftless, or lazy disciples; they are busily engaged in the “Lord’s work.” One major problem: what they were doing was not according to the “will of My Father in heaven.” The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:21-23 3. The danger of self-deception It is reminiscent of Cain: Heb. 11:4; Gen. 4:5; Rom. 10:17 The religious activities of these folks did not follow God’s pattern: Heb. 8:5; Phil. 3:17-19; 2 Tim. 1:13 Obedience to God has always been an absolute essential: Gen. 2:16-17; Rom. 4:12; ; 4:3; Heb. 11; Rom. 10:6 The same is true today: Matt. 28:20; 1 Jn. 2:3-5; Jn. 14:15; Matt. 12:48-50; Jn. 8:31-32 Those not obeying God, do not really love Him: 1 Cor. 2:9-10 The Sermon on the Mount

Do we get it? These verses apply to us too! Matthew 7:21-23 3. The danger of self-deception Matthew 7:21-23 They sincerely believed they were doing God’s will! Do we get it? These verses apply to us too! Ultimately, we are personally responsible for what we believe and practice religiously. They succumbed to the worst spiritual disease of all: self-deception. Ignorance Negligence/slothfulness Misapprehension of God Self-love & elevated self-esteem Failure to appreciate the awfulness of sin The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:21-23 3. The danger of self-deception A terrible fate awaits those who play loose and fast with the truth: Matt. 7:23 Can you imagine the “punch in the gut” feeling that verse must have delivered? 2 Cor. 5:10-11a; Heb. 10:22-31 No wonder the Hebrew writer wrote: Heb. 12:28-29: ”Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:24-27 4. Two foundations Jesus now makes His final point: Matt. 7:24-27: ”Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:24-27 4. Two foundations Two builders, two foundations: One built on a “rock,” the other on the “sand.” A building is only as solid as its foundation. Two builders, two foundations represent: The “wise man who built his house on the rock,” is “whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them.” The “foolish man who built his house on the sand” is “everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them.” The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:24-27 4. Two foundations Could Jesus be any plainer or simpler? We must be more than “hearers of the word”; “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Jas. 1:22; cf. vv. 21-23 Why are so many disobedient? Procrastination? Don’t want the bother? Lack of forward vision? The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:24-27 4. Two foundations Remember 1 John 2:3-5? The Greeks had multiple words for “knowledge” or “know,” “knowing,” etc. Cf. 2 Pet. 1:5-8 gnosis: conveys the idea of assimilating information (e.g., 2 + 2 = 4). epignosis: conveys the idea of a knowledge that involves “full discernment,” an intimate connection between the “knower” and the object “known.” Epignosis “separates the men from the boys” ! Jn. 14:23-24 The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:24-27 4. Two foundations The ultimate “storm” will be the Day of Judgment! vv. 25-27 Disobedience: Our “house” will suffer a “great… fall” ! We’ll be a “foolish man” ! Obedience: Our “house” will NOT suffer a “great… fall” ! We’ll be a “wise man” ! Which are you? “foolish” or “wise” ? The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:28-29 5. The aftermath There was no “standing O.” But, plenty of serious contemplation: Matt. 7:28-29: ”And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Jesus’ teaching was plain, to the point and authoritative ! Nobody went away not knowing the score! The Sermon on the Mount

“DecisionTime” Matthew 5-7 Conclusion The Sermon on the Mount is some of Jesus’ most profound teaching. “DecisionTime” It gets to the core of what is required to be a kingdom citizen. It tells us what is required to go to heaven. Oliver Wendell Holmes said: “Most people are willing to take the sermon on the mount as a flag to sail under, but few will use it as a rudder by which to steer.” The Sermon on the Mount