1. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Matthew 5-7

2. Contrast: –Points us to grace: A Blending of Law and Grace Mt 5.1-9 “Blessed are poor in spirit…those who mourn…meek…hunger and thirst for righteousness…merciful…”

3. Contrast: –Points to grace –Calls us to the law: A Blending of Law and Grace Mt 5.20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

4. Does Jesus expect us to live up to this? Different Views of the Sermon on the Mt: –A blueprint for daily living we must live up to. –An impossible standard, so relegate its application to a future kingdom. –An impossible std., but applicable to us, so lower its standards. e.g. “Do not resist him who is evil...turn the other cheek” A Blending of Law and Grace

5. Confusion lies in the failure to recognize its two-fold purpose: –A blueprint for how we ought to live. –But an absolute ideal that shows us how far we fall short – Mt 5.48 MT 5.48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

6. A Blending of Law and Grace Confusion lies in the failure to recognize its two-fold purpose: –A call to the law… (cf. 5.17-45) –To call us to grace (cf. 5.1-9)

7. A Blending of Law and Grace Is it impossible? –“Yes” (Mt 5.48) –And, “No” God calls us to do the impossible: Mt 19.25-26 “When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ And looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’”

8. The Beatitudes Matthew 5:3-12 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

9. “Beatitude” = “Blessed” –Does not mean “happy” “Happy” comes from “hap”, which means chance. Based on outward circumstance –Rather, a deep sense of joy independent of circumstances John 16:22 "…and no one will take your joy away from you.” The Beatitudes

10. “Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit…” What it is not: –Economic poverty cf. Abraham, Job, David, Solomon But a certain blessing to (cf. Lk 6.20,24): –Poor = Dependent, humble, desperate –“Worthlessness” God’s image – Gen 1.26 “Fearfully and wonderfully made” -- Ps 139.13-15

11. What it is: –Realizing our unrighteousness. Looking to God, not self, for justification Phil 3.9 “…and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” “Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit…”

12. What it is: –Realizing our unrighteousness. –Knowing our own unworthiness and inadequacy. –Recognizing our helpless and destitute condition with nowhere to turn but God. “Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit…”

13. “…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”