- It shows the absolute necessity of the new birth. Its standards are much too high and demanding to be met by human power. It goes beyond the Law of Moses, demanding not only righteous actions but righteous attitudes -- not just that men do right, but that they be right.
- Drives the listener to Jesus Christ as man's only hope of meeting God's standards.
- Gives God's pattern for happiness and for true success. It reveals the standards, the objectives, and the motivations that, with God's help, will fulfill what God has designed man to be.
- It is the greatest scriptural resource for witnessing, or reaching others for Christ. A Christian who personifies these principles of Jesus will be a spiritual magnet, attracting others to the Lord who empowers him. A life obedient to the principles of the Sermon on the Mount is the church's greatest tool for evangelism.
- A life obedient to the maxims of this proclamation is the only life that is pleasing to God.
When you read the Sermon on the Mount, what surprises you the most? What is most convicting to you?
5 comments:
Hi all! Just jumping in here midstream!
I think it's cool that Jesus completely spells everything out to us on how to be righteous. And thank God he does because we can really screw things up, amen?
The thing that most surprised me in this segment was 6:15, when He says if you do not forgive men their sins, you Father will not forgive your sins. Wow. I don't know about you, but that is a pretty big motivator for me to be more forgiving!
I love the part in Chapter 7 where Jesus goes: How can you say to your brother "Let me take the speck out of your eye" when you've got a friggin' PLANK in your own! I'm paraphrasing of course, but I love the way he drives his messages home.
The part about that segment I've never truly grasped is 7:6, about not giving dogs what is sacred and throwing your pearls to pigs. Maybe I'm not understanding the tie-in, but it just seems out of place to me. Anyone else?
The part that most convicts me? Hard to say because it all does!
Two things that I have not seen before in these scriptures:
When Jesus refers to those who are doing their acts of righteousness before men, he always ends with "I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." I was kinda confused by how he worded that. My study notes explain it that Jesus is saying they've gotten all they can get. Those that are righteous have soooo much more in store for them! Cool thought.
The other thing is 7:7. My study note says the Greek present imperatives for "ask, seek and knock" indicate constant asking, seeking and knocking. PERSISTENT prayer is being emphasized.
Sometimes I feel like I'm boring God with my persistent prayers (biggest one: praying that God would give Camden the abilities to walk, sit, stand and talk). But I pray this every night for him anyways. I heard someone once say that God probably pays MORE attention to these prayers because He knows it's what you love and value most. My study note for 5:44 seems to mirror this thought: Prayer is one of the practical ways love expresses itself.
Good stuff! :)
One more thought:
Jesus was not only thorough, he spoke beautifully.
Check out 5:34 & 35--"Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne or by the earth for it is God's footstool; or by Jeruselem, for it is the city of the Great King."
This is a very insightful post and good testimony. I believe that those like you who keep looking to Jesus for answers are on their way to happiness and fulfillment and everything the Christian life promises, regardless of external circumstances. On the question about not giving pearls to swine, I think a good example is in Luke 23:8-10. Herod wanted to see Jesus do a miracle but Jesus did not, nor did he even try to evangelize him. I think it means we should use discernment, i.e.--don't allow a person with an ungodly attitude a chance to make a mockery of the gospel or of God, not because we have contempt for the unbeliever but out of reverence to the Gospel and to God.
Wow!!! There is so much meat in these passages. This is the job description for the Christian. Image the impact that Christianity would have on the world if even a modest number of Christians were living this out. To incorporate these principles into your life is to have the attitude of Christ. It is impossible for us to achieve this on our own but through dying to Christ we can become like Him. That is my goal. The passage that convicts me the most is Matt 7:21-23.
I love everyone's comments. This is really cool.
Thanks Sam, for your thoughts on the swine thing...that's a good explanation.
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