How can one summarize the entire Sermon on the Mount?! There is so much here to consider and chew on, but I'll just limit myself to a few observations. Feel free to fill in what I missed!
True Conversion. Jesus gives us the path and product of true conversion. The "Beatitudes" give us the path. There must be honesty about your condition (poor in spirit), repentance (mourn) and humility (meek). The rest of the list gives the product of true conversion (a hunger and thirst for righteousness, showing mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking and the resulting reviling and persecution from the world). Other evidences of true conversion are seen in the way that we are salt in the earth and light in the world (5:13-16), the good fruit that comes from our lives (7:15-20) and submission to the words of Jesus (7:24-27). Jesus presents the Law and it's applications to show us how much we need this conversion (5:17-48), and then tells us that the way is narrow and hard (7:13-14). The warning that Jesus gives at the end of the sermon is quite sobering (7:21-23)! I pray that no reader of this blog would be numbered with those who only profess to know the Savior, but are not truly known by the Savior!
The Evil of Pride - 6:1-17. How sad it is when we find ourselves doing what we ought to do in order to be seen and praise by men! It reminded me of this verse in Isaiah 2:22 - Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?
The Glory of Jesus Christ. 7:28-29 has long been one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Jesus' teaching is not like any mere mortal! His teaching commands attention because it has authority. I pray that my own teaching would be so in tune with the truth of God that it may have His authority attached to it!
Soli Deo Gloria
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One of the greatest things for me about the "sermon on the mount" is the number of verses that are terrific for memory verses...that is, they sum up an outstanding point in just a few words. One of my favorite verses is 7:11, especially the end, "how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him." We often think of God as raining down punishment, but we need to remember God who gives what is good, not just in our salvation, but in everything. That's why we need communication (prayer) with him...Ask,Seek,Knock. Not so that we can get more good things, but so that we can experience the goodness of God.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, David. As I read it I was reminded of a warning that John Piper gave about not loving the gifts of God more than God Himself. It is a danger because the gifts are right in front of us. It is helpful to remember that the gifts are there to point us to the giver!
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