The Sermon on the Mount

Day One: The Sermon and the Old Testament Just as Moses received the Law at Mount Sinai, Jesus went to a mountainside to teach His disciples. He may have done this to draw a parallel between his words in the Sermon and the Law given by Moses. Even the words in verses 5:1-2, “he went up on the mountain” are reminiscent of Exodus 19:3 when Moses did the same. Within these verses, parallels between Jesus and Moses are abundant. For example, there were twelve tribes in Israel who were charged with upholding and living out the law – there were also twelve apostles of Jesus who were charged with making disciples in a new Israel. In both cases, commandments were given and obedience was expected. What are some other parallels you can think of between Jesus and Moses? Why do you think that understanding the similarities between Jesus and Moses might be important in the whole context of scripture? The parallels between Moses and Jesus are no accident. The status that Moses held in the Israelite community was immense. There could be only one that would exceed that status, and that was God Himself. Enter Jesus, who fulfilled the promises and prophecies in Israel. The covenants made with Moses, David, and others all pointed to a coming Messiah: a prophet, priest, and king. At the time Jesus gave the Sermon, those who had an understanding of Jewish scriptures would have been expecting a new Moses based on many Old Testament scriptures, but we will focus only on two: Deuteronomy 18:15-19 and Isaiah 43:15-19. First, read the Deuteronomy passage: The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen. This is an easy passage to use for developing the Jesus/Moses precept. While Joshua was the initial fulfillment of this passage, there is a second, greater fulfillment in Jesus. What are some examples of Old Testament prophets? What is your understanding of the role of a prophet? How did Jesus fulfill the expectation of the prophet from this verse? Another reason the Israelites would be looking for a new Moses comes from Isaiah 43:15-19: I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. This passage does not mention Moses by name. Circle the places you see references to Moses’ leadership in this passage. Do you see any connection between the miracles cited here and the coming miracles of Christ and His kingdom? Explain. For two reasons, these Old Testament passages, and many others, help us better frame The Sermon and our understanding of it. First, studying scripture in the context of the audience who first heard it is always useful. Second, these passages remind us of God’s great plan and how He fulfilled it in Christ. We must understand this fulfillment as we read on and learn from Jesus. Before He can teach us, we must believe He has the authority to do so. He is the Greater Moses, God Himself in the flesh. What better Teacher could there be? Day Two: The Sermon and the New Testament The Sermon on the Mount provides us with a discipleship perspective that is reiterated in the writings of Peter, Paul, and the entire New Testament. That should be no surprise because scripture is cohesive and consistent. However, The Sermon on the Mount might especially remind you of the book of James. Both texts represent Jesus’ words in different but essential ways. Some even believe that the book of James is a commentary on the Sermon. At the very least, the Sermon and the Book of James share a common theme: practical Christianity. They both remind us that “the ultimate purpose of Christian instruction, the goal of doctrine, is a godly character and righteous behavior. [G]enuine faith is more than a matter of simply acknowledging the right concepts; it is right living in accordance with those concepts” (McCartney, 2009, p. 3). If you have ever heard the expression ‘scripture teaches scripture’ (or even if you haven’t), settle in with that concept for today’s study assignment. There is not much instruction or insight in this study segment because we can rest confidently in how the Book of James comments on, elaborates on and supports understanding of the Sermon. See Appendix A for a more comprehensive list of the shared themes in James and the Sermon. As we start our study, we will choose only a few related texts to emphasize the Sermon’s overarching themes. After each set of scriptures, reflect on how reading them together helps you understand each one better. Mercy: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (Matthew 5:7) . . . judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13) Peace: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9) And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:18) Trials: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. (James 1:2) The necessity of righteousness: . . . I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20) . . . whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. (James 2:10) Treasures: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19) Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. (James 5:2-5) God’s provision: Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34) Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (James 4:13-14) Be slow to judge: Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)