Overview of the Sermon on the Mount Lecture Notes

Jul 26, 2024

Sermon on the Mount Overview Lecture Notes

Bittersweet Day

  • End of the series on Abraham
  • Transition to the Sermon on the Mount

Purpose of the Sermon on the Mount

  • Covers Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7
  • Most in-depth teaching from Jesus
  • Twofold goal:
    • Set the tone and overview for this segment
    • Provide a theological foundation for understanding the Sermon on the Mount

Systematic Exposition vs. Topical Preaching

  • Expository Preaching: Taking the passages of Scripture and presenting their meanings
  • Systematic Exposition: Means systematic preaching through portions of Scripture (e.g., Genesis, the Gospels)
  • Argument for the balance: Preach the whole counsel of God (both Old and New Testament)
  • Avoid topical series that are need-centered not Christ-centered
  • Each book studied is part of a broader pattern
  • Current transition from Abraham's life to Isaac’s life post-Sermon on the Mount

Understanding the Gospel of Matthew

  • Matthew written to a Jewish audience with a focus on Old Testament fulfillments
  • Comparison with other gospels (e.g., Mark is more action-oriented, and John is different altogether)
  • Genealogy of Jesus: Connects to Abraham, illustrating Jesus's significance as the promised seed
  • Proclamation of the gospel: Genesis 3:15 (proto-Evangelion)
  • Main themes: Jesus is the seed promised from Genesis

Overview of Matthew Chapters 1-4

  • Jesus’s Birth: Significance of coming into the world in a prophesied manner
  • Fulfilling Prophecy: Jesus is shown as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets
  • Story of Jesus’s early life emphasizes the ongoing plan against the evil one (Herod's decree to kill babies, parallels to past figures like Moses)

Law and Gospel Framework

  • Importance of understanding that the gospel addresses the heart and sinfulness
  • Law reveals our sin - serves as a mirror and tutor
  • Justification: A declaration made by God, not something we achieve
  • Sanctification: Evidence of justification - a process following genuine faith

Key Doctrines for Understanding Christian Ethics

  • Justification vs. Sanctification:
    • Justification is a declaration by God, no amount of works can justify a person before Him.
    • Sanctification emerges from justification, it's not a means for justification.
  • Need for correct understanding of both to relate properly to the Sermon on the Mount

Christian Ethics Explained

  • Three requirements for just actions:
    1. Right action (as defined by God)
    2. Right motive
    3. Right goal
  • Analyze moral actions beyond surface (e.g., someone throwing themselves on a grenade) based on these criteria

Key Themes in the Sermon on the Mount

  • Not merely rules to live by but rather reflections of who we are as justified individuals in Christ.
  • Jesus presents challenges to perceived righteousness to expose the need for true justification.
  • Mirroring Teachings: The Beatitudes represent indicatives (statements of who we are), followed by imperatives (commands for behavior).
  • Final Lessons: Emphasizes the need for inner transformation through Christ, not just outward rule-following.

Conclusion

  • Call to repentance and a deeper understanding of faith grounded in Jesus's work rather than personal abilities.
  • Reflect on the implications of Christian ethics not just for personal growth but also in how we relate the gospel to others.
  • Acknowledge that all good originates from God, thus the glory belongs to Him alone.

Note: These notes capture the essential points made during the lecture, focusing on transitions within biblical teaching, approaches to preaching, understanding the Gospel of Matthew, and the significance of justification and sanctification in relation to Christian ethics and the Sermon on the Mount.