Sermon on the Mount is a 6-part series on Jesus' sermon recorded in Matthew 5-7. This material is also available in paperback.
Contents:
“When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29).
When Jesus finished speaking, the people knew that there was something different about Him. He taught with authority. They could tell that His message was one to which they should listen. The same is true today – we must also listen to Jesus’ message and do what He instructed.
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In this sixth and final lesson, we are going to look at how the life of a disciple is a different life. Our lives are filled with choices that we need to make. These choices reflect who we are. As Jesus’ disciples, we are to make choices in line with His will. This will invariably make us different from the world. In the end, these choices come down to deciding between what is right and what is wrong. We must be different by choosing what is right. Furthermore, we must be willing to be different for the sake of what is right.
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In this lesson, we are going to consider how the life of a disciple is a just life. The word just means to be fair. As we will see, this does not mean that we treat everyone the same. This may sound surprising, but misunderstanding this about “justice” is common. Politically it is seen in systems like socialism. Culturally it is seen in the acceptance of sins like homosexuality. Jesus was not advocating some sort of “social justice” or instructing us to be tolerant of sin and error. Instead, He taught that we should be just in our lives. This passage explains what that means.
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In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described the life of a disciple as a focused life. The Lord does not expect His people to drift aimlessly through life. We are to live with focus and determination. However, we must also be careful about what we choose as the object of our focus. It is possible for us to focus on the wrong things. In the verses we will consider, Jesus explained what a disciple is and is not to pursue in this focused life.
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As we continue our study, we will consider how the life of a disciple is a sincere life. Though the word sincere is not used in the verses we will examine, it is certainly the concept under consideration. One who is sincere is one who says what he genuinely feels or believes and is not dishonest or hypocritical. A disciple of Christ cannot be a hypocrite. Our outward actions must be in harmony with our inward thoughts and motivations. The Pharisees were known for their hypocrisy (Matthew 23:2, 13) and Jesus said our righteousness must exceed theirs (Matthew 5:20). As He explained in these verses, the life of a disciple must be a sincere life.
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After describing the life of a disciple as blessed, Jesus directed His message to a discussion of righteousness. He touched on this in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:6). As we noticed in the previous lesson, to be righteous is to be right by God’s standard, not man’s. The verses we will consider here expand on that idea. We can see from Jesus’ words that the life of a disciple is a righteous life.
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Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount with statements that are commonly called the Beatitudes. In these verses, He described those who were blessed. This word does not merely mean that one is happy. Rather, to be blessed means to be approved of God. This results in true joy that surpasses the temporary moments of “happiness” in this life. This is particularly important because, as we will see, there will be times when those who are “blessed” are those who are suffering. Let us consider the Beatitudes and see how the life of a disciple is a blessed life.
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What does “propitiation” mean? How is “justification” connected to salvation? What does “sanctification” look like in our day-to-day lives? The Bible uses some powerful words to describe God’s plan to save mankind. However, these words are not always easy to understand, especially when they are not part of our everyday vocabulary. This book explores key Bible terms that unlock the message of the gospel.
Big Words in the Bible examines five important words – Propitiation, Reconciliation, Sanctification, Justification, and Resurrection – using plain language to see how the Scriptures describe these concepts and how the apostle Paul employs them in his letter to the Romans. This book also contains an appendix with eleven additional articles to explore these topics further.
Whether you are new to the Bible and want to grow in your understanding or want a simple way to explain these core gospel doctrines to others, this book will be helpful. With a focus on the Scriptures, Big Words in the Bible helps break down these fundamental topics to shed light on the life-changing message of the gospel and the salvation found in it.
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