Beatitudes & Sermon Teachings 1-4

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A. More in Galilee the "Beatitudes" of the "Sermon on the Mount" Matt 5:1-12; Luke 6:17-26 Covered fully in Psalms 19 - 24 Psalm 24 1. "Beatitudes" (See there as to why the quotes). As we saw there: per Matt (Matt 5:1 - 7:27) had 8 beatitudes, followed by 18 teachings-- all given on a mountainside with His disciples as the main audience (but evidently with the crowds also-- see 7:28); per Luke (Luke 6:17-49) had the Sermon given on a level place of the mountainside, again with His disciples as the main audience & the crowd listening in (see 6:17)-- there we saw only 4 beatitudes given, but with 4 woes, followed by 4 teachings.

Note that the "Sermon on the Mount" was only covered in Matt & Luke-- in Matt it was presented immediately after He had acquired 4 disciples by the Sea of Galilee (so that He had 6 disciples soon after returning from the 1st trip to Jerusalem). Whereas Luke has it occurring later, immediately after He called His disciples to Him & chose 12 of Them, whom He also designated apostles.

B. More in Galilee the Teachings of the "Sermon on the Mount" Matt 5:13 - 7:29; Luke 6:27-49 As we saw also in Psalms 19 - 24 Psalm 24 1., the 4 beatitudes of Matt that are also in Luke are just somewhat rephrased-- as also are the 4 teachings that are in Luke.

C. Sermon teaching #1 Salt & light Both subjects have been illuminated numerous times, but here we have Jesus saying to His disciples (persistent followers)-- but in the hearing of the crowds (see 5:1-2; 7:28-29): Matt 5:13-16 You as Jews are (were) the salt of the earth-- making it flavorful. But if the salt loses its saltiness (becomes tasteless-- has absorbed so much of the putrid water of the world, in comparison to the living water of Heaven, it is tasteless-- if not downright distasteful), how can You make it salty again (with what can the world be flavored)? It is no longer good (has no strength-- is useless) for anything, except to be cast out & trampled by men-- thus your only value is as a testimony of darkness. Q & A:

  • How did the original salt lose its ability to flavor? In the process of time, the waters of the earth became putrid-- the salt, absorbing this, lost its effectiveness;
  • How are things different today? Christians have the option to maintain/reclaim purity-- e.g., by continually absorbing the Living Water, even as they mingle with nonChristians;
  • How else do we maintain/reclaim purity? Via fellowship, ingesting/digesting the word, sacrificing, etc.
  • Why must Christians mingle (standing firm in the faith) with non-Christians? In order for the salt to be available-- it cannot just be sprinkled (remember, it has absorbed Living Water), but must be distributed by contact;
  • Could you be more specific with the examples for maintaining/reclaiming purity? Well, we mentioned fellowship. That includes, among others, the "one-anothers";
  • What about ingesting/digestin the word? Well, that really is augmented as we gather & discuss it;
  • How is saltiness lost? For 1, by giving into temptation (by not standing strong in the faith); then there's the consequences of making provisions for the flesh, etc.;
  • What role does sacrificing play? Jesus said, Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. It's more accurate to say that one's saltiness multiplies via sacrifice-- in effect obliterating any impure accumulation;
  • Anymore about sacrifice? Well, there's the sacrifices of mercy we've seen. Then there's continually offer to GOD a sacrifice of praise-- the fruit of lips that confess HIS Name. And do not forget to do good & to share with others, for with such sacrifices GOD is well pleased (Hebr 13:15-16).
  • What about sacrifice if 1 is not a Christian? True, many believe they can 1st give to charities, or otherwise do good works, & thus earn, or increase their chances for, salvation-- futile, but they should not be hindered (for 1, it communicates that Christians are opposed to those good works). And then He says, So, meanwhile, have salt in yourselves, & be at peace with each other.
  • Can you sum it all up? Most importantly (certainly from God's perspective, who is not willing that any should perish), it improves/prepares the soil-- perhaps even rendering it good (see Matt 13:1-23; Mark 8:1-25; Luke 8:4-18).

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp & put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, & it give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let Your light so shine before men-- get out of the ivory palace; mingle & shine, that they may see Your good deeds & praise Your FATHER in Heaven-- Your good deeds, as opposed to those who think they are earning salvation by giving to charities, etc.

D. Sermon teaching #2 The spirit of the Law (Transition #8) About this 8th transition: as pointed out before, there is a difference between the contrasts & transition (see Original Tops Transitions & Contrasts-- the contrasts are distinct changes, whereas transitions range from subtle to radical re-emphasis (see Psalms 84 - 85 Psalm 84 3. Transition #2). We saw the radical re-emphasis of love to include enemies; here we see Transition #8-- a smooth transition, from embracing the written code of the Law to adhering to the spirit of the Law Matt 5:17-20 Jesus said to His disciples (persistent followers)-- but in the hearing of the crowds (see 5:1-2; 7:28-29), Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill (establish/make clear the spirit of) them. Rom 3:31; 7:6 says, Do We, then, nullify the Law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, We uphold the Law. Fellow born-again-Jews, by dying to what once bound Us, We have been released from the Law so we may serve in the new way of the Spirit, & not in the old way of the written code. Colo 2:13-14 says, Fellow born-again-Gentiles, GOD made You alive with Christ. HE forgave Us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against Us & that stood opposed to Us; HE took it away, nailing it to the cross. I tell You the truth, until Heaven & earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. The written code (including the 10 Commandments written by the Finger of GOD) was cancelled; the spirit of the written code remains! Anyone who breaks any 1 of the least of the spirit of these Commandments & teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of Heaven-- though he might indeed be present, but whosoever practices & teaches the spirit of these Commandments will be called great in the kingdom of Heaven. Now addressing the crowd, For I tell You that unless Your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees & the teachers of the written Law, You will not enter the kingdom of Heaven. Luke 16:16-17 Jesus said to His disciples (persistent followers), The Law & the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the Kingdom of GOD is being preached, & everyone is forcing His way into it (pursuing the new & ignoring the old). It is easier for Heaven & earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

E. Sermon teaching #3 Anger... murder Matt 5:21-26 Jesus said to His disciples (persistent followers)-- but in the hearing of the crowds (see 5:1-2; 7:28-29),

1- You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder (Exo 20:13; Deu 5:17-- the 6th of the 10 Commandments, You shall not murder)', & anyone who murders (performs murder) will be subject to thorough judgement'-- repentance impossible.

  • But I tell You that anyone who is just angry with His brother will be subject to judgement (low court).
  • Again (more specifically), anyone who says to His brother, 'Raca' (Aramic, an expression of contempt-- as in, 'bow down, dust'), is answerable to the Sanhedrin (high court).
  • But anyone who says, 'You fool-- I've swindoled you; watcha-gonna-do?' will be in danger of the fire of hell (eternal jail).

2- Therefore, if You, having been angry, are offering Your gift at the altar & there remember that Your brother has something against You, leave Your gift at there in front of the altar. 1st (Immediately) go & be reconciled to Your brother; then come & offer Your gift.

3- Or having raca'd (expressed Raca), settle matters quickly with Your adversary who is taking You to court. Do it while You are still with Him on the way, or He may hand You over to the judge, & the judge may hand You over to the officer, & You may be thrown into prison. I tell You the truth, You will not get out until You have paid the last penny.

4- Or having embezzled-- well, let's just say 'You'll pay.' Recall the ref. to Matt 5:13-16 above, Sermon teaching #1 Salt & light, You are the salt of the earth. Here we have (esp'ly note v. 49, Everyone will be salted with fire.):

F. Sermon teaching #4 Lust & temptation Matt 5:27-30 Jesus said to His disciples (persistent followers)-- but in the hearing of the crowds (see 5:1-2; 7:28-29), You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery (Exo 20:14; Deu 5:18-- the 7th of the 10 Commandments, You shall not commit adultery)'. But I tell You that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already hardened his heart & committed adultry with Her in His heart. If Your right eye causes You to sin, gouge it out & throw it away. It is better to lose 1 part of Your body than for Your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if Your right hand causes You to sin, cut it of & throw it away. It is better to lose 1 part of Your body than for Your whole body to go into hell. Mark 9:42-50 Speaking now only to His disciples (persistent followers), Jesus said, And if anyone causes 1 of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with if a large millstone tied around his neck. If Your hand causes You to harden Your heart & sin (blaspheme the Holy Spirit), cut it off. It is better for You to enter citizenship-in-Heaven life maimed than with 2 hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if Your foot causes You to sin, cut it off. It is better for You to enter citizenship-in-Heaven life crippled than to have 2 feet & be thrown into hell. And if Your eye causes You to sin, pluck it out. It is better to enter the Kingdom of GOD with 1 eye than to have 2 eyes & be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, & the fire is not quenched (Isa 66:24b.' Everyone will be salted & revealed with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can You make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, & be at peace with each other. Matt 18:7-9 Again only to His disciples (persistent followers), Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! If Your right hand or Your foot causes You to harden Your heart & sin (blaspheme the Holy Spirit), cut it off & throw it away. It is better for You to enter citizenship-in-Heaven life maimed & crippled than to have 2 hands or 2 feet & be thrown into eternal fire. And if Your eye causes You to sin, gouge it out & throw it away. It is better for You to enter citizenship-in-Heaven life with 1 eye than to have 2 eyes & be thrown into the fire of hell.

G. 2 of the 10 Commandments "re-focused" "Re-focused" might not be the best way to express it-- it's imperative to remember what Jesus said (as we saw above in Sermon teaching #2 The spirit...), Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. So we must be careful to not even imply otherwise. However, it's also important to factor that now God is concerned for the welfare of the entire world. Recall, HE is patient with You, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (1stPet 3:9b). The 2 "re-focused" commandments:

  • The 6th commandment (Exo 20:13; Deu 5:17), You shall not murder. We saw above, in Sermon teaching #3 Anger & murder, that the "re-focus" was an expansion, from judgment as a consequece of murder, to various degrees of judgment as consequences of anger, name-calling & belittlement.
  • The 7th commandment (Exo 20:14; Deu 5:18), You shall not commit adultery. We saw above, in Sermon teaching #4 Lust & temptation, that the "re-focus" was from acting out the lust, to just looking lustfully.

But the rationale for the "re-focus": provision for repentance.