The Sermon on the Mount

The Beatitudes.

Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 and Matthew 5:13-7:27.

Introduction: The Beatitudes or Beautiful Attitudes as someone has said leave us in awe. These teachings from our Lord and Master are unique within all the literature of this world. They show the perfect life and lifestyle of our Messiah and His disciples.

Unlike other great figures of history these are not the tenets of an organisation or the idealism of a new spiritual leader. Our Lord lived this lifestyle before family, friends and foes. These life application principles were lived to the full and tested in the red-hot crucible of a life that ultimately led to Golgotha (Calvary).

Proposition: Christ’s (the Messiah’s) Message and the Christian Life can be summed up in two ways:-

1. We are not asked to imitate His life but to invite Him into our lives.
2. The One who gave His life for us also gives His life to us by His indwelling Holy Spirit.

Here then is a lifestyle impossible without the regeneration and gifts of the Spirit of God.

Our two sections of verses show us the Victor and the Victories of the New Life.

Body of Teaching:

THE VICTOR.

1. SUBMISSION – Matthew 5:3.

2. SORROW – Matthew 5:4.

3. SALVATION – Matthew 5:5.

4. SATISFACTION – Matthew 5:6.

5. SYMPATHY – Matthew 5:7.

6. SANCTIFICATION – Matthew 5:8.

7. SOUL WINNING – Matthew 5:9.

8. SUFFERING – Matthew 5:10-12.

Here then is the new beginning for believers. The number 8 within the Bible denotes something new!

But there is one other saying of our Saviour which carries His blessing -“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We therefore have 9 Beatitudes in total (9 indicates physical completion).

9. SUFFICIENCY – John 20:29.

THE VICTORIES OF THE NEW LIFE.

Having taught us the way of the Victor our Lord now teaches us how to apply the principles of the new life found in Him and Him alone. John 14:6 and Acts 4:12.

Here then is the life of Christ lived out in the life of a disciple in a sin cursed, sad, sick world!

THE VITALITY OF THE CHRIST LIFE. (Matthew 5:13-16)

1. A CORRUPT WORLD – IT NEEDS SALT! (Salt cleanses, heals and preserves)

2. A CONFUSED WORLD – IT NEEDS LIGHT! (The darkness needs illuminating)

THE VIRTUE OF THE CHRIST LIFE. (Matthew 5:17-48)

“BUT I SAY TO YOU” in the matter of:-

1. INCONSISTENCY – verses 17-20.

2. INFLAMMABILITY – verses 21-26.

3. IMPURITY – verses 27-30.

4. INFIDELITY – verses 31-32.

5. INTEGRITY – verses 33-37.

6. INJURY – verses 38-42.

7. IMPARTIALITY – verses 43-48.

Here then are His 7 points to give the Seal of God and Spiritual Fullness.

THE VERITIES OF THE CHRIST LIFE. (Matthew 6:1-18)

1. MANWARD – ALMSGIVING – verses 1-4.

2. GODWARD – PRAYING – verses 5-15.

3. SELFWARD – FASTING – verses 16-18.

THE VALUES OF THE CHRIST LIFE. (Matthew 6:19-7:27)

1. FALSE PURPOSES – Matthew 6:19-34.

2. FALSE PRETENCES – Matthew 7:1-5.

3. FALSE PREACHING – Matthew 7:6.

4. FALSE PRAYING – Matthew 7:7-11.

5. FALSE PRINCIPLES – Matthew 7:12.

6. FALSE PRESUMPTIONS – Matthew 7:13-14.

7. FALSE PROPHETS – Matthew 7:15-23.

8. FALSE PROFESSION – Matthew 7:24-27.

These 8 points then show the Biblical new beginning we have in our Lord and Messiah.

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