Chapters 5–7 record the Sermon on the Mount. It is
important that we have a total view of this important
sermon before we attempt to study the various divisions of
the passage. The theme, given in chapter 5:17-20, is true
righteousness, as opposed to the false righteousness of the
Scribes and Pharisees. It is important to remember that the
people looked to the Scribes and Pharisees as their models
and examples in the things of God, since they set the rules
and determined what was holy and unholy. One reason the
Scribes and Pharisees hated Jesus was because He exposed
their shallowness and deceit in this sermon.
The purpose of the Sermon on the Mount was
threefold: (1) To tell His followers the meaning of true
righteousness. (2) To describe the laws of His Kingdom, the
spiritual principles He uses in governing the lives of men.
(3) To relate His message to the Old Testament Law and the
tradition of the Scribes and Pharisees.
When studying the Sermon on the Mount, we should
realize that it is to be applied to individuals rather than
to nations, to believers rather than unbelievers; and we
must remember that it is a description of what a Christian
is like when the Holy Spirit is working through his life.
Most of the material in the Sermon on the Mount is repeated
in the New Testament Epistles to the church, so we can
definitely say it is relevant for us today.
MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY:
Man now can be:
Redeemed.
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace.