Get Ready
What are the characteristics of a “good” sermon for you? Do you prefer a message that teaches or explains a passage in the Bible? Or do you want a message that deals with some aspect of contemporary life, something you deal with today? Or do prefer stories of how others have dealt with a situation or problem?
The Word
5When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kngdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. . . .
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. NRSV
Get into the Word:
1. Where is Jesus in this passage? What is he doing? Who is he talking to? What is he talking about? Who is he talking about? What kind of people is he describing? What is different about Jesus’s message in this passage?
2. What images does Jesus use to describe the disciples? Why do you suppose he chose these images? What message does he want to convey to the disciples? What does he expect them to do?
3. What subject does Jesus shift to next? How does he relate himself to this topic? What will happen to this issue in the future? What exceptions does he describe? Who will benefit? Who will lose? What is the objective in this situation?
4. What does Jesus teach about the law? How is his teaching different than the Jewish understanding of the law? What does he say is most important in understanding the law. What specific aspects of the law does he deal with? How do you think his listeners reacted to his teaching?
Get Personal:
How do your attitudes align with what Jesus says about the law. How does God help you understand and “complete” the spirit of the law as well as the letters of the law?
Notes . . .
5:1. Crowds . . . disciples — Jesus spoke first with his disciples, then to the larger crowd.
5:3. Poor in spirit — Jesus begins contrasting his kingdom with the expectations of the Jews for a “kingdom” based on military power [also in vv. 4, 5, 9 and 10; v. 5 is a paraphrase of Psalm 37:11].
5:11. Persecute you . . . on my account — Jesus explicitly compares the disciples to the prophets, who suffered for the Lord.
5:13. Salt — a common image for wisdom, Jesus expects the disciples to bring about change in the world [also in the next verse].
5:17. The law or the prophets — Jesus is the completion of (i.e. completely fulfills) both the Jewish law and the prophets’ predictions about the Messiah.
5:21. But I say — Jesus begins teaching the way to follow God’s laws completely [v. 48]: the key is our attitude toward God and one another.
Murder . . . anger — Jesus says being angry with someone is the same spiritually as murdering the person.
5:27-42. Jesus also equates lust and divorce and remarriage with adultery, swearing an oath with being untruthful, selfishness with vengeance and retaliation.
5:44. Love your enemies — Jewish teachings implied that it was acceptable to “hate your enemies,” [Psalm 139, 140] even though you should “love your neighbor as yourself,” [Lev 19:18]. Jesus is calling for an entirely different attitude toward people.
5:48. Be perfect — the word also means “complete.” Jesus echoes God’s command to “be holy, for I am holy,” [Lev 11:45].
Note: Luke has a version of Jesus’s sermon [6:20-49], and John mentions Jesus speaking on a mountain [6:2-3].
Memory Verse
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. [Matthew 6:9-13]
Next Lesson
Mark 4: Parables
