The Authentication of the King
Messiah’s Authority to Interpret the Law
“The Sermon on the Mount” (in part)
● The Occasion
🔸As to the historical background, this was a time in Jewish history that people were looking for the coming of the Messiah. They were looking for the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom on earth. Israel was groaning under the Tyranny of Rome, longing for deliverance.
🔸The people of Israel were also under the yoke of Pharisaic Law, the thousands of rules of daily living that had evolved over the last several centuries. They were looking to the Messiah to confirm this way of righteousness (The Oral Law), which they believed would allow them to enter the Messianic Kingdom.
● THEME – Matthew 5:20:
🔸For I say unto you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
● Is the key verse for understanding the whole purpose of the sermon of the Mount. What is Jesus speaking out against here?
Is this salvation by works?
● In a complete examine of any Scripture one asks the question ~ who, when, where, what, why and how.
In order to understand this passage, it is key to answer these questions, particularly “When” “When” is this sermon taught by Jesus, in relation to the atonement.
● Jesus is dealing with the attainment of righteousness by works that the Mosaic Law demands. Jesus and Israel, are still under the Mosaic Covenant at this point in time, and will be until His death on the cross.
● The New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-37 is NOT YET IN EFFECT, and the Sermon on the Mount does not deal with it.
● The purpose of the Sermon on the Mount is to show the correct interpretation of the Mosaic Law in CONTRAST with the Pharisaic interpretation of the Law.
1. First, Jesus rejects Pharisaism as having the correct interpretation of the righteousness of the Mosaic Law.
2. Secondly, He rejects Pharisaism as having the standard of righteousness that qualifies them for the Kingdom.
Sermon on the Mount as a UNIT
What The Sermon on the Mount is NOT
1. It is NOT the constitution of the Messianic Kingdom, a popular interpretation.
● If that had been Jesus’ intent, then it would mean the reinstitution of the 613 laws of the Mosaic Covenant. The correct interpretation of the Mosaic Law is what the sermon deals with.
2. It is not a way of salvation, it is only by faith in Messiah that one is saved, not by works.
3. It is not intended to become Church ethics for this age as a complete package. It deals with the shortfalls of Pharisaic Judaism, and what God’s intention was for the Law.
● There are elements that DO become part of Church ethics, but as a UNIT it was not intended to be so. If it were Church ethics, then the Church would be under the Mosaic law.
What the Sermon on the Mount IS
● As a whole, the sermon on the Mount is the Messiah’s interpretation of the true righteousness of the Law, put into contradiction to the Pharisaic interpretation of the righteousness of the Law.
● Pharisees believed the Mosaic Law required external conformity, but it required both internal and external conformity. Jesus’ purpose is to clearly set forth the righteousness of God as demanded by the Mosaic Law.
● In Matthew 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38, and 43, Jesus makes the statement “ Ye have heard that it was said.”
● When He says this, He is dealing with principles taught in the Scriptures that have been interpreted by the Pharisees in their ORAL LAW. Jesus then proceeds to state what God’s intent for those passages was: The correct interpretation.
● In terms of “when” this message is delivered, Jesus is still in the phase of trying to convince Israel that He is their Messiah. The Mosaic Law is still in effect. They have not yet rejected His Messiahship.
● It is happening, fresh on the heels of conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees about the authority of the Mishnah, or the Oral Law, especially in the area of Sabbath observance.
● The sermon is delivered after Jesus has closed the apostolic group of twelve.
● It is happening at a time in which there is intense interest in Jesus. Huge crowds from all over Israel and even Gentile countries are following Him.
[1] The Characteristics of Those Who Attain True Righteousness.
i. In Relationship To God, The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3-6 ~ Luke 6:20-21
“The blessed are’s”
Blessed means happy in Greek
🔹Blessed are the poor in spirit – it means to have a right and proper evaluation of oneself toward God. People are to have no confidence in their OWN righteousness, and depend on God. It is the opposite to pride.
🔹Blessed are they that mourn – it means to develop a sensitivity to sin, that leads to the confession of sin to God. It is mourning in relationship to sin (Isaiah 61:1-3)
🔹Blessed are the meek – it means to have a quiet confidence in God, and a recognition of and submission to God’s authority (Psalm 37:11)
🔹Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness – it means to live consistently with an absolute standard, of the Mosaic Law in this context.
ii. In Relationship To Man
Matthew 5:7 ~ Luke 6:22-23
🔹Blessed are the merciful – to be merciful means to be compassionate, to be able to respond to the needs of others.
🔹Blessed are the pure in heart – it means to be honest, to operate out of a proper motivation, to be pleasing to God. It means to have truth in the innermost parts.
● This characteristic could also be on the list of those who attain righteousness in relationship to God.
🔹Blessed are the peace makers – it means to bring about a state of unity among the believers. It has nothing to do with political peace.
🔹Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness sake – they live consistently within a standard in connection with men, even if it brings persecution.
🔹Blessed are you when men shall reproach you, and persecute you for my sake – at that time those who accepted Jesus’ Messiahship would be rejected by the larger Jewish community. It was a very real and immediate result for those who were committing to believe in Jesus’ Messiahship.
[2] The Characteristics of Those Who Fail to Attain Righteousness
Luke 6:24-26
Woe to those who are:
🔹Merely seeking wealth.
🔹Merely seeking self-satisfaction.
🔹Merely seeking merriment.
🔹Merely seeking reputation.
[3] The Characteristics of true Righteousness in Relation to the World.
Matthew 5:13-20
Those who attain true righteousness become two things in relationship to the world.
1. Firstly, they become Salt, which is used for two purposes.
🔹Seasoning: those who attain righteousness “season” this world by giving encouragement, blessing and mercy, and making life worth living. It is the Koinonia of true fellowship between believers.
🔹Preservation: in Jewish terms, the believing remnant preserves the existence of the nation.
God has not destroyed the nation because of His promises, and for the benefit of the true believers in the nation. This can be a small group, such as the 7,000 in Elijah’s day, or a larger group.
2. Secondly, they become Light.
🔹Those who attain, provide spiritual light by good works. Works are evidence of salvation, not the means of salvation.
✡ Life Of Messiah (Jewish Foundation of the Life Of Messiah)
Ariel Ministries
www.ariel.org