Thursday, 27 April 2023

The Sermon On The Mount - Conclusion

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The end of the Sermon on the Mount is not really the end of the Sermon. Yeshua's words have power. They had power when He spoke them ... Matthew 7:28 Now when Yeshua had finished these words, the crowds were astounded at His teaching. Lives were changed, but He had not yet gone to the cross. Today, we are a blessed people.

We live in the post-resurrection era, when salvation is readily available to all who believe. Yeshua's words still have the power to change lives, and lives are being changed. While it's tempting to imagine the benefit to others who might hear this message, we must first internalize it. Ask, "What are you saying to me, Lord?"

Last time, we highlighted all the "... but I tell you ..." statements of Matthew 5. Today, let's look at the messages Yeshua shared in chapters 6 & 7.

Apparently, Yeshua didn't feel compelled to preach according to the well worn sermon model, "three points and a poem." In fact, as we study His words today, we can see how He knew His time was short and His message needed to be complete in itself.

Yeshua started his message with seven Beatitudes ("be" attitudes) and He continued to build by describing our preferred behavior in the kingdom of God. He tells us how to comport ourselves in various situations of life, how to treat our neighbors, how to treat our enemies, and lastly how to value our relationship with Him. We treat our neighbors as we would like to be treated. We treat our enemies with love (most difficult). We treat our relationship with Him by hearing His words and doing them.

John 8:30-32 As He was speaking these things, many people put their trust in Him. Then Yeshua said to the Judeans who had trusted Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!"