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INTRODUCTION TO SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Matthew Poppa

INTRODUCTION TO SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Dempsey Collins

The beginning of the Declaration of Independence states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights - among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Perhaps the greatest quest of all mankind is the quest for happiness and, coupled with that, the desire for peace of mind.  Rich or poor, young or old, regardless of nationality, everyone seeks happiness and peace of mind. It was one of the principles upon which this country was founded.

The fathers of this country left us a legacy of freedom which includes the right of every individual to pursue his own particular ideas as to what it takes to be truly happy.  But, unfortunately, man left on his own in this matter has too often chosen the wrong paths and instead of finding happiness, has found only sorrow, regret and despair - many times eternal despair.  This is because they were disillusioned as to what it takes to be truly happy.

True and lasting happiness can only be found in what a person is - morally - a standard of character, not a standard of living.  True character is fashioned after the truths revealed in the Bible.

It is found by submission to a creator and not by pursuing your own peculiar ideas in life (Luke 12:15; Matt. 4:4; note especially Phil. 4:6-9).  We can only have peace of mind when “the God of peace” is “within us”, and God is not with us unless we submit to what we learn, receive and hear from His word (Phil. 4:9).

Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone”, yet man has stuffed himself with bread of every description until he is sick, sick of many things, but especially sick of himself.

The only way to change this feeling is to change himself by submission to the designs of his creator.  This is the purpose for which he exists, whether he recognizes it or not (Eccl. 12:13).

Let us look at what Jesus prescribes as the way to true happiness and peace of mind.  Our text of scripture will be Matt. 5:1-12, a passage which is usually referred to as the Beatitudes.


Since true happiness can only be found in what you are inwardly, a moral character, Jesus, in this passage, prescribes some basic attitudes we are to have and develop to maturity.

Since true happiness can only be found in what you are inwardly, a moral character, Jesus, in this passage, prescribes some basic attitudes we are to have and develop to maturity.

The Beatitudes are part of a great whole - the Sermon on the Mount - which involves Matt. 5:1-7:29. Because the Beatitudes are part of the Sermon on the Mount, let us make a brief analysis of the sermon.

  1. Date: Given during Jesus’ Galilean ministry (Matt. 4:12, 18, 23) 31 A.D.

  2. Place: “He saw the multitudes, He went upon the mountain” (Matt. 5:1).

  3. Audience: “He saw the multitudes…His disciples came to Him” (Matt. 5:1). “A great multitude of disciples and a great throng of people from all Judea…” (Luke 6:17). “…and turning His gaze on His disciples He began to say…” (Luke 6:20). Jesus, on this occasion, spoke to His disciples. At the time of the presentation, many had become His disciples, including the twelve (Matt. 4:18ff; Luke 6:13-17; Matt. 7:28).

  4. Purpose: To proclaim the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:23). Throughout the discourse, the kingdom is mentioned (Matt. 5:3, 10, 19, 20; 6:10, 33; 7:21). The sermon may be divided into three main parts.

    1. The citizens of the kingdom (Matt. 5:3-16).

      1. Their character and blessedness (vs. 3-12).

      2. Their relation to the world (vs. 13-16): salt of the earth, light of the world.

    2. The righteousness (teaching) of the kingdom, the standard of life demanded by the King in contrast with the misconceptions and false interpretations of the old covenant.

      1. The law must be fulfilled (Matt. 5:17-19).

      2. The righteousness of those in the kingdom must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 5:20ff).  The scribes and Pharisees were models of righteousness in their own sight and in that of the people during this period.

      3. “You have heard it said…but I say to you…” appears six times in Matt. 5, in verses 21, 22, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39, 43 and 44.

      4. The essence of the righteousness of the kingdom with respect to man’s relation to God amounts to love and dependence upon God above all (Matt. 6, especially verses 6, 19, 20, 24, 25-34).

      5. The essence of the righteousness of the kingdom with respect to man’s relation to man is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 7:1-12, especially verse 12).

    3. Exhortation to enter the kingdom (Matt. 7:13-27).

      1. Enter by the narrow gate (verses 13, 14).  Jesus presents two cities before us, one with a wide gate leading to destruction; the other narrow, leading to life.

      2. “Beware of false prophets” along the way (verses 15-20).

      3. Must be a doer of these words and not merely a hearer (verses 21-27).

The effect of the discourse upon Jesus’ audience is seen in Matt. 7:28-29 - “The multitudes were amazed at His teaching for He was teaching them as one having authority and not as their scribes.”