Week 3 - Matthew 5-7 - Sermon on the Mount

This sermon is repeated once on the mount, once on the plain (Luke 6:12-49), and individual teachings are repeated in a variety of other locations.  Jesus did not have the Internet, where things once said, need not be repeated.  He used repetition to teach the truths in a variety of locations to a variety of audiences.

The sermon introduces the Kingdom of God and Jesus explains that its citizenship is not gained after a lifetime of piety, but instantaneously, when an attitude of spiritual poverty is willing to be professed and persecuted (compare "is" and "shall" in Matthew 5:1-10).

Visible piety for the sake of reward is condemned (Matthew 6:1-18), but personal piety without visible fruit is also condemned (Matthew 5:13-16).  In fact, the sternest warnings are to those that call Him "Lord, Lord", who even have the evidence of miracles performed in His Name (Matthew 7:21-23).  If they can’t be recognized, to them will be said the words "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:21-23).

Instead the fulfillment of the Law is required, where the hollow shells of the statutes are filled with justice  (Matthew 5:17-6:18) and our wealth instead of being earthly and temporal, is celestial and permanent (Matthew 6:19-34).  

As we pass through each day, we are asked not to judge (Matthew 7:1-6), but rather enjoy the generosity of our Heavenly Father (Matthew 7:7-11), and practice the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12).

This does not give us care-free days, but rather days in which we care about the right things, as God cares for us. 

This is a narrow way.  Few find it  Those that do are recognized by the fruit they produce (Matthew 7:13-27). They are not wolves, but humble sheep, on this Way of Fruit (karpos hodos).