Matthew 5:1-12

The Sermon on the Mount

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

The Beatitudes

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others 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 so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Here are the headings for all He taught that day.

Salt and light.

Christ came to follow the law.

Anger

Lust

Divorce

Oaths

Retaliation

Love you enemies

Giving to the needy

The Lord’s Prayer

Fasting

Laying up treasures in heaven

Do not be anxious

Judging others

Ask and it will be given

The golden rule

A tree and its fruit

I never knew you

Build your house on the Rock

If a pastor was to just read these three chapters of Matthew, who would stay until the end?

John 7:25-27 English Standard Version

Can This Be the Christ?

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.”

Yesterday’s title was Fiction so I thought it best to talk about reality.

Some of the people in Jerusalem are questioning their reality. They have seen and heard Jesus. There is the perception of conviction, that their religious leaders want this man dead. There is also the perception that the reason why they want Jesus dead is because He has proclaimed Himself to be the Son of Man as foretold by Daniel. Their perception is that the Son of Man will be their Messiah, the Christ.

Now comes the real questions. Why aren’t those leaders doing anything to stop Jesus? This brings into question the common man’s conception of their leaders beliefs. Do they know something we don’t know?

The second question is vital to their own reality. Why do they believe that when Christ comes that no one will know where He comes from? They know Jesus came from Nazareth but in reality did Jesus come from Nazareth? He was born in Bethlehem. 

John 6:42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’ ?”

Their reality does not match the reality of Jesus Christ. What is to be believed?

John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

Seeing is believing. Now we are left with our own reality, Do we see and believe only because we have witnessed signs and wonders? Does Jesus appear to be real to us now since it has been so long since He walked on earth?

What is our reality?

John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Has Jesus blessed you?