Matthew 7 – Sermon on the Mount (Part 3)
1 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
 - How many of you were quick to judge Tiger Woods this week? Or Kathy Griffen?
 - So are Christians not to judge?
 - We judge other Christians to help them in their walk.
 - The Pharisees were judging other believers to make themselves look good.

- 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 – 1 It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles —a man is living with his father’s wife. 2 And you are inflated with pride, instead of filled with grief so that he who has committed this act might be removed from your congregation. 3 For though I am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already decided about the one who has done this thing as though I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch. You are indeed unleavened, for Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast or with the yeast of malice and evil but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. [1]

- You can judge one’s actions or attitudes but you can’t judge their motive (what comes from the heart).
 - It is possible for a person to do a good work with a bad motive.
 - It is also possible to fail in a task and yet be very sincerely motivated.[2] - Should we baptize in the Jordan River?
 - Sometimes we take our own plank out and learn from the process… it is then we can help others with the same issues.
 - Other times we have to discern when to not interfere or get involved.
7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
 - What is “it”?
 - This isn’t about “getting stuff” or “opportunities”.
 - This passage is in light of “judgment” and seeking wisdom for each situation.
 - Wisdom comes from the Lord.

9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
 - If the Pharisees know how to give good gifts to their kids (not even questioning their motive of giving), won’t the Lord give even greater gifts (when it comes to wisdom)?
12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.
 - We should no more build our theology on the Golden Rule than we should build our astronomy on “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”[3]
 - The Golden Rule – This is for believers!
 - If our judging of others is not governed by this principle, we will become proud and critical, and our own spiritual character will degenerate.[4]
 - No matter what… we will face opposition.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
 - The Pharisees have a whole Mishna of rules and regulations when it comes to passing judgment.
 - Jesus narrows it down to one. Love others.
 - I was told it was difficult road… but it was more difficult to find than it was to live.
15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
 - We have no membership here at Leavener.
 - You are free to roam.
 - Figure this thing out… are we teaching Truth or lies?
17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
 - Most churches measure growth by the 3B’s (Baptisms, Budge and Butts in the seats)
 - “Is your church growing?”
 - How do you measure what happens in the hearts and homes of people? You see it… first hand.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
 - The difference between those who naturally walk by the Spirit vs those who naturally walk by the flesh.
 - One (the flesh) living their life by doing things in their own strength.
 - The other (the Spirit) living their life by the strength and power of another.
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.
- Describing those who naturally walk by the Spirit.

26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”
 - Describing those who naturally walk by the flesh.
28 When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 29 because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes. [5]
- The scribes and Pharisees spoke “from authorities,” always quoting the various rabbis and experts of the Law.
- Jesus needed no human teacher to add authority to His words; for He spoke as the Son of God.[6]

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Co 5:1–8). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 29). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 30). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 30). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 7:1–29). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Matthew 6 – Sermon on the Mount (Part 2)
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! 3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 - Giving to Leavener
 - No one has asked you for a dime.
 - I am the only one who knows who gives what.
5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. o7 When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.

• What have we done in our churches today?
• What is prayer?
• Formulas?
• Pray without ceasing…

9 “Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
 - We are priests today…
 - 1 Peter 2:9 - 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. [1]
 - Psalm 100:4 - 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. [2]
11 Give us today our daily bread.
 - The Priests had their daily needs met at the brazen altar in the outer court
 - Leviticus 6:14 - 14 “Now this is the law of the grain offering: Aaron’s sons will present it before the Lord in front of the altar. 15 The priest is to remove a handful of fine flour and olive oil from the grain offering, with all the frankincense that is on the offering, and burn its memorial portion on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 16 Aaron and his sons may eat the rest of it. It is to be eaten in the form of unleavened bread in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the tent of meeting. 17 It must not be baked with yeast; I have assigned it as their portion from My fire offerings. It is especially holy, like the sin offering and the restitution offering. 18 Any male among Aaron’s descendants may eat it. It is a permanent portion gthroughout your generations from the fire offerings to the Lord. Anything that touches the offerings will become holy.” [3]
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 - The priests washed their hands and feet at the brass laver before they entered the holy place.
- Exodus 30:17-21 -  17 The Lord spoke to Moses: 18 “Make a bronze basin for washing and a bronze stand for it. Set it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet from the basin. 20 Whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister by burning up an offering to the Lord, they must wash with water so that they will not die. 21 They must wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this is to be a permanent statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.” [4]
13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
- As priests, we are delivered by Jesus from tempatation (darkness)
 - How? The light of the golden candlestick in the holy place.
- John 8:12 - 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” [5]
 - The bread on the table of showbread in the holy place.
- John 6:47-51 - 47 “I assure you: Anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” [6]

[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]
 - Then the priest enters the holy of holies where the glory of the Lord resides.
14 “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.
 - It is the Spirit of the believer to forgive others.
16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, 18 so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
- The only fast that God actually required of the Jewish people was on the annual Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27).
- The Pharisees fasted each Monday and Thursday (Luke 18:12) and did so in such a way that people knew they were fasting.
- Their purpose, of course, was to win the praise of men.
- As a result, the Pharisees lost God’s blessing.[7]
19 “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!
- God made things for us to enjoy.
- It is not a sin to be wealthy.
- It is only sin when it possesses us.
24 “No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.
25 “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27 Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith? 31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
- He is instructing us to trust Him.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.[8]
- Who has missed a meal or two?
- Focus on today.

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Pe 2:9). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ps 100:4). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Le 6:14–18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ex 30:17–21). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jn 8:12). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jn 6:47–51). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 27). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 6:1–34). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

​1. PATTERN FOR CHRISTIAN LIFE
Augustine (354-430) believed that the Sermon was “a perfect pattern (or standard) for the Christian life,” and that its teachings “perfectly guide . . . those who may be willing to live according to them.” This approach is generally in line with what is likely the most popular interpretation of the Sermon by evangelical Christians, wherein the Sermon contains principles for Christian living, guiding regenerate persons in an unregenerate world.
 
2. COMMANDS FOR ALL CHRISTIANS
Martin Luther held that the commands of the Sermon were binding upon all Christians. He writes, “The injunctions of the Sermon on the Mount . . . are not counsels but precepts. They are not exhortations addressed to those who aspire perfection, but commands binding upon all Christians.”
 
3. MORAL CODE FOR RELIGIOUS ORDERS
Thomas Aquinas understood the Sermon to be a moral code for a select few. He held that only the religious orders in the monastery and convent were expected to fully comply with the Sermon on the Mount.
 
4. BLUEPRINT FOR A NEW SOCIETY
Tolstoy, the Russian novelist and social reformer, took an extremely literal and legalistic interpretation of the Sermon. He viewed it as a blueprint for a new society. For Tolstoy Jesus’ command to “swear not” requires an end to oaths in the law courts and the command to “resist not evil” requires the elimination of the police force.
 
5. IMPOSSIBLE IDEAL
Gerhard Kittel believed that the precepts of the Sermon could not be fulfilled, and that Jesus recognized this fact. Like the law, it was designed “to bring His hearers to the consciousness that they cannot in their own strength fulfill the demands of God.”
 6. INTERIM ETHIC
According to Johannes Weiss and Albert Schweitzer, the Sermon presents an ethic valid only for a time of crisis. Jesus’ interim ethic was “an emergency ethic for His disciples’ use during the brief interval between His preaching and the cataclysmic coming of the Kingdom of God.”
 
7. ETHIC OF INTENTION
According to Johannes Muller, the Sermon gives “direction” rather than “directions.” It is not intended to be interpreted as a new yoke of law. Rather, Jesus was suggesting the attitudes and inward disposition that ought to characterize His followers.
 
8. ESCHATOLOGICAL ETHIC
Some dispensationalists believe that the Sermon cannot be fulfilled in this present age, but will be possible to live when God concludes history and ushers in His Millennial Kingdom. As such, the Sermon is not applicable to contemporary society.
 
9. CONDITIONS FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM
Dwight Pentecost argues that the Sermon is connected with the offer of the kingdom. Rather than describing the characteristics of the future Millennial Kingdom, the Sermon sets forth the high requirements which must be met in order to enter that kingdom (see Matt. 5:20; 7:13, 21).
 
 
Luke 6:17-20 – Sermon on the Mount (Intro)
17 After coming down with them, He stood on a level place with a large crowd of His disciples and a great number of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well. 19 The whole crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming out from Him and healing them all.
 
20 Then looking up at His disciples, He said:[1]
Matthew 5 – Sermon on the Mount (Part 1)
1 When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He began to teach them, saying:

• The Sermon on the Mount defines the righteousness required by the Law.
• Not what is required of those who desire to walk with Jesus today.

3 “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted.
5 The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled.
7 The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy.
8 The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God.
9 The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, qand whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Fool!’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You moron!’ will be subject to hellfire. v23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 I assure you: You will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny!
27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell!
31 “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. g32 But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. l34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, because it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.
38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. q39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor yand hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? fDon’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. [2]

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 6:17–20). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 5:1–48). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.