Was this really one sermon on one mountain top?
Monday, January 06
Some Context:
In last month's Christmas Genealogies series, Marcus offered a great explanation of the Gospels: "The Gospels are four ancient biographies based on eyewitness accounts of the events of Jesus' life. They share similarities because they all record the actions and words of the historical Jesus. But they differ in how each author emphasizes certain aspects, depending on the concerns and needs of their particular audiences. This isn’t some hidden agenda—each author makes their emphasis clear from the very first words of their Gospel."
One key distinction in the Gospel of Matthew is that it was written primarily for a Jewish audience. Matthew’s purpose is clear: to show that Jesus is the Messiah—the son of Abraham, the son of David—and to highlight how He perfectly fulfills the law and the prophets. This is crucial to understanding the context of the Sermon on the Mount, especially when we consider how Matthew structures this teaching. Scholars believe that what we call the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) is likely a synthesis of Jesus' teachings over the course of His ministry, condensed into one cohesive sermon. It encapsulates how Jesus taught, how He fulfilled the law, and how He redefined the Kingdom of God.
It’s important to note that this doesn’t necessarily mean Jesus delivered all of these words in one sitting on a mountaintop, as Matthew may suggest. That could certainly have been the case. But some scholars propose that Matthew gathered various teachings from Jesus, spread across His ministry, and presented them in this sequence to emphasize His message. Either way, what is clear is that Jesus frequently taught about the Kingdom of God—and how it stands in stark contrast to the kingdoms of this world.
As you read through Matthew 5-7 today, take a moment to reflect on the stark contrast between earthly kingdoms, which are driven by selfishness, vengeance, greed, and pride, and the Kingdom of God, which is marked by humility, love, and gentleness. This is why the Sermon on the Mount is so transformative. Over the next several weeks, we’ll dive deep into this powerful passage, challenging ourselves to embrace the values of God’s Kingdom over the ways of the world.
One key distinction in the Gospel of Matthew is that it was written primarily for a Jewish audience. Matthew’s purpose is clear: to show that Jesus is the Messiah—the son of Abraham, the son of David—and to highlight how He perfectly fulfills the law and the prophets. This is crucial to understanding the context of the Sermon on the Mount, especially when we consider how Matthew structures this teaching. Scholars believe that what we call the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) is likely a synthesis of Jesus' teachings over the course of His ministry, condensed into one cohesive sermon. It encapsulates how Jesus taught, how He fulfilled the law, and how He redefined the Kingdom of God.
It’s important to note that this doesn’t necessarily mean Jesus delivered all of these words in one sitting on a mountaintop, as Matthew may suggest. That could certainly have been the case. But some scholars propose that Matthew gathered various teachings from Jesus, spread across His ministry, and presented them in this sequence to emphasize His message. Either way, what is clear is that Jesus frequently taught about the Kingdom of God—and how it stands in stark contrast to the kingdoms of this world.
As you read through Matthew 5-7 today, take a moment to reflect on the stark contrast between earthly kingdoms, which are driven by selfishness, vengeance, greed, and pride, and the Kingdom of God, which is marked by humility, love, and gentleness. This is why the Sermon on the Mount is so transformative. Over the next several weeks, we’ll dive deep into this powerful passage, challenging ourselves to embrace the values of God’s Kingdom over the ways of the world.
Posted in Daily Rhythms