Sermon on the Mount: Introduction
Matthew 4
The Gospel of Matthew starts with the genealogy and birth of Christ. Why? Matthew is continuing the storyline of the Old Testament, showing that Jesus belongs to the line of David and fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies that Immanuel is coming. Now, enter into chapter 4, and we begin the ministry of Jesus. It starts in the desert. Our hungry savior is lied to, tempted and though his flesh wants to give way, his spirit remains still, founded with eyes held on the Father. Then we see him start the real work - “from that time Jesus began to preach and say ‘repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
Why does this matter for studying the sermon on the mount? It is crucial because we must study it as a whole - Matthew is purposeful in how he writes his gospel account. He wants to set up who Jesus; the prophesied seed of David, the greater teacher than Moses, and the incarnate God who dwells among us. This is important as we enter in because the sermon on the mount is not just helpful tips and tricks to gain favor with God. No, it is the first of five teachings we see in Matthew, but it also helps us understand the kingdom Jesus says is here in chapter 4. This sermon is showing two things:
1. Jesus has authority
Jesus is displaying who he is - the messianic King who everyone is expecting. He teaches with authority and he is showing everyone that his authority is higher than that of Moses. Moses brought the law, Jesus came to fulfill that law in order to bring something new and better than anything Moses could ever bring. Jesus was displaying that Moses heard from God, but He was God.
2. Jesus is teaching kingdom life to his disciple
What is a king without a kingdom? Jesus is teaching the disciples (us) how to live in the kingdom he is proclaiming. It is not how to earn favor, but how we recognize our own unrighteousness, accept Christ’s imputed righteousness, and “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). Jesus doesn’t just leave us to guess how we emulate him but this sermon teaches us how to do it!
This study is not to fill us with guilt and shame at how much we cannot do it. It is to show us how much Christ did do it on our behalf. It is to lead us to worship of the God who wrapped himself in flesh in order that we would teach and be the example of how to live in the new kingdom. Let us do what Jesus says, “repent” and live into the kingdom that is here and now.
