The Sermon on the Mount –
God’s law of the heart
A new sermon series at
Penge Baptist Church
Introduction to the
Sermon
• Mt 5:1-2 “Now when he saw the
crowds, he went up on a mountainside
and sat down. His disciples came to
him, and he began to teach them.”
• Can we accept Jesus’ authority in our
lives?
• A set of laws, or guidelines for true
discipleship?
• Making us realise how much we need
God!
• The key issue of the heart:
– I will give you a new heart and put a
new spirit in you; I will remove from
you your heart of stone and give you
a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)
– “This is the covenant I will make with
the house of Israel after that time,”
declares the Lord. “I will put my law
in their minds and write it on their
hearts. I will be their God, and they
will be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:3134)
• A new heart and a restored
relationship with God….
• ….but very challenging
commands!
THE BEATITUDES
God’s law of the heart (1)
Matthew 5:3-12
Penge Baptist Church
9th September 2012
Matthew 5:3-12
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the
earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown
mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see
God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will
be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say all kinds of
evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your
reward in heaven, for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets who were
before you.”
The beatitudes
• The meaning of “blessed” is
“fortunate”
• The structure of the text
– Beatitudes of progression
– Beatitudes of fruitfulness
“Beatitudes of
progression”
• “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Beatitudes of
progression”
• “Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.”
“Beatitudes of
progression”
• Blessed are the
meek, for they will
inherit the earth.
• Blessed are those
who hunger and
thirst for
righteousness, for
they will be filled.
“Beatitudes of
fruitfulness”
• Blessed are the merciful, for they will
be shown mercy.
• Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they will see God.
“Beatitudes of
fruitfulness”
• Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they will be called sons of God.
“Beatitudes of
fruitfulness”
• Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of
righteousness,for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
The beatitudes and
Jesus’ character
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Poor in spirit
Mourning
Meek
Hungering and thirsting for
righteousness
Merciful
Pure in heart
Peacemaker
Persecuted because of
righteousness.
The beatitudes and a
restored relation with
God
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Having the kingdom of heaven.
Being comforted.
Inheriting the earth.
Being filled.
Being shown mercy.
Seeing God.
Being called sons of God.
Having the kingdom of heaven.
Satan’s “antibeatitudes”
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Being proud and self sufficient
Unrepentant for sin
Arrogantly resisting God’s will
Not seeking righteousness
Being unforgiving
Worshipping idols of the world
Being selfishly ambitious
Allow the text to
question us…..
• “For the word of God is living and
active. Sharper than any doubleedged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and
marrow; it judges the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews
4:12)