The Life of Christ (Part 1)
Lesson 12
The sermon on the mount
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7 periods of the life of Christ
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Years of Preparation
Beginning of Ministry
Great Galilean Ministry
Period of Retirement
Close of Ministry
Last Week
Resurrection
Exaltation
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This Quarter – Part 1
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7 periods of the life of Christ
I The Years of Preparation (~30 years)
II The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry (3 – 6 months)
III The Great Galilean Ministry (18 – 21 months)
IV The Period of Retirement (~6 months)
V The Close of Jesus’ Ministry (~6 months)
VI The Last Week
VII The Resurrection and Exaltation
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(From Bob’s outline on page vii-viii, narrative pages 16-20)
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Outline
III The Great Galilean Ministry (18 – 21 months)
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The sermon on the mount (Matt 5-7; Luke 6:17-49)
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Matt 5; Luke 6:17-36
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Matt 6
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Matt 7; Luke 6:37-49
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The Sermon on the Mount –
Character of Kingdom Citizens
Jesus came preaching the gospel, preaching the kingdom
of God (Matt 4:23, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 16:16).
Jesus prepared people for a change of law (Matt 5:17-18)
and described to them the kind of righteousness
expected of kingdom citizens.
The true righteousness that Jesus describes in his sermon
is the righteousness that we, kingdom citizens today
should have.
The righteousness described in this sermon touches every
part of our lives.
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The Sermon on the Mount Preparatory Teaching
In preaching the gospel of the kingdom and preparing his listener for
the kingdom, Jesus described doctrines that would later be kingdom
law / NT law (the NT was in force after Jesus’ death – Heb 8:17)
 John 3:5 “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.” (NT requirement for salvation)
 Luke 22:19 “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and
gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this
do in remembrance of me.” (NT practice)
 Matt 18:17 “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the
church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as
an heathen man and a publican.” (The church did not even exist)
Example: Matt 5:32 is NT law on marriage and divorce, not OT law.
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:17-20
Phrases text of Matt 5:17-20
 “Fulfill”
 “Till heaven and earth pass”
 “Destroy”
 “Except your righteousness exceed”
 The Pharisees
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:17-18 – “Fulfill”
“I am not come to destroy but to fulfill”
 Is Jesus simply magnifying/clarifying the law (SDA) or is
he not the focal point of the law (Gal 3:24) and ready to
fulfill the prophecies of the law?
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Yes Jesus magnified the law and made it honorable (Is
42:21; e.g. “sabbath was made for man, not man for the
sabbath” he put the sabbath in the proper place), and
Jesus fulfilled the law in a sense by giving us an
example by keeping it. But I don’t believe that is what
verses 17-18 teach.
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:17-18 – “Fulfill”
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Jesus came to accomplish and complete the purpose of
the law, as he did with the prophecies concerning
himself.
 “all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the
law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms,
concerning me.” (Luke 24:44)
 The law’s passing was contingent upon Jesus fulfilling
it. Even the smallest bit of the law would be binding
until “all be fulfilled” (Matt 5:18).
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:17-18 – “till heaven and earth pass”
Question: Is Matt 5:17-18 saying that the law would be
binding until the end of time? Note parallel passage for
“till heaven and earth pass.”
 “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in
no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matt 5:18)
 “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than for one
title of the law to fail.” (Luke 16:17)
Jesus isn’t saying that the OT would be binding until
heaven and earth passed, but he says it would be easier
for heaven and earth to pass than for the law to fail. But
Jesus states that the law would pass after he fulfilled it.
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:19-20 – “Destroy”
Jesus did not come to “destroy” the law (and he didn’t. - it
still has its purpose in our lives today – Rom 15:4, II Tim
3:16-17) but to fulfill it.
Jesus upheld the law, and instructed his listeners to keep it
(v19 “but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”).
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:19-20 – “Destroy”
Jesus’ statement that he came not to destroy the law (v17)
doesn’t imply that he’s not discussing the OT law in this
context.
1) Verse17 would not preclude Jesus discussing OT law in
verses 21-48 any more than it would preclude him
discussing the law in verse 18 (which latter is the
Adventist’s argument). If comparing his coming law with
Moses law in verses 21-48 would not set well with a
Jewish audience, neither would telling them their law
would pass in verse 18. But Jesus says in verse 18 the
law would pass.
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:19-20 – “Destroy”
Jesus’ statement that he came not to destroy the law (v17)
doesn’t imply that he’s not discussing the OT law in this
context.
2) Simply comparing statements as Jesus does in verses
21-48 does not imply that he is condemning something
as being bad (or destroying it). The Hebrew writer
wasn’t condemning the things of Moses law as he
contrasted them with Christ’s law. John 1:17 was not
condemning Moses law (“but grace and truth came by
Jesus”). Moses’ law was holy, just and good and served
its purpose (Gal 3:24-25).
3) Note that passages in Matt 5:21-48 are quotations of the
law.
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:19-20 – “except your righteousness exceed”
On “except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in
no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Whether our
righteousness must exceed the Pharisees’
righteousness in the sense that:
1) We should have the right kind of righteousness (not self
righteousness). We should do and teach the law (v18)
whereas the Pharisees taught and did not (Matt 23:3).
Or
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:19-20 – “except your righteousness exceed”
On “except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in
no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Whether our
righteousness must exceed the Pharisees’
righteousness in the sense that:
2) That our righteousness must be stricter than that of the
Pharisees - that kingdom righteousness as described in
verses 21-48 is stricter than (exceeds) the selections
quoted from Moses law.
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:19-20 – “except your righteousness exceed”
Neither explanation would contradict verses 21-48 being a
comparison of Moses law and NT law.
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The Sermon on the Mount The Pharisees
No doubt the Pharisees were guilty of many sins, such as:
 Hypocrisy (Matt 23:5,14,27)
 Putting their traditions above God’s law (Matt 15:3-9)
 Omitting weightier matters of the law (Matt 23:23)
 Hatred toward the Lord (Mark 3:6)
 Self righteousness and despising others (Luke 18:9-14)
But be careful not to assign sins to the Pharisees that are
not there. Be careful not to read something into the text
about the Pharisees that isn’t there (“eisegesis”).
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:21-48 - Contrasts
Explanations for “it hath been said” vs. “but I say unto you”
in verses 21-48
Does:
1. Jesus contrast the traditions of the Pharisees with the
true meaning of the law? (MMLJ all OT, none of it
applies today)
2. Jesus contrast the traditions of the Pharisees with NT
law (kingdom law)?
3. Jesus contrast OT law with NT law (kingdom law)?
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:21-48 - Contrasts
Explanations for “it hath been said” vs. “but I say unto you”
in verses 21-48
Does:
1. Jesus contrast the traditions of the Pharisees with the
true meaning of the law? (MMLJ all OT, none of it
applies today)
2. Jesus contrast the traditions of the Pharisees with NT
law (kingdom law)?
3. Jesus contrast OT law with NT law (kingdom law)?
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:21-48 - Contrasts
Note in the text of each of the six cases in Matt 5:21-48
when Jesus says “it hath been said” vs. “but I say unto
you” he contrasts OT law with NT law.
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:21-26
Matt 5
OT Reference
Thou shalt not kill;
Thou shalt not kill (Ex 20:13)
and whosoever shall kill shall be in That the manslayer die not, until he
danger of the judgment
stand before the congregation in
(Matt 5:21)
judgment
(Num 35:12, Deut 19:11-21).
“But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a
cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to
his brother Raca… Matt 5:22
“danger” of the judgment = “guilty” of all (James 2:10)
Question: Tradition or Moses?
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:21-26
Yes, the OT forbade hating one’s brother (Lev 19:17). And Jesus forbids
anger w/o a cause, saying “Raca” or calling a brother a “fool”.
1) Eisegesis: Be careful not to read into the passage something that isn’t
there (e.g. that the Pharisees thought it was right to hate just so long as
you didn’t kill). The text of verses 21 and 22 do not indicate that.
2) Note that contrasting statements do not necessarily imply that one is
condemning something under discussion, that is, when Jesus says “but I
say unto you” in verse 22, he isn’t condemning what he spoke about in
verse 21. And Jesus isn’t implying that the OT allowed anger. (e.g. John
1:17 “the law came by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”
– does not mean that Moses was bad or that there was no truth under
the OT)
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:27-30
Matt 5
OT Reference
Thou shalt not commit adultery
(Matt 5:27)
Thou shalt not commit adultery (Ex
20:14)
“But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after
her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matt 5:28
Note: Adultery in the heart (lust) is not literal adultery. Matt 5:32 discusses
adultery, Matt 5:28 discusses adultery in the heart (lust). Sins may come out
to the same end, but not be subject to the same regulations.
Question: Tradition or Moses?
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:27-30
Yes, the Old Covenant forbade lust (Pr 6:25, Job 31:1). And Jesus now
describes lust as adultery in the heart.
1) Eisegesis: Be careful not to read into the passage something that isn’t
there (e.g. that the Pharisees thought it was ok to lust just so long as you
didn’t’ commit adultery. The text of verses 27 and 28 do not indicate that.
2) Note that contrasting statements do not necessarily imply that one is
condemning something under discussion, that is, when Jesus says “but I
say unto you” in verse 28, he isn’t condemning what he spoke about in
verse 27. And Jesus isn’t implying that the OT didn’t speak about lust.
(e.g. John 1:17 “the law came by Moses but grace and truth came by
Jesus Christ” – does not mean that Moses was bad or that there was no
truth under the OT).
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:31-32
Matt 5
OT Reference
Whosoever shall put away his wife, Then let him write her a bill of
let him give her a writing of
divorcement, and give it in her
divorcement (Matt 5:31)
hand, and send her out of his
house (Deut 24:1)
“But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the
cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery…” Matt 5:32
Kingdom law would later forbid what Moses law had allowed. Matt 5:32 is
not an explanation of Deut 24.
Question: Tradition or Moses?
Notice some differences on MDR between Moses and Christ:
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Matt 5, Matt 19 and Mark 10
Matt 5:31-32
31) It hath been said, Whosoever
shall put away his wife, let him
give her a writing of divorcement:
Matt 19:3-9
Mark 10:2-9
7) They say unto him, why did Moses
then command to give a writing of
divorcement, and to put her away?
3) And he answered and said unto them,
What did Moses command you?
8) He saith unto them, Moses because
of the hardness of your hearts suffered
you to put away your wives:
4) And they said, Moses suffered to
write a bill of divorcement, and to put
her away.
5) And Jesus answered and said unto
them, For the hardness of your heart he
wrote you this precept
8) but from the beginning it was not so. 6-9) But from the beginning of the
creation God made them male and
female…let not man put asunder.
31) But I say unto you, That
9) And I say unto you, Whosoever shall
whosoever shall put away his wife, put away his wife, except it be for
saving for the cause of fornication, fornication, and shall marry another,
causeth her to commit adultery:
committeth adultery: and whoso
and whosoever shall marry her that marrieth her which is put away doth
is divorced committeth adultery.
commit adultery.
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Jesus On MDR ≠ Moses On MDR
Moses' MDR Teaching
Deuteronomy 24:1-4, etc. (OT)
Jesus' MDR Teaching
Matthew 5:32, 19:9, etc. (NT)
divorce for any uncleanness Deut24:1 divorce only for fornication Mt 5:32a
may let captive wife go if “no delight for fornication only Matthew 5:32a
in her” Deut 21:10-14
adulteress put to death Lev 20:10
adulteress divorced Matthew 19:9a
divorcee could remarry Deut 24:2
divorcee may not remarry Matt 19:9b
polygamy allowed Exod 21:10, II Sam polygamy disallowed I Cor 7:2
12:8, Deut 21:15-17
marry wife of dead brother Deut 25:5 no such requirement
This is the contrast of Matthew 5:31-32 (and 19:8-9).
This confirms Matthew 5:21-48 is all about a
contrast between the old and new testament laws.
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From Pat Donahue - 28
The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:33-37
Matt 5
OT Reference
Thou shalt not forswear thyself,
And ye shall not swear by my name
(KJV)
falsely (Lev 19:12)
You shall not swear falsely (NKJV)
If a man vow a vow unto the Lord,
but shalt perform unto the Lord
or swear an oath to bind his soul
thine oaths (Matt 5:33)
with a bond; he shall not break his
word, he shall do according to all
that proceedeth out of his mouth
(Num 30:2)
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s
throne…but let your communication be yea, yea; Nay, nay…” Matt
5:34-37
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:33-37
Question: Tradition or Moses?
God has always been concerned with truth, but verse 34 is much stricter
than requiring us to tell the truth.
Here, kingdom law would later forbid what Moses law allowed. “Swear not
at all” is not a clarification of “you shall not swear falsely.”
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:38-42
Matt 5
OT Reference
An eye for an eye, and a tooth for
a tooth (Matt 5:38)
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth…(Ex
21:24)
“But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil…” Matt 5:39-42
Question: Tradition or Moses?
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:43-48
Matt 5
OT Reference
Thou shalt love thy neighbor,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself… (Lev 19:18)
and hate thine enemy (Matt 5:44)
I hate them with perfect hatred, I
count them mine enemies (Ps
139:22)
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you…” Matt 5:44-48
Question: Tradition or Moses?
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The Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:43-48
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you…” Matt 5:44-48
Question: Tradition or Moses?
On “love your enemies”, to plagiarize a statement by Paul Earnhart* - I
never could reconcile loving my enemy with killing him.
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from a meeting I attended in TN in the 80’s.
who would describe these contrasts as that of tradition vs. kingdom law
not OT vs. kingdom law)
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The Sermon on the Mount –
“Love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy”
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor” is an exact quote from Lev 19:18. “Hate thine enemy” is
what the OT teaches in passages like Deut 23:3-4,6-7, Psalms 26:5, 31:6, 139:21-22
(“I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.”).
Consider that the Israelites were told by God to destroy other nations in war, even
obliterate women and children at times. That is hate in action, not feeling (like
Proverbs 13:24 “He that spareth his rod hateth his son” and Genesis 25:34 “Thus
Esau despised his birthright”). Today Christians are to act the very opposite toward
their enemies. Compare the difference between the two laws:
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I Sam 15:3,33 go & smite Amalek, & utterly destroy all that they have, & spare them
not; but slay both man & woman infant & suckling, ox & sheep, camel & donkey. …
Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be
childless among women. & Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.
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Matt 5:44 Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate
you
Hate For Enemies (e.g., participating in warfare)
Should Be Replaced With Love.
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Pat Donahue - 34
Further Reading
http://bibledebates.info/
Select: debates / charts / swearing…
http://98.131.169.180/Debates/DebateCharts/SwearingAnd
Matthew5.21-48DebateCharts.doc
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http://bibledebates.info/
Select: sermons/ audio/ war question
http://98.131.169.180/Sermons/audio/PaulHutchesonWarQ
uestionNorthHuntsvilleAug2005/index.htm
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“Invitation to a Spiritual Revolution” Paul Earnhart
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