Study 1
“People in darkness
saw great light”
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Map of the Lord’s
opening ministry
1. Visits Jerusalem for
Passover.
2. Meets Nicodemus Preached through
Judea.
3. Converted woman of
Samaria.
4. Returns to Cana of
Galilee.
5. Makes Capernaum
his headquarters.
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Galilee of the Nations
 Galilee means “ring” or “the circle” (i.e.
of the Gentiles).
 A long history of invasion and treading
down – Isa. 8:21-9:1.
 Inhabited by mixed races and many
Gentiles – Isa. 9:1.
 Despised by Judean Jews – John 1:46,
7:52.
 Rejected by Nazareth the Lord made
Capurnaum his home – Luke 4:31.
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Discourse on the mount and plain
Mount
Plain
Matt. 4:23-25
Luke 6:17-19
 In Galilee – near
Capernuam.
 Preaching the gospel
of the Kingdom.
 Healing all sickness.
 Famous for healing.
 Followed by large
representative
multitude.
 Climbs a mountain.
The King’s Manifesto for Life
 In Galilee – near
Capernuam.
 Night of prayer in
mountain.
 Calls 12 disciples.
 Stands in plain.
 Joined by a large
representative
multitude.
 Is heard, and heals.
The Lord’s Galilean Ministry
1. Capernaum –
Calls Simon,
Andrew,
James and
John.
2. Many healed.
3. Preaches
throughout
Galilee.
4. Delivers
discourse on
the mount.
The King’s Manifesto for Life
The site of the Discourse
“His taking his seat upon this hill in Galilee
where he summoned his disciples around
him must therefore be seen not as an
isolated incident but as part of his whole
life. It is a passage within a context - and
the context is the revelation of God in
Christ.”
Bro. L.G. Sargent - The Teaching of the Master, pg.24
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Summary of the Manifesto
Matthew 5
V.1-12
8 blessings – Portrait of a citizen of Zion
V.13-16 Believers’ relationship with the world
The new law in operation
V.17-20 New and old law – True righteousness
V.21-24 The law of the heart
V.25-26 Humility in error – judgement and mercy
V.27-30 The thought and the act
V.31-32 Divorce and fornication
V.33-37 The thought and the word
V.38-48 The law of love – The Divine standard
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Summary of the Manifesto
Matthew 6
The secret and the manifest
V.1-4
V.5-6
V.7-8
V.9-15
V.16-18
V.19-23
V.24-25
V.26-27
V.28-34
Worship in relation to men - Alms
Worship in relation to God - Prayer
Discipline in prayer
The Lord’s prayer
Worship in relation to self - Fasting
The magnet of the heart
The lord of the heart
The lord of life – Food and drink
The lord of life - Clothing
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Summary of the Manifesto
Matthew 7
Living under judgement
V.1-5
V.6
V.7-12
V.13-14
V.15
V.16-20
V.21-23
V.24-27
V.28-29
Judges or judged?
Pearls and swine
The Father’s gift and the son’s response
Two ways – Life and death
Danger of false guides
Parable of two trees – Known by fruits
Deceived self-seekers rejected
Parable of two builders - Judgement
Effect on his hearers
The King’s Manifesto for Life
What is a manifesto?
MANIFESTO, n. [Latin - manifestus]
A public declaration, usually of a
prince or sovereign, showing his
intentions,
or
proclaiming
his
opinions
and
motives;
as
a
manifesto declaring the purpose of a
prince to begin war, and explaining
his motives.
Webster’s Dictionary
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Unique Author
“From the first of the ‘blessings’
onwards this is a manifesto
which could have been issued by
the King of the Age to come, and
no one else.”
Bro. L.G. Sargent - Teaching of the Master, pg.89
The King’s Manifesto for Life
The Manifesto based on Ps. 15
 Christ’s discourse is based on Ps. 15 – its
structure, principles and context among the
Psalms.
 Ps. 15 is in “Genesis” book of Psalms.
 Introduces the Perfect Man in contrast with
“the man of the earth” – Ps. 9-14.
 Ps. 15 sets forth the true citizen of Zion.
 This leads to Ps. 16 to 41 which deal with
“the man Christ Jesus”.
 Matt. 4:17-7:29 – Christ’s preaching reveals
the character of the true subjects of the
Kingdom.
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Ps. 15 and Matt. 5-7 compared
LORD, who shall abide
in thy tabernacle? who
shall dwell in thy holy
hill?
2
He
that
walketh
uprightly, and worketh
righteousness,
1
and speaketh the truth
in his heart.
The King’s Manifesto for Life
5:1-12 – A citizen of Zion
5:13-16 – Walking in light
5:17-20 – Works of
righteousness
5:21-26 – Heart hatred
5:27-32 – Heart adultery
6:1-4 – Heart almsgiving
6:5-15 – Heart prayer
6:16-18 – Heart fasting
6:19-21 – Heart treasure
6:22-24 – Heart service
6:25-34 – Heart rest
Ps. 15 and Matt. 5-7 compared
He that backbiteth
not with his tongue,
nor doeth evil to his
neighbour, nor taketh
up a reproach against
his neighbour.
5:43-48 – Loving
neighbours and
enemies
7:1-5 – Avoiding
judgement
In whose eyes a vile
person is contemned;
but he honoureth them
that fear the LORD.
7:15-23 – Beware of false
prophets –
known by fruits
He that sweareth to his
own hurt, and changeth
not.
5:33-37 – Communication
Yea and Nay
3
4
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Ps. 15 and Matt. 5-7 compared
He that putteth
not out his money
to usury, nor taketh
reward against the
innocent.
5
He that doeth these
things shall never
be moved.
The King’s Manifesto for Life
5:38-42 – Give to him that
asketh
7:24-27 – Building on the
Rock
The Roots of Matthew 23
 Same audience – Matt. 5:1 and 23:1.
 The scribes and Pharisees centre stage – Matt.
5:20 and 23:2, 13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29.
 8 woes match 8 blessings.
 Beatitudes represent complete character of the
Christ-man.
 Woes represent character of carnal religiosity –
self-worship and self-interest.
 5th Woe (23:23) relates to mercy, inter-alia.
 Failure - no under-girding by humility, honesty,
teachable-ness and integrity (first 4 blessings).
The King’s Manifesto for Life
The Eight Blessings and the Eight Woes
Blessings - Matt.5:3-12
1. The Kingdom opened
to the poor in spirit V.3
2. Comfort for mourners
- V.4
3. The meek to inherit
the earth - V.5
4. True righteousness
sought by true desire
- V.6
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Woes - Matt.23:13-33
1. The Kingdom shut by
Scribes and
Pharisees - V.13
2. Mourners distressed V.14
3. Fanatics compassing
the earth - V.15
4. False righteousness
sought by casuistry V.16-22
What is Casuistry?
CASUISTRY, n. The science or
doctrine of cases of conscience; the
science of resolving cases of
doubtful propriety, or of determining
the lawfulness or unlawfulness of
what a man may do, by rules and
principles
drawn
from
the
scriptures, from the laws of society,
or from equity and natural reason.
Webster’s Dictionary
The King’s Manifesto for Life
The Eight Blessings and the Eight Woes
Blessings –
Matt. 5:3-12
Woes –
Matt.23:13-33
5. The merciful to
obtain mercy - V.7
6. The pure within will
see God - V.8
5. Mercy omitted and
left undone - V.23-24
6. External purity Blind to internal
corruption - V.25-26
7. Hypocrites & lawless
- Divisive and
destructive - V.27-28
8. The persecutors
condemned - V.29-33
7. Peacemakers to be
sons of God - V.9
8. The persecuted
rewarded - V.10-12
The King’s Manifesto for Life
“Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”
…
The King’s Manifesto for Life
Next Study
(God willing)
Study 2 – “Portrait of a
citizen of Zion”
The King’s Manifesto for Life
…
…
The King’s Manifesto for Life