Upside Down and Right Side Up Part 1: Intro to the Sermon on the Mount

2000 years ago, the most famous oratorial speech, church sermon, or public rally that has ever been heard occurred in Northern Israel on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee.  Some of the most transformative teachings ever heard were given from the Sermon on the mount as Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of Heaven to all that would listen. Join me as we explore the transformative teachings of Jesus and consider an invitation to embody the values of the Kingdom of God. With insights from my own journey of finding purpose through faith, we'll examine how Jesus, like a new Moses, referenced the Old Testament to bring forth teachings that challenge us to shine as lights in the world, to find joy even in persecution, and to practice righteousness in every aspect of our lives.

We'll delve into the basic elements that introduce the Sermon on the Mount and why we should consider Jesus' teachings with such significant authority. This episode connects the beginning of the Beatitudes with each listener's heart and invites them into a heartfelt prayer. We invite you to align your life with Christ's teachings, offering hope and service to those in need. Thank you for your continued support in spreading these messages of hope, ensuring that more hearts are touched by faith and inspiration.

Chapters

• 0:00 Exploring Jesus' Sermon on the Mount
• 14:05 Embracing the Beatitudes of Jesus
• 20:19 Supporting the Hopeful Message

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to the Hopeful Perspective Podcast. I am your host, jason Hopkins. This podcast is designed to give you a perspective of hope that impacts your daily life in an authentic and tangible way. I have utilized the first six episodes of this podcast to share my own life story, which illustrates God's glory. Through experiences overcoming child abuse and trauma, 26 foster homes and institutions, various diagnoses affecting me throughout my own life and an eventual brain tumor resulting in multiple brain surgeries on my brain stem, I have moved from merely a surviving victim to a faithful and thriving victor who the Lord has motivated to help others discover hope. Though my past was full of pain and suffering, I have been restored with purpose and sanctification. I have been redeemed and called to follow Christ within that redemption and renewed perspective, and I now want to help you, too, to have a biblical and hopeful perspective as you approach differing situations in your own life, from the delightful to the difficult and everything in between. I want to take a moment to thank you for listening and, if you have done so, take in the time to download our episodes, as when you download, along with rating our podcast with an honest response, you help the algorithm immensely to spread our reach. That said, our stats demonstrate that, while thousands listen and stream the Hopeful Perspective, less than 10% actually download our episodes. Please consider helping bridge the gap that broaden that reach for us. We have also provided a few options to either contact our show with your direct feedback, as well as to support the podcast financially. If you are called to partner with us in bringing hope to a hurting world, just click the embedded links found on any episode you are downloading on your podcast platform.

Speaker 1: 2:01

Before we get started today, I want to compel you to grab your favorite snack, hot or cold beverage. Get comfortable and come on to this journey with me as we begin our exploration into examining Jesus' extraordinary message in His Sermon on the Mount. When we think about the Sermon on the Mount recorded in the book of Matthew, chapters 5-7, did you know that we are discussing one of the most famous pieces of literature in any book throughout history, let alone the Bible? As a result, you can guess it is also one of the world's foremost famous speeches. So, regardless, if you are listening today to this podcast with a Christian worldview, you are probably familiar to this podcast with a Christian worldview, you are probably familiar in some way with excerpts or pieces of the famous speech or sermon. So let's begin to look at what we need to understand this message that has impacted humanity as well as become the foundation by which literally billions of people have developed their ethos and built their faith. Of course, if we were merely approaching this academically, we would cease there. But because we are also looking at this from a personal point of view, from someone who has chosen to take Jesus at his word and live out what he preached, not only in this sermon, but the rest of his kingdom message, I want to look into what makes the Sermon on the Mount so incredible and remarkable then as well as today.

Speaker 1: 3:34

First, we should consider the audience that Jesus is trying to reach. While his earliest disciples were most certainly present, we know that his most famous sermon drew large crowds that were counted in the multitudes, though the numbers are uncertain. We know that the impact of Jesus' sermon expanded beyond the immediate hearers for centuries and generations to come. Jesus' words apply to anyone expressing allegiance to him. Imagine this for a second. Someone in modern Jerusalem, downtown Portland, new York City, budapest or Beijing, anyone that has chosen to follow Jesus is just as much the audience as those first century disciples that were sitting at his feet. This truly puts into perspective the transcendent power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

Speaker 1: 4:36

The second thing I want us to take a look at is that the Sermon on the Mount is full of Old Testament quotations and allusions. These references to the Jewish scriptures are epitomized by the phrase when we hear Jesus say you have heard it that it was said. By referencing the Old Testament law to his hearers, jesus is kind of like the new Moses, establishing credibility and ethics with his followers. However, unlike Moses, the teaching is not from another source, but are Jesus' own words. So you hear him commonly conclude with this phrase. But I tell you so it sounds like this in Matthew 5, 21-22,. So it sounds like this in Matthew 5, 21-22,.

Speaker 1: 5:24

When Jesus discusses anger, he says You've heard that it was said to the people long ago you shall not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister has committed murder and will be subject to judgment. It was this authority that Jesus spoke with that amazed his followers. See, while Moses was a legendary lawgiver and he was Jesus was a greater Moses, the actual source of the law. With his teaching grounded in the Old Testament, jesus demonstrates that he is not necessarily trying to start this new religion. He preaches a strong continuity with what the Jewish people had already observed. He declares that he is not abolishing the law nor the prophets, and that every part of the law is to actually be kept. Jesus takes the very scripture the people knew from the past. Jesus takes the very scripture the people knew from the past the law and the prophets and he fulfills them no-transcript.

Speaker 1: 6:42

The third thing that we should take away from the Sermon on the Mount is how we should do life in the present day. In his sermon, jesus gives ethical teachings that apply to their present age. He teaches us hearers to have joy in persecution, to be a light in a dark world, to engage in good deeds as a testimony to others, to act righteously concerning marriage, to love our enemies, to not be anxious about needs. These acts, attitudes and postures characterize those who are part of the kingdom in the present. While some might view the Sermon on the Mount as a description of the future kingdom, jesus expects his audience from his hearers in the present, before the kingdom fully arrives. He has expectations of his current disciples. As he commands his followers about living in the present life, jesus asserts his role as kind of the king. See, in Jewish and Greco-Roman traditions, the king was the ideal and virtuous sage, the one who embodied the law. With this tradition view, jesus' sermon is the authoritative kingdom teaching of the Messiah Elsewhere.

Speaker 1: 8:03

In Matthew, Jesus declares that the kingdom of God has arrived with his presence. In the sermon, he directs his hearers to put his kingdom first. In the Beatitudes, which we will get into next week, jesus calls his followers to have his character, to take on the values of his kingdom rather than that of the world. We can see how his teachings apply to following his kingdom. Having his character and taking on his values apply as much to this day and age as they did then, in the first century as well.

Speaker 1: 8:42

The fourth idea we ought to consider about the Sermon on the Mount is that, in addition to having application to their present age, jesus' sermon is full of eschatological content. Well, what is eschatology, some of you are asking? This is the study of the end times, or what happens after we die, etc. And rather than having our hope in the present life, jesus urges his hearers to be motivated by eternity. The Beatitudes find their basis in eschatological hope, in inheriting the earth, in seeking God and having heavenly reward. Jesus speaks about hell, treasures in heaven and the road to life. In fact, the ending of his sermon contains repeated eschatological warnings the wide and narrow gates, the false prophets who will be thrown into the fire, a warning about false followers and the image of the foolish man's house collapsing. In the end, adhering to Jesus' words leads to eternal life and not adhering to them leads to eternal destruction.

Speaker 1: 9:50

While Jesus comes and declares that the kingdom has arrived in the present, he also talks about the kingdom being in the future. He teaches about a future entrance into the kingdom and he instructs his hearers to pray that the kingdom will come. By using language about both the present and future aspects of the kingdom, and he instructs his hearers to pray that the kingdom will come. By using language about both the present and future aspects of the kingdom, jesus teaches that the kingdom of God does not merely exist at a single point in time. This already-but-not-yet aspect of the kingdom points to what many have called inaugurated eschatology. Jesus has brought the kingdom to earth, yet it will not reach its fullest realization or potential until the future, with the discussion of what will happen in the end times.

Speaker 1: 10:39

Jesus asserts his role as the judge. He teaches his hearers of the eternal consequences of uncontrolled anger, of lust and adultery, of private almsgiving, of storing up of heavenly treasure and of judging others of false teaching. He is the one who will decide if people enter the kingdom of heaven, and he warns that some will be surprised that they will not. The judge's instructions are not to be taken lightly, and this leads us to the fifth distinctive idea that we ought to consider about the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus bears many titles as the lawgiver, as the judge, as the king, but Jesus is also the true teacher. During the Sermon on the Mount, he declares his uniqueness, he warns his hearers about false prophets in their midst, and he declares that the righteousness taught and practiced by the Pharisees and scribes is not enough to enter the kingdom. In his explanation of the law, he taught a different kind of righteousness, one that goes beyond outward appearances. The righteousness of the kingdom includes interchange as well. The whole person is transformed.

Speaker 1: 12:08

Ultimately, the standard is that Jesus' followers should be perfect, just as the Heavenly Father is perfect. Some might lament that Jesus' raising of the bar makes it impossible to meet his moral standards and that this unattainable goal only reveals our need for a savior. In other words, the interpretation is that the purpose of the impossibly high ethical standard is to have people reflect on the hopelessness of our sin and to rely on Christ's perfect righteousness. This is painted in his largest message that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law. He came as the perfect lamb that could save us from our sin, restoring us to be with him for all eternity. I'd say that these are the five most profound messages, all unto themselves, that we should delve into and to study. That would most edify the faith.

Speaker 1: 13:12

If you were to break down the Sermon on the Mount into finer detail, Yet, I think most scholars would agree that if there was one overarching message that hearers needed to take away from the Sermon on the Mount, it is that there is a kingdom that is not of this earth, and it is that of the kingdom of heaven. Sure, this is covered in the point about eschatology. Yet one needs to understand that even Matthew, who was the one gospel author to record the Sermon on the Mount, found it significant enough to be a primary theme of his entire book. Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven 126 times in the Gospels, and we know that the New Testament speaks it by name an additional 34 times. This is the one thing that the Sermon on the Mount.

Speaker 1: 14:05

Jesus wanted to communicate to his disciples that they were of a royal blood and that they were not of this world. In order to receive the inheritance that came along with their royal bloodline, they had to give up all that came along in this world. They had to sacrifice their lives in order to save their lives. And with this in context, jesus begins the most spectacular speech, the most profound sermon or the most famous oration that's ever been heard, and it would begin something like this Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Speaker 1: 14:52

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 children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, regardless of where you are on the journey.

Speaker 1: 15:45

You are listening today by design and by God's plan, and that is no mistake. I pray that as you are listening, you are not just undergoing information transference, but rather you are sensing the Spirit talking directly to you because, friends, in my experience, the Holy Spirit is deeply personal and with Him there are no accidents, incidents, coincidences or instances where he is not weeding His redemptive work in your life. Rather, as we are joined together right now, as Jesus declared 2,000 years ago, we are blessed. As Jesus declared 2,000 years ago, we are blessed. Perhaps you are sensing the Spirit moving you toward Him, and I would be remiss if we left our time today without providing an opportunity for us to respond, and I want to pray for you right now. So all of you listening either agree with this prayer or lift those up who are in need of intercession right as we sit.

Speaker 1: 16:55

Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins and I surrender my life to you. Wash me and cleanse me from all unforgiveness and pride. I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins and that you rose again on the third day for my victory. I believe that in my heart and make confession with my mouth that you, jesus, are my Lord and my Savior and that your kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, is forever and I want to live my life according to your terms and I want you to change my reliance from myself and any earthly vessels. I've placed hope and instead I want to trust your plan and I ask for you to put the people and the processes and the models to pursue restoration into my life.

Speaker 1: 17:53

I ask for you to reveal to me where I've neglected the needs of those who are broken around me, where I have become indifferent, incapable, where I have been unable to prioritize those who need to feel the hope of Christ. Show me where I am called to be a part of your team and I entrust myself to your equipping and sending, as you will. Thank you for being a God of mercy, a God of healing and a God of truth, a God of hope. Might I become a beacon of hope to the hurting. May I be the one who shows and shares eternal life with those on their way to spiritual death. Show me your ways, lord. Give us the spiritual eyes to see on earth as it is in heaven and may our priorities begin to reflect your heart and your kingdom, begin to reflect your heart and your kingdom.

Speaker 1: 18:47

Jesus, it's your name that I pray, as the judge, as the teacher, as the Messiah, and as our King. We pray in these things, amen. You see, friends, if you have today agreed with this prayer from the depths of your heart, then I agree with you and I welcome you to the eternal family of God, or I commend you if you've returned to the faith. I want to encourage you to find a church family who worships the Lord passionately and is committed to the teaching and the preaching of the scriptures and is committed to serving the community and beyond. Also, devote yourself to the reading of the scriptures, as there is so much to grow, to learn and to be discipled in as it pertains to new life and maturity in Christ, as we're learning in this series. The Lord has so much in the way of hope to show his children in his love letters that he has written to them. And so, hopeful Fam. This has been my pleasure to spend the morning, the afternoon or whatever time of day it is, growing and learning with you.

Speaker 1: 20:05

I look forward to tuning in next time on the Hopeful Perspective podcast, where we'll be further unpacking what it is known as the Beatitudes, or the further introduction to the Sermon on the Mount.

Speaker 1: 20:19

Until then, I want to thank you for joining me along this journey, allowing me to share from my heart today and if you would be so kind as to follow, subscribe and, most importantly, to rate and write a review for others on your platform who may need the hopeful perspective in their life. Did you know that you could contribute monetarily by pressing our support the show link that is embedded on your platform in the episode descriptions? If you believe in what we do, I would cherish your prayers as well as consider giving to the cause. I want to shout out my gratitude to the multiple donors who already have made this commitment to support the podcast financially. Without them, it would not be possible to reach as many people with the messages that we do, or anyone who needs to be reminded that hope is indeed real and his name is Jesus. So thank you so much in advance and until next time. Remember, friends, you are loved.