Before the Sermon on the Mount (Sept 23)

When we met together on September 23rd, we had a whirlwind introduction to the Gospel of Matthew and the context leading up to the Sermon on the Mount. Here are the highlights:

Matthew begins his Gospel with a genealogy. Even though we might want to skip over it, the genealogy actually has some importance. The genealogy shows 1) Jesus was Jewish (son of Abraham) 2) Jesus was the Messiah (son of David) 3) Jesus had some “questionable” relatives in his past. Following the genealogy, the birth story shows us that Jesus’ mission is to save God’s people and that he is “Immanuel” (God with us). As we study the Sermon on the Mount, it will be important to remember that Jesus is with us and empowers us to live out what we will read.

Although there’s lots of exciting material, let’s fast forward to the end of Matthew 4. After his baptism, Jesus has begun to preach (“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”), called his disciples, and has begun to heal. Most historians believe that Jesus’ miracles and healings were what first drew the crowds to hear his teaching. Have you experienced a miracle or a blessing that made you more eager to listen to God? On a related note, isn’t it interesting that many people come back to church after they have children?

In the coming weeks, as we continue through the Sermon on the Mount, I encourage you to always ask about application. How does this verse or passage affect my life? How do I live this passage out? How can I ask for God’s grace to empower me in living this out?

Stoops