The Life of Christ Part 1 Lesson 12

The Life of Christ (Part 1) Lesson 12 The sermon on the mount 11/4/2020 1

7 periods of the life of Christ n n n n Years of Preparation Beginning of Ministry Great Galilean Ministry Period of Retirement Close of Ministry Last Week Resurrection Exaltation 11/4/2020 This Quarter – Part 1 2

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 11/4/2020 (From Bob’s outline on page vii-viii, narrative pages 16 -20) 3

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Outline III The Great Galilean Ministry (18 – 21 months) n The sermon on the mount (Matt 5 -7; Luke 6: 17 -49) q Matt 5; Luke 6: 17 -36 q Matt 7; Luke 6: 37 -49 11/4/2020 5

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. 11/4/2020 6

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) n 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) n 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) n 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. 11/4/2020 7

The Sermon on the Mount - Matt 5: 17 -20 Phrases text of Matt 5: 17 -20 n “Fulfill” n “Till heaven and earth pass” n “Destroy” n “Except your righteousness exceed” n The Pharisees 11/4/2020 8

The Sermon on the Mount - Matt 5: 17 -18 – “Fulfill” “I am not come to destroy but to fulfill” n 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? n 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 1718 teach. 11/4/2020 9

The Sermon on the Mount - Matt 5: 17 -18 – “Fulfill” n Jesus came to accomplish and complete the purpose of the law, as he did with the prophecies concerning himself. q “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) q 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). 11/4/2020 10

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. ” n “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) n “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. 11/4/2020 11

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 (v 19 “but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”). 11/4/2020 12

The Sermon on the Mount - Matt 5: 19 -20 – “Destroy” Jesus’ statement that he came not to destroy the law (v 17) doesn’t imply that he’s not discussing the OT law in this context. 1) Verse 17 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. 11/4/2020 13

The Sermon on the Mount - Matt 5: 19 -20 – “Destroy” Jesus’ statement that he came not to destroy the law (v 17) 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. 11/4/2020 14

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 (v 18) whereas the Pharisees taught and did not (Matt 23: 3). Or 11/4/2020 15

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. 11/4/2020 16

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. 11/4/2020 17

The Sermon on the Mount - The Pharisees No doubt the Pharisees were guilty of many sins, such as: n Hypocrisy (Matt 23: 5, 14, 27) n Putting their traditions above God’s law (Matt 15: 3 -9) n Omitting weightier matters of the law (Matt 23: 23) n Hatred toward the Lord (Mark 3: 6) n 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”). 11/4/2020 18

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)? 11/4/2020 19

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)? 11/4/2020 20

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. 11/4/2020 21

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? 11/4/2020 22

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) 11/4/2020 23

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 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? 11/4/2020 24

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). 11/4/2020 25

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: 11/4/2020 26

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, except it be for saving for the cause of fornication, and shall marry another, causeth her to commit adultery: committeth adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that marrieth her which is put away doth is divorced committeth adultery. commit adultery. 11/4/2020 27

Jesus On MDR ≠ Moses On Moses' MDR Teaching Jesus' MDR Teaching MDR Deuteronomy 24: 1 -4, etc. (OT) Matthew 5: 32, 19: 9, etc. (NT) divorce for any uncleanness Deut 24: 1 divorce only fornication Mt 5: 32 a may let captive wife go if “no delight fornication only Matthew 5: 32 a in her” Deut 21: 10 -14 adulteress put to death Lev 20: 10 adulteress divorced Matthew 19: 9 a divorcee could remarry Deut 24: 2 divorcee may not remarry Matt 19: 9 b 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. 11/4/2020 From Pat Donahue - 28

The Sermon on the Mount - Matt 5: 33 -37 Matt 5 Thou shalt not forswear thyself, (KJV) You shall not swear falsely (NKJV) but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths (Matt 5: 33) OT Reference And ye shall not swear by my name falsely (Lev 19: 12) If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul 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 11/4/2020 29

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. ” 11/4/2020 30

The Sermon on the Mount - Matt 5: 38 -42 Matt 5 OT Reference An eye for an eye, and a tooth for Eye for eye, tooth for tooth…(Ex a tooth (Matt 5: 38) 21: 24) “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil…” Matt 5: 39 -42 Question: Tradition or Moses? 11/4/2020 31

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) I hate them with perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies (Ps 139: 22) and hate thine enemy (Matt 5: 44) “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? 11/4/2020 32

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. • • 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) 11/4/2020 33

The Sermon on the Mount – “Love thy neighbor, and hate thine “Thou shalt love thy neighbor” is an exact quote from Lev 19: 18. “Hate thine enemy” is enemy” 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: n 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. n 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. 11/4/2020 Pat Donahue - 34

Further Reading http: //bibledebates. info/ Select: debates / charts / swearing… http: //98. 131. 169. 180/Debates/Debate. Charts/Swearing. And Matthew 5. 21 -48 Debate. Charts. doc n http: //bibledebates. info/ Select: sermons/ audio/ war question http: //98. 131. 169. 180/Sermons/audio/Paul. Hutcheson. War. Q uestion. North. Huntsville. Aug 2005/index. htm n n “Invitation to a Spiritual Revolution” Paul Earnhart 11/4/2020 35

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