You're looking up right now, you're realizing there's some different stuff that's going on. I heard from several people, they said, chat, I've never seen you not in a snap shirt this morning. But that's not a big difference. You're trying to figure out why the three of us sitting like this.
We're doing something different. There's something pretty cool, something I'm excited about. But we're starting off our series, Jesus is greatest hits this morning. When I was a kid, I love music.
I still love music constantly. I remember when I was 12 years old, my mom got me a set copy of the Eagles Greatest Hits Volume 1, the blue one. I mean, you all had that. Remember Tom Petty's Greatest Hits?
That was the take to have in junior high. So the greatest hits, compilations are awesome. Because what they do is they allow you to really get into every single thing that artists has, what that artist is great about. The favorite songs, it's like All Killer No Filler.
You're not going to get a dud in a greatest hits collection. You're going to hear the songs when you're a middle school or in 1993. It was the cheapest way to get all the stuff you want to do. I remember when I bought Queens Night at the Opera.
And I was so, so, so stoked. And then I was really mad at myself. And I found out that Bohemian Rhapsody was on their second greatest hits compilation. And so I'd go by the second tape then.
But we're starting a series this summer on the instrumental mount. Matthew chapter 5, 6, and 7. And the easiest way for us to really describe what the start on the mount is is it's Jesus's greatest hits. When we read the Gospels, read Matthew and Mark and Luke and John, what's funny is we find a lot of these same stories, these same, these sayings of Jesus in Matthew 5, 6, and 7.
And when we try to wrap our head around the idea of why they're like this, why they ordered like this, what are these three chapters do? What a lot of scholars, like the smart Bible people that I'm not. What they say is that this is Matthew crafting an intentional piece of scripture to give people the absolute basics, the mustreads of Jesus, the things that he said that make the biggest difference. If you want to get in a nutshell what the ministry of Jesus was like and what Jesus cared about, it was a sermon on the mount.
We also look and see this is probably the best representation we have for the way the early church viewed who Jesus was. It's one of the earliest pieces of the gospel writings that we have. It digs into, there's some tough stuff in the sermon on the mount. You're going to hear it in a little bit.
There's some tough stuff there. But what Jesus is doing, the reason Matthew's communicating is that Matthew is a tax collector, one of the most hated people in that culture. He was a Jewish person who was working for the Romans. Jewish people wanted nothing to do with Matthew.
The message that Matthew heard of Jesus was I'm turning all things over. I'm changing everything. I'm flipping the world upside down on his head. He's a hated person, found redemption.
And the story that he tells so often in the gospel of Matthew is this story of flipping, the story of making every single thing different. There's also the fact that this is just all straight the words of Jesus for three chapters. And if any of us want to know more of who Jesus is, we just saying, if any of us needs a bigger vision of who Jesus is, the best place for us to look at his words. And so this morning, it's awesome to have Allison up here, and then mostly I'll know Allen Johnson, Allen's the director of the Wesley Foundation.
And so this is what we're going to do this morning. It's going to be a little bit different. But we're going to spend the whole next eight or nine weeks reading the sermon on the mount. We decided the best way for us to start this morning, to start this series with, was for us to hear the sermon on the mount.
I mean, the words of Jesus are good enough for us this morning, right? OK? Nobody can argue with that. And so over the next eight or nine weeks, we're going to talk about every single thing you hear tonight, this morning.
So we'll start off. One day, as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside, and he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. God blesses those who were poor and realized their need for him, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn for they will be comforted. God blesses those who were humble for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
Be happy about it. Be very glad for a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. You are the salt of the earth.
But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop.
It cannot be hidden. No one likes a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Do not misunderstand why I've come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.
So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. But I warn you, unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of the religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And you have heard that our ancestors were told you it's not murder.
But if you commit murder, you're subject to judgment. But I say to you, even if you are angry with someone, you're subject to judgment. If you call someone an idiot, you're in danger of being brought before the court. If you curse someone, you're in danger, the fires of hell.
So if you're presenting a sacrifice to the altar in the temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar, go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. And when you're on your way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser might hand you over to the judge who will hand you over to an officer.
And you will then be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won't be free again until you have paid the last penny. You have heard the commandment that says, you must not commit adultery. But I say anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
So if your eye, even your good eye, causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand, even your stronger hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
You have heard that the law says a man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce. But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery. You have also heard it said that our ancestors were told, you must not break your vows.
You must carry out your vows you make to the Lord. But I say to you, do not make any vows. Do not say by heaven because heaven is God's throne. And do not say by the earth because the earth is his footstool.
And do not even say by Jerusalem. For Jerusalem is the city of the great king. And do not even say by my head, for you can't turn one hair white or black. Just say as simple yes I will or no I won't.
Anything beyond this is from the evil one. You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say do not resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.
If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask and don't turn away from those who want to borrow. You have heard the law that says love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. And that way you will be acting as true children of your father in heaven. For he gives us his sunlight to both the evil and the good.
And he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how different, how are you different from anyone else?
Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect even as your father in heaven is perfect. Watch out. Don't do your good deeds publicly.
To be admired by others, for you will lose your reward from the father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do. Blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity. I tell you the truth.
They have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private. And your father, who sees everything will reward you.
When you parade, don't be like the hypocrites who will have to pray publicly in the street corners and synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth. That's all the reward they will ever get. But when you parade, go away by yourself.
Shut the door behind you and parade your father in private. And then your father, who sees everything will reward you. And when you parade, don't babble on and on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
Don't be like them for your father knows exactly what you need before you ask him. So pray like this. Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need and forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield a temptation but rescue us from the evil one. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. And when you fast, don't make it obvious as the hypocrites do. But they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth.
That is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast comb your hair and wash your face, the no one will see that you're fasting, except your father who knows what you do in private. And your father who sees everything will reward you. Don't store up treasures here on earth where moss eat them and rust destroys them and where thieves break in and steal.
Store your treasures in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is there, the desires of your heart will be also. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.
But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is. No one can serve two masters. Three will hate one and love the other.
You'll be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life. Whether you have enough food and drink or enough clothes to wear.
Isn't life more than food in your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food and barns for your heavenly father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon and all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
And if God cares so wonderfully for the wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, then he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don't worry about these things saying what will we eat? What will we drink?
What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly father already knows all your needs. Seek the kingdom of God above all else and live righteously and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow.
For tomorrow we'll bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. Do not judge others and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others.
The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about spec in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, let me help you get rid of that spec in your eye when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrit.
First get rid of the log in your own eye. Then you will see well enough to deal with the spec in your friend's eye. Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs.
They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. Keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be open to you.
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And everyone who knocks, the door will be open. New parents, if your children ask for a loaf of bread, you give them a stone instead.
Or if they ask for a fish, you give them a snake. Of course not. So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give good gifts to those who ask him? Due to others, what you would like them to do to you, this is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
You can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult and only a few ever find it. Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit. That is, by the way, they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit.
And a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit. And a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and grown into the fire.
Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Not everyone who calls out to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my father in heaven will enter. On Judgment Day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, we prophesize in your name.
We cast out demons in your name. We perform many miracles in your name. But I will reply, I never knew you. Get away from me.
You who break God's laws. Anyone who listens to my teachings and follows it as wise, like a person who builds a house on a solid rock. Through the rain came in torrents and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house. It won't collapse because it is built on bedrock.
But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. And when the rains and floods came and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. And so when Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching for he taught with real authority, quite unlike their teachers of religious law. So this morning we heard, my grandmother said, I put it, these were all red letter words.
I kind of hanked it up with their denial. These were all red letter words. And there's challenging stuff in here. There's kind of scary stuff in here.
There's stuff in here that makes us uncomfortable. And we're going to pack all that this summer. We're going to dig in deep. We're going to talk about the uncomfortable.
We're going to talk about the fun. But we're going to talk and think and reflect and read and pray through Jesus' greatest tips. Because that's what these three chapters are. And I can't wait for that journey.
So let's pray. Father, we thank you for your words. Countless times all throughout scripture. We hear the phrase, those with ears to hear, let them hear.
And so this morning we pray for ears to hear. We pray for ears that are hearing what your spirit is saying to us right now. We pray for ears to hear what we're saying that's going to leave church today. Wake up tomorrow morning when we're around on Wednesday.
We pray for ears to hear your holy things, the things that you have for us, the things that you desire for us to learn, the way you desire to change us, to transform us and make us so thank you so much.