Season 2 Podcast 86 The Sermon on the Mount Pt I

The Sermon on the Mount: The BeatitudesPerfection cannot come from the law of Moses, but perfection can come if we fully obey the Sermon on the Mount which assumes the Ten Commandments. I believe that the Sermon on the Mount explains what Christ means by Matthew 5:48; furthermore, I believe that of all doctrines in Christendom, there is no verse more important to understand than Matthew 5:48.God is perfect or he is nothing. He is the quintessential model of perfection, and there can be no greater model. The purpose of the Sermon on the Mount is to lead us on the pathway to perfection.  Assuming that is the end goal, let’s examine the Sermon on the Mount with that in mind. Any attempt at understanding the Sermon on the Mount must begin with the Beatitudes. Each beatitude is a promise with a blessing and holds the key to becoming like God. The Beatitudes teach us a very important principle, that all blessings are attached to laws. In logic it could be presented in hypothetical statements. “If you obey this law, then you shall receive this blessing.” I invite you as you read the scriptures to mark the law and mark the blessing. Every law has a blessing, the blessing of obedience, but most laws do not explicitly state the blessing as you find in the Beatitudes. That is one thing that makes the Beatitudes so special. However, all laws have an assumed blessing and it is rewarding to identify what that blessing is. Let me add my own opinion. Among many blessings, implicit in all laws of God are freewill, freedom, agency, and liberty. Christ frees us.  Satan wants to hold us in captivity.Every law of God has a blessing attached dependent upon obedience to that law, and contrariwise every law has a curse attached dependent upon disobedience to that law. Let me refer you here to John the Revelator’s letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation 2 & 3 for John follows the same pattern. He identifies both a blessing and a cursing. You may see the pattern throughout the Old and New Testaments. The theme of the Sermon on the Mount is to become perfect like God. The Beatitudes contain 9 conditions to becoming like God: 1.      Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.2.      Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.3.      Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.4.      Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.5.      Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.6.      Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.7.      Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.8.      Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.9.      Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)