Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount

“... and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying....” Matt. 5:1-2.

This shows us that the Sermon on the Mount was addressed to His disciples. They had entered into the new covenant and had given their bodies to do the will of God. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26-27 and 33. “Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Matt. 4:19-20.

It was to such people that Jesus spoke the Sermon on the Mount. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matt. 5:17. Jesus fulfilled the law in a body just like the one we have, a body with the same flesh. Then it became possible for all those who want to be His disciples to live the same life in fulfillment of the law. We have read this before in Rom. 8:3-4. It says there that God sent His Son “on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

What is the righteous requirement of the law? It is, “You shall not covet [lust].” Rom. 7:7. This was impossible for the law because it was weak through the flesh. The law could only punish sin when it came out of the body, but covetousness (or lust) is hidden. This was what God condemned in Jesus’ flesh, which meant, of course, that sin could not come out of His body. Here is the sacrifice in Jesus’ body which has made it possible for the righteous requirement of the law to be fulfilled in us, who are disciples and who are in the new covenant.

To be under the law is the same as to serve in the oldness of the letter. People who serve in this way serve before the face of man. Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:20. They did their works before the face of men, to receive honor of men. “But all their works they do to be seen by men.” Matt. 23:5. If our righteousness is to exceed theirs, we must live before God’s face and serve in the newness of spirit. (See Rom. 7:6.) That means to be obedient to the light that the Spirit gives us, in exactly the same way that Jesus was obedient to the light that the Father gave Him.

This is where we need Jesus as our merciful High Priest, who gives us grace in time of need. We have power in the Holy Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body. This is the sacrifice in the body of Christ, and the law cannot be fulfilled in us unless we walk in the Spirit. Only those who walk in the Spirit are the children of God—Jesus’ fellow heirs. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Rom. 8:14. Only such people are under grace. “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Rom. 6:14. “For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.... Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Col. 3:3 and 5.

This hidden life with Christ in God is a life of putting to death our lusts and thus truly fulfilling the law. Then the body is a well-pleasing sacrifice to God. “...which is your reasonable [spiritual] service.” Rom. 12:1. “But now, having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” Rom. 6:22. When we have reached this point, we have victory over sin, and sin no longer comes out of our bodies. Sanctification means to put to death the sin we get light over by walking in the Spirit on the new and living way through the flesh. The reason people have nothing to say about Jesus before He was 30 years old is because they know nothing of this new way. After He was 30 He did many signs and wonders, and that is what people look up to, and what most preachers wish they could do.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:3. Moses came with the law, which led to earthly riches. We read about that in Deuteronomy, chapter 28. When we read about the abundance of earthly glory that was to be theirs if they kept the law, we might well ask ourselves: What more could I want? In that chapter we read only of earthly riches, but the vast majority of people (religious people included) do not want anything more. That is why when people come into need because of earthly things, especially physical illness, they begin to seek God and ask for prayer. They know nothing, however, of their spiritual need and poverty. They are not worried about that at all.

Jesus, however, brought us riches for our spirit. “What are those riches?” you ask. They are the virtues (attributes) of Christ, and strength for our inner man. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.” Eph. 3:14-16.

When trials and tribulations come, most people have such a weak inner man that they have no power to bear them. They “lose their composure,” as the saying goes. Sin gets the upper hand, they develop animosities, marriages break up, and the love of many grows cold. We read further in Ephesians about the capacity of the love of Christ. He bore the sin of the whole world and thereby overcame all the spiritual hosts of wickedness. “To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:19. Paul preached all the fullness of God, the whole counsel of God. Acts 20:27.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matt. 5:3-9.

The Sermon on the Mount is like a table that Jesus spreads for those who have a heavenly calling. It is a heavenly message of glad tidings for everyone who hungers and thirsts for a divine life, an unlimited abundance of the fullness of God for our spirit. Yes, you say, but they will also inherit the earth. True, but that is merely “added” to them. People fight over the earth and the earthly things, which is why they are so restless and so poor. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matt. 6:33. If we seek the kingdom of God first, then the earthly things are included in it as a gift. Jesus continues: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matt. 6:34. It is the meek who will inherit the earth, which the others are so busy fighting over. The meek have time to wait for it to be “added” to them.

Jesus is called, among other things, the Prince of Peace. One day He will bind Satan for 1000 years. Then the millennium will begin, and those who will rule and reign there are Jesus and His bride—who is also called “His brethren.” They have attained to that by putting to death the flesh with its lusts and desires. Rev. 19:7 and further on in chapter 20.

If we read the Sermon on the Mount, it becomes quite clear that the law is fulfilled by putting to death the indwelling lust. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart!” Matt. 5:27-28. Further on we read how radical we must be if we are to put this to death. Only then does one come to rest. One example of the difference between what the law had achieved and what we can attain to in the new covenant can be seen from the incident when the Pharisees came to Jesus with the woman caught in adultery.

“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’ Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” John 8:3-12.

The Pharisees were righteous according to the law, just as Paul was as a Pharisee. Phil. 3:6-10. Paul called this righteousness according to the law his “own righteousness.” He had not achieved that through grace. However, when he had received the knowledge of Christ, that righteousness was no longer of any value to him. He wanted to have the righteousness of God by faith. He then goes on to explain how:

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Phil. 3:10. This is the way to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. Then it will be true before the face of God and not just before the face of man.

Many people wonder what it was that Jesus wrote on the ground. Some say he was just doodling in the “sand.” It doesn’t say “sand” here, and it is difficult (if not impossible) to write in sand. Others say that He showed how humble He was by bending down to write while waiting for an answer from the Father, Usually people mention what suits them and leave out what doesn’t. Personally, I am in no doubt about what Jesus wrote. I believe He wrote what was written further in the law: “You shall not covet [lust].” And, when He bowed down again, I believe He wrote what is written further in the law: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last.”

We see that through faith and the grace in Christ the law can be fulfilled—our lusts can be put to death. Then the divine life that Jesus lived is manifested. Further in Matthew 5 it is written, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Matt. 5:38-39. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:43-45.

When we read these verses, we understand that a really powerful slaughter—or death—is necessary if we are to be finished with our temper, so that we can bless from the heart without hypocrisy. This has now become possible on the new and living way that Jesus has consecrated for us. Then we are the children of God in truth—we are Jesus’ brethren.

In Matthew 6:1 Jesus gives us a powerful exhortation: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Here we see that what really matters is what we do before the face of the Father. That is the hidden life with Christ in God.

In Col. 3:22-24 it is written, “Bond servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

When we think about a servant (who in those days was usually a slave) being so straightforward and simple that he served as to the Lord and not to men, then we understand that the death of Christ had to work in order for him to live such a life. Besides that, he was to think only of the inheritance he would receive from the Lord as his reward. Such a person is a true believer.

“Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” 1 Cor. 7:21-24.

The slave was not free to use his time as he saw fit. Therefore, he probably felt that he could not serve God as free people could. He felt that he was of no use. But Paul comforts him by saying, “Do not be concerned about it.” Why not? “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” Gal. 5:6. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” Gal. 6:15. No matter what one does, if one does not become a new creation, one is nothing in God’s eyes. In the resurrection, only divine nature will have any value. Therefore everyone has the same possibility. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Col. 3:17. In this way, everything I do has eternal value. “Do not become the slaves of men.” Those who do what they do in order to be seen by men become their slaves, and what they do has no value in the resurrection.