Christian Quest
Lesson 7
"The Sermon on the Mount"


Sea of Galilee from a northwest slope

Jesus' famous sermon in the early days of his ministry took place on a slope near Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee. The central theme of the sermon seems to be summarized in Matthew 5:48, "You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." The word "perfect" does not demand sinless or moral perfection which is unattainable in this life. Rather it implies completeness, wholeness, maturity--being all that God wants a person to be. While the goal is unattainable, it nevertheless challenges us to strive for perfection in right living for the Lord. The content of the sermon is reported in greater detail by Gospel writer, Matthew, where it covers three chapters in his book, 5, 6, and 7. Luke captures the essence of the sermon very succinctly in 30 verses in the sixth chapter of his writing. Some scholars believe that Luke's version contains the more authentic form, unglossed by later interpretation and centered on love. The discourse addresses many issues concerned with Godly living, including the ten "Beatitudes", the deeper meaning of the Law and the prophets, the "Lord's Prayer", the "Golden Rule", and numerous familiar parables and sayings.

To better understand some of the things Jesus said, we should consider some of the terms he used and their meanings in the context of the Jewish culture of their time which may have a different general concept in our day.

Hypocrit
The word "hypocrit" comes from Greek theater and it referred to a drama actor (hypokrites), "hypo" meaning mask and "crit" (from krinomai) meaning "to answer"--or literally, "to answer from under a mask." Performers wore masks rather than make-up. The word "hypocrit" then did not necessarily mean to preach one thing and do another in the strict sense we may think of it now. It the sense that Jesus used the word, it referred more to putting on an act to impress people--which is what actors essentially do. In stage plays, a trumpet often blared when an actor (or hypocrit) made his entrance onto the stage. Naturally, the actor, or performer, is not portraying himself, he is playing a role "be seen of men" for applause (approval). In this sense, Jesus compared the ritualistic religious acts and prayers of priests and Pharisees in the Temple and Synagoges with street performers and actors who performed before an audience. In this context, he was charging them with merely playing a role and emphasized that personal goodness and prayers from the heart were more important than performing a religious ritual in front of an audience. In this we are referring to Jesus use of the word "hypocrit" in his Sermon on the Mount in this lesson. In other places in the NT, the word seems clearly to carry a broader insinuation of accusing the Pharisees of being what we might call "phoney" or purposely deceptive.

Gehenna ("hell")
Two Greek words in the "New Testament" are rendered by the word "hell" in English Bibles. They are "hades" and "Gehenna":

Hades:
Hades in Greek is the abode of the dead; the equivalent of the OT Hebrew word "sheol". It is sometimes referred to as the "grave" although that does not accurately render the meaning. Hades refers more to the condition of being dead, awaiting resurrection and judgment, rather than a physical place of burial.
Gehenna:
The Valley of Hinnom located a way outside of the city southwest of Jerusalem. It had been the site where ancient idolatrous Israelites had practiced the abominable sacrificing of children to Molech and Baal (2 Chron.28:3; 33:6; Jer.7:31-32; 19:2-6). Israel's King Josiah had defiled the valley to make it unacceptable as a holy site (2 Kings 23:10), after which it was used as a sewer and garbage dump by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Into this place were cast all kinds of filth, including the carcasses of animals and the unburied bodies of executed criminals, since burial in a tomb implied asleep in "Abraham's bosom". Gehenna fires were kept burning continuously, unquenched, using sulfur and brimstone to consume the refuse, sewage, and the unburied dead. The site of decaying corpses, human bones, maggots ("where the worm dies not"), flies, dead animals with birds ripping flesh off dead bodies, as well as the perpetual stench of rotting and burning flesh, conveyed a sense of horror and revulsion, not unlike the aftermath of a horrific battle of war.

It is this word Gehenna that Jesus used in this mountain-side sermon which is translated "hell" in English Bibles. For example he says in Matthew 5:21, 22: "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to [Gehenna]". In Israel, murderers would of course be liable to judgment of the courts, execution, and their bodies thrown into the fires of Gehenna. In Israel, such judgment also carried the implication of judgment by God and unworthiness of salvation. So in conveying the deeper meaning to of the law "You shall not murder," Jesus said that hating your brother is just as serious as murder in the spiritual sense and in God's judgment.

Fasting
Fasting, or abstaining from food for spiritual reasons, was prevalent in Israelite worship. Just as eating and feasting were associated with joy, merriment and thanksgiving, fasting was conversely associated with reverence, sacrifice, grief, and humility before God. To the Jews, indulgence was not an appropriate thing when a situation called for solemnness, piety, or remorse and penance. However, in Jesus time it seems that many Jews would make an obvious spectacle of their fasting to gain admiration. Jesus criticized this doleful feigning of reverence as "hypocracy" (acting the part to be seen).

Reading:
Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7
Luke 6:20-49

Synopsis

Matthew 5:1-11; Luke 6:20-26:
The sermon begins with the ten blesseds ("Beatitudes"-- "Blessed are . . . For . . ."
One of the beatitudes is perhaps of special interest for those who are shunned, for it says:

Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. (Luke 6:22, 23; also Matt. 5:11,12) NRSV

Matthew 5:17-48:
The theme here seems to revolve around love for one another; extending even to one's enemies. The righteous are likened to salt and light as their exemplary life illuminates the world.
Deeper meaning of the Law regarding obedience, anger, adultery, divorce, swearing, retaliation, loving enemies; striving for Godly perfection.

Matthew chapter 6; Luke 6:27-36 (The "Lord's Prayer" appears later in Luke, in chapter 11:2-4.)
Covers charitable giving (alms), prayer, fasting, and undue concern for riches. Seeking wealth and the Kingdom is likened attempting to serve two masters. After Jesus illustrates how one should pray, the rest of chapter six seems to be elaborating on the meaning of "Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (verses 11, 12), as well as on not making a spectacle out of one's worship. The emphasis of this chapter is not to worry about acquiring wealth or be concerned for future needs as to what we will wear or eat. Ask God only for our provisions for today and God will provide.

Matthew chapter 7; Luke 6:37-49:
This chapter warns about being judgmental. Be concerned with our own righteousness before we concern ourselves with that of others. Don't just be hearers of goodness, but doers of goodness, bearing "good fruit" in that doing good produces good; doing bad produces bad. "You will know them by their fruits" (verse 16) . . . "A good tree <b>cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.</b> " (verse 18).

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