PREPARING FOR THE SERMON
September 1, 2024
Matthew 5:1-16
Context:
Matthew 5 begins the Sermon on the Mount which continues through chapter 7. It contains some of the most famous of Jesus’ teachings. In the sermon, Jesus addresses several topics, but perhaps surprisingly, He does not focus on the cross or His ultimate mission. He contains practical and immediately applicable instructions for living. Much (but not all) of the sermon is presented in Luke chapter 6. The setting and content of the messages could either be accounted for by the authors selecting different parts of a longer messages, or more probably, Jesus delivering similar messages on different occasions. Matthew contains a series of teaching episodes and travel narratives. The sermon in chapters 5-7 help establish Jesus as one who teaches with authority and someone to listen to (Matthew 7:28-29).
Structure:
1-12 Beatitudes (ways to live blessed)
13 You are the salt of the earth
14-16 You are the light of the world
Key Ideas: blessedness, Christian responsibility
Some things to think about: