Sermon on the Mount, Lesson 2

Matt. 5:7

INTRODUCTION: Aim—to show that Mercy was a trait of Christ as He displayed in John Chapter 8 (the story of the Woman caught in Adultery) and as Christians we must also show mercy. Have in you this mind like Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5). That is also a commandment.

I. What is Mercy?

A. Thayer---to show compassion

B. Jesus said it was the forgiveness of sins. Matt. 9: 1-6.

C. God's way of relieving the miseries of His creatures. Psalms 100: 5.

D. Compassion toward one another – Luke 10:37.

E. Grace – is a form of Mercy – Jude 2

II. Who is to receive Mercy?

A. God's Mercy was to all – Romans 11:30-32.

B. We must be merciful to all – Luke 6:36

C. Most importantly, sinners with a proper heart. Luke 18:13

III. Where There Is No Mercy There is Judgment!

A. Matt. 5:7, only the merciful will obtain mercy.

B. James 4:12- Who are you to judge your brother

C. Do not judge one another – Matt. 7: 12

Conclusion This is probably one of the least spoken on subjects in the Church. It is important that we understand what Mercy is, and who is to receive it. If we do not show mercy to those who are repentant, we then pass judgment and heap judgment on ourselves.

THE SALT OF THE EARTH: MATT. 5:13

INTRODUCTION. In a world that has drifted away from the true teachings of the Lord, we hope to show that the life of the Kingdom person is not just as those on the outside world. We do have a special purpose and we must magnify our God on earth to be pleasing to Him.

I. YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH

A. Define salt – as used in the Bible in its historical context.

a. Greek – avs – Hebrew – Melath

b. God appointed salt to be used in all sacrifices (Lev. 2:13).

B. Salt signified a mind free of corruption, a must to merit the grace of God (Lev. 2:13, Ezek. 16:14).

C. Elisha used it to purify water – II Kings 2:21

D. Jesus said kingdom people were to purify the rest of the world. Matt. 5:13.

II. THE SALT MUST MAINTAIN ITS SAVOR (KJV).

A. Savor is, a sweet smell to God

B. A bad savor – Ezek. 5:21.

C. A good savor – Gen. 8:21

D. Christ was a sweet smelling savor - 2^nd Cor. 1:5.

E. We must offer a spiritual sacrifice of ourselves - 1^st Peter 2:5 – which is sweet smelling.

III. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE TRODDEN UNDERFOOT

A. To be trodden underfoot is to go by the wayside – Luke 8:5

B. It can mean destruction – Luke 21:24

C. Certain spiritual death – Heb. 10:29

CONCLUSION: Kingdom people serve a very special function on God's earth. More than a function, an assignment that must be fulfilled. There is no doubt that the certainty of judgment will come for not fulfilling this assignment.

THE REASON AND THE MESSAGE : MATT. 5: 17-19

INTRODUCTION: Jesus made it very clear His reason for coming to earth. The message was; the Kingdom people and what the Kingdom people ought to be.

I. He Came to Full and Not to Abolish!

A. The Law must be fulfilled. Gen. 12:3 The promise of the seed.

B. They should have expected Him. Isa. 7:14

C. The unfailing Word of God – Luke 16: 17 (not one jot will pass away).

II. How can we be the least in Kingdom of God?

A. By teaching false doctrine – II Pet. 2:1.

B. By not obeying the truth – John 15: 6 (cast out)

C. By exalting ourselves – Matt. 20:27

III. HOW CAN WE BECOME GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

A. By becoming the least (Matt. 20:27).

B. By teaching the truth (John 17:17).

C. To suffer obedience (Heb. 5:8).

CONCLUSION: Jesus made His mission on earth very clear. To fulfill to law and the prophets that man may be saved. How We as Kingdom people may serve Him.

A STUDY OF THE SALT OF THE EARTH : MATT. 5:13

This is a short study of the salt of the earth and its relationship to the Kingdom of God and His Kingdom people. In Matt. 5:13, we find Jesus making the statement “ You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing, but to be throw out and trampled underfoot by men.”

Most members of the church probably do not realize the importance of this passage. The salt of the earth is not an inert substance that has no real benefit. It is an important assignment for the Kingdom of God and His people.

The term 'salt' is a metaphor. The Latin church in a materialistic sense uses salt (even now) when they the baptismal rite.¹ This is a very different idea than we find expressed in the book of Matthew. Rather in Matthew it is an assignment to the Kingdom and its people. Notice the word “you” which is not a reference to the congregation down the road or to local preachers or some other group. “You” is each and every member of the Kingdom. The Greek word for salt is OLS,² and its Hebrew counter part Melach, may be defined as follows: That which preserves in some cases and adds flavor or purifies in other instances.

God appointed salt to be used in all sacrifices made to Him (Lev. 2:13). Elisha used it purify water (II. Kings 2:21). Jesus said that the Kingdom people were not the salt of the earth. We are that which makes pure and changes the flavor of our surroundings.

Salt is one of the most common substances found on the face of the earth.³ All animal body fluids contain salt. The vast amount of waters on the face of the earth contain salt as well as underground waters.⁴ As related to the Kingdom, it is well worth mentioning that salt never rejoices in its own saltiness. By that we mean that those members of the Kingdom who only rejoice in themselves ought to face reality since they have lost their mission on earth. If then we do not affect the outward world, we are not salty. The terms “you are the salt of the earth” is written in the imperative mood, which means that being the salt is not an option.

In ancient times wars were fought over salt.⁵ Salt was a universal commodity and still is today. Homer called it “divine” and chronicles the use it in the cult of Heroes. Tacitus tells us of great wars between Germanic tribes for the possession of salt springs near their lands. Mungo Park saw the inhabitants of Seria Leone give all they had, even their wives and children to obtain a supply of salt.

Salt represented at least four things at the time of Christ.

I. PURITY – Many biblical examples give us this idea as well as examples from history. I see the idea of purity expressed in two different ways as related to the kingdom people. First, we must be pure ourselves. In heart and in mind as well as actions. If we are impure we can not have the affect on the outer world that is in our mission plan. Second, we must by our lives change the things around us to that which the Savior desires. By our actions and deeds we must purify the unclean world by education and example. We cannot blend in with the rest of the world as far as moral concerns. If we the people of the kingdom are blending with the outer world, we are not salty. Salt has an effect on whatever it is applied to.

II. A PRESERVATIVE – Salt was used to keep tings from going bad or becoming rotten. Plutarch said “Meat is a dead body, and if left by itself will go bad, but salt will keep it fresh. Likewise, the body of Christ is also dead without salt.

III. SALT LENDS FLAVOR TO THINGS – Food without salt is terrible. The great tragedy is than some people think food without salt is great. Oliver Wendell Holmes once remarked that he may have gone into the clergy except for friends who reminded him of undertakers. The life of a Christian should be a life of being happy and full of joy so all the world can see. A worth while observation is made by Nelson Smith.

1. A grave judgment Salt is used on that which is dead. This ought to say something since it is not used on that which is alive.

2. The commanded influence of the Christian as to his/her relationship with the rest of the world, that is; salt must be rubbed on the outer world. ⁶

IV. AN ANTICEPTIC – Salt is used with water to prevent swelling and infection. In relation to the Kingdom people, we must act as salt. Church discipline is important. If we prevent a small sore from becoming infected or even becoming a large sore that infects the entire body, we have been the salt.

In Matt. 5:13, we find that the salt can lose its flavor. There are at least two thoughts contained in this idea.

1. Salt can lose its flavor and once lost it cannot be returned. Or, the opposite idea is that once salt loses its flavor, it cannot return that which is lost. I realize from my own personal experience that salt is more flavorful sometimes than other times. After salt has been exposed to the open air for a while it will lose some of its flavor. The passage uses the word “if” the salt loses its flavor meaning it is possible. As Kingdom people we cannot lose our or we will be trodden under foot.

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: MATT. 5: 14

This section needs a lot more work, but this is all its going to get for the minute. Lane

It is the intention of this study to define the “light of the world” and explore this assignment to the kingdom people. First we will look at the 'light.'

The Bible opens majestically as God speaks, “let there be Light,” and there was indeed. God is light and in Him there can be no darkness (1^st John 1:5). When Jesus came into the world those at the time were astonished when He declared “I am the light of the world, and whoever follows Me will have the light of life, and will never be in darkness (John 8:12).” But----the idea does not stop here. In Matt. 5:14 Jesus said that now we (the people of the kingdom) “are the light of the world.” Of course He is speaking of the church and its members. In this profound statement, we as members of the kingdom inherit a mission of gravity. This is not to be misunderstood . We have an assignment. Jesus never claimed that we would have His intellectual abilities or be able to preform the deeds which He did while on earth. He did give us a life style and a mission to carry into all the world.

The subject of light is a fascinating subject. To this day, humans do not really understand all there is to know about light. Questions can still be raised as to the limits of light. We do not know how far out it space a light beam travels before it dissipates if it ever dissipates. Jesus claimed that He was the original light of the world when he said “I am the light of the word (John 9:5).” If we are the light of the world as Jesus was the original light of the world, we ought to explore what is the function of light.

It is oblivious that a light must shine in order to be a light. Meaning action on the part of the light. In Matt. 5:14, the limits of where the light must shine are set for us----the entire world. Most of us recognize that this is a different way of restating Matt.28: 19-20, where we are to go into all the world.

There is a danger when kingdom people have lights that are growing dim. Are we shinning to the entire world? It is not the job of someone else to be the light but it is our own personal assignment and failure to carry out this mission brings judgment.

By Lane