1} Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

Matthew divided his gospel into five parallel sections each consisting of a narrative (story telling) and a teaching section. The fivefold repetition of "when Jesus had finished" {7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1) concludes each major section which consists both of a narrative and a discourse.

When you see a crowd, what do you see?

Are you trying to figure your best way of maneuvering yourself or getting something? Or are you like Jesus who saw and responded to the needs of the crowds?

When Jesus saw the crowds,
He went up the hillside...
and began to teach. (Mat 5:1-2)

Jesus did not entertain the crowd but ministered to them. He was not content on impressing them. In chapter 4 we already find that Jesus gained fame all about Galilee, Syria, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and even across the Jordan River.

Entertainers draw attention to themselves. Christ rejected this worldly attention and instead focused on bringing the power of God’s kingdom to the lives of God's people.

The key to Christian living is not watching or even repeating Jesus but being like Him.

Simply sitting besides these disciples and being astonished at His teaching would be completely worthless. We would not experience the power of Christ's kingdom. Christ's purpose was to convey what we needed to live as active participants in His kingdom. The question is, "How did He do this?"

Matthew purposely stopped relating the dynamic power of Christ at the end of chapter 4 and retold us the Sermon on the Mount. Discipleship is not a one stage stop but many acts of discipline where we purposely and intentionally make decisions to live righteous lives after Christ.

There are no proper shortcuts to know the power of God's kingdom. Jesus refused to fall to the temptation to take the easy road (cf. Mat 4:8). He purposely focused His life on serving His Father and His people.

Next => 2} Outline of Matthew 5-7: Sermon on the Mount