Sermon on the Mount part 1
This is a study on some of Yahushua's teachings, commonly called "the sermon on the mount." I am going to begin this study at the end of Yahushua's sermon. The reason that I am doing this should become apparent...
Matthew 7:28 - And it came to pass, when Yahushua had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Yahushua taught with authority; the scribes did not teach with authority...
Luke 20:1 - And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the glad tidings, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, 2 And spake unto him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?" 3 And he answered and said unto them, "I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: 4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?" 5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, 'Why then believed ye him not?' 6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet." 7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. 8 And Yahushua said unto them, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."
Yahushua lived what he taught, but the scribes did not, thus making their teachings without authority.
Matthew 23:4 - "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments"
Now let's look at some of the events that preceded the sermon on the mount. Yahushua was immersed (baptized) by John (Matthew 3:13-17). After that, he was led into the wilderness where he overcame the temptations of the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). Then he began to preach that men ought to repent of their sins (Matthew 4:17). Then in verse 23...
Matthew 4:23 - And Yahushua went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with various diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.
Yahushua had already gained great fame before the sermon on the mount, because of all the wonderful miracles that he had performed; so the multitude was ready to hear him teach, which brings us to the beginning of what is commonly called the sermon on the mount...
Matthew 5:1 - And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was seated, his disciples came unto him.
Notice that Yahushua sat down before he began to preach.
continuing...
Matthew 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Being poor in spirit suggests that one is modest concerning self; they are not easily offended, they think of themselves as being a servant of others. If we are poor in spirit, our spirit, not the Spirit of our Heavenly Father, then we are ready for the kingdom.
Matthew 18:1 - At the same time came the disciples unto Yahushua, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And Yahushua called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, "Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 11:25 - At that time Yahushua answered and said, "I thank thee, O Father, Sustainer of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."
King David said...
Psalm 70:5 - "But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O Elohim: thou art my help and my deliverer; O YHWH, make no tarrying."
Yes, king David was poor in spirit; he realized that his strength is actually that of YHWH.
For an example of some who did not have their hearts right concerning their attitudes, let's turn to Revelation chapter 3...
Revelation 3:14 - "And to the angel of the assembly of the Laodiceans write, These things says the trustworthy, faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of YHWH: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
As can be seen, those of us who think that we are "self sufficient" are actually wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Continuing on with the sermon on the mount...
Matthew 5:4 - "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."
Yahushua is actually talking here about our everyday life attitudes. How do we deal with situations? If, for example, someone does us wrong, do we get angry? Becoming angry can be a curse...
Proverbs 22:24 - Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
On the other hand, instead of becoming angry, we can choose to "mourn because of sin"...
Psalm 40:1 - I waited patiently for YHWH; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our Elohim: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in YHWH.
Psalm 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
There are actually two types of sorrow...the one brings a blessing, the other a curse...
2Corinthians 7:9 - Now I rejoice, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance: For you became sorrowful as YHWH intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.. 10 Righteous sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Another time when mourning is a comfort, is at the death of a loved one. Yahushua mourned at the death of Lazarus...
John 11:32 - Then when Miriam was come where Yahushua was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, "Rabbi, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." 33 When Yahushua therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, "Where have ye laid him?" They said unto him, "Rabbi, come and see." 35 Yahushua wept.
Yahushua continues the sermon on the mount...
Matthew 5:5 - "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
Yahushua was quoting from the 37th Psalm...
Psalm 37:7 - Rest in YHWH, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon YHWH, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
According to the Albert Barnes Commentary: "Meekness is patience in the reception of injuries. It is neither meanness nor a surrender of our rights, nor cowardice; but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harbored vengeance."
The opposite of being meek is to be arrogant and proud...
Proverbs 29:23 - A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Meekness leads to the following attributes...
Psalm 25:7 - Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O YHWH. 8 Good and upright is YHWH: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of YHWH are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For thy name's sake, O YHWH, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
YHWH speaks about meekness through the prophet Isaiah...
Isaiah 57:15 - For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy (set apart); "I dwell in the high and set apart place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Now for the next blessing...
Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
Our desire for righteousness should be as we desire food and drink after fasting!
Jeremiah 9:24 - "But let him that boasts boast in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am YHWH which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight," saith YHWH.
and from the Psalms...
Psalm 15:1 - YHWH, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy (set apart) hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised; but he honoureth them that fear YHWH. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
We need to strive to love YHWH in righteousness!
Yahushua's next blessing...
Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
How can we show mercy toward our fellow man? Mercy suggests showing loving kindness to one in need. One of the best examples of mercy is to forgive one who has wronged us...
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Another example of showing mercy is found in the Torah...
Deuteronomy 24:14 - Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto YHWH, and it be sin unto thee.
Showing mercy is a very important part of being a true follower of Yahushua...
Proverbs 21:13 - Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Micah 6:8 - He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth YHWH require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy Elohim.
James 2:12 - So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Yahushua continues...
Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see YHWH."
Yahushua shows that the condition of our heart can be seen by the words we speak...
Matthew 12:33 - "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
We must be aware of every word we speak...and repent of all errors that we have ever said. We need to be "quick to listen and slow to speak"...
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath
But how do we get a pure heart? It should be obvious that we cannot do it on our own. David confirms this truth after he sinned with Bathsheba...
Psalm 51:5 - Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
David proceeds, as he cries out to YHWH...
Psalm 51:6 - Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
And the prophet Samuel shows that the heart is what YHWH looks at...
1Samuel 16:7 - But YHWH said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for YHWH seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but YHWH looketh on the heart.
Proverbs 4:23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
"Please Father, create in us a clean heart!"
Yahushua continues...
Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of YHWH.
James 3:16 - For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing is there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Paul said that we are to be at peace with all, when possible...
Romans 12:18 - If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
But Yahushua said, concerning peace...
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
How is it that the world gives peace?
Psalm 28:3 - Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but evil is in their hearts.
When Yahushua sent out the seventy, two and two, he said...
Luke 10:5 - "And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' 6 And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again."
Did you see that? "If the son of peace be there." That is awesome, to think that when we share the glad tidings of the kingdom of YHWH, either the spirit of peace will be present or not. If it is, then we will be heard and accepted. If not, then we will be rejected.
For Yahushua's next blessing...
Matthew 5:10 - "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Here is another instance where we will be blessed if we are humble when we are done wrong. Yahushua did not say that it would be easy, but he did make it clear that it would be worth it.
According to the Word of YHWH, in order for us to be able to succeed when being persecuted for righteousness sake, we need to make ourselves ready, before it is too late!
Isaiah 55:6 - Seek ye YHWH while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto YHWH, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our Elohim, for he will abundantly pardon.
Yahushua continues...
Matthew 5:11 - "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
Matthew 10:25 - "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?"
Yahushua makes it clear that however they treated (or would treat) him, they will treat his followers worse. We need to pray that we can be accounted worthy to walk in the footsteps of Yahushua!
Yahushua continues...
Matthew 5:12 - "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
John 15:18 - "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, 'The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.'"
In Acts chapter 5, the apostles were arrested for healing in the name of Yahushua, and after being miraculously released by a messenger (angel) of YHWH, they were instructed to go and teach in the temple...
In Acts 5:27, the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin (the council)...
Acts 5:27 - And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, "Did not we strictly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." 29 Then Kepha and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to obey Elohim rather than men."
then in verse 40...
Acts 5:40 - And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Yahushua, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
What an incentive! If we stand up for the truth, and suffer shame, it is because we are accounted worthy by the Heavenly Father...what an awesome principle!
Here is assurance from YHWH's Word spoken by the prophet YeshaYahu (Isaiah) concerning being persecuted for righteousness sake...
Isaiah 51:7 - Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their insults. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
Yahushua continues the sermon on the mount in verse 13...
Matthew 5:13 (NIV) "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
The importance of salt is first talked about in the Torah...
Leviticus 2:13 (NIV) Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your Elohim out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
Salt stands for permanency...as suggested in the "covenant of salt" to the children of the Levitical priesthood...
Numbers 18:19 (ISR) "All the contributions of the set-apart gifts, which the children of Yisra'el present to YHWH, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as a law forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before YHWH with you and your seed with you."
The permanency of a covenant of salt is verified...
2Chronicles 13:5 - Ought ye not to know that YHWH Elohim of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
And of course, Yahushua is going to sit on the throne of David!
Paul associates salt as something that helps us to show forth wisdom in our speech...
Colossians 4:5 - Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always with favor, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Yahushua is speaking to his followers when he says we are the salt of the earth. Salt preserves. These qualities will be of benefit to our self and to others, so long as the salt maintains its character.
Yahushua continues by saying that we are the light of the world. Light is meant to shine and give direction...
Matthew 5:14 - "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and honor your Father which is in heaven."
For a comparison between light and darkness...
Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Concerning Yahushua...
John 8:12 - Then spake Yahushua again unto them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Yahushua gives a grave warning concerning light...
John 12:35 - Then Yahushua said unto them, "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." These things spake Yahushua, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Paul gives admonition also...
Ephesians 5:8 - For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Saviour. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to YHWH. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and the Messiah will give you light."
In order for us to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, we must show forth the qualities that Yahushua spoke about in the preceding part of this chapter....
Yahushua made it very clear that there is a definite line dividing those who are His, and those who are not...
Luke 11:23 - "He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth."
A statement by a messenger (angel) in Revelation 22:11, says that we are either for righteousness or we are for wickedness...
Revelation 22:11 - "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy (set apart), let him be holy (set apart) still."
Yahushua is saying, in the preceding verse, that the time is coming when it will be "too late" to repent!! He admonishes us...
Matthew 12:33 - "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit."
Yahushua tells how we are to "make the tree good"...
John 15:4 - "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
Study by YermeYah