Resources Related to the Sermon on the Mount series
The SERMON: STRUCTURE & CONTENT
In the Sermon on The Mount, Jesus begins to give concrete teaching on what it means for the “Kingdom of Heaven” to be dawning on Earth, in his ministry (see Matthew 4:14-17). The “Kingdom of Heaven” is essentially another way of describing God’s rule.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount has three key elements:
a) THE COMFORT
In the beatitudes of Matthew 5:3-10 Jesus describes what the dawning of the kingdom means for those who have been living in darkness; for those who can’t yet perceive God’s power or presence in a darkened world. The beatitudes describe “the state-of-play” for those awaiting the full-dawning of the kingdom.
The Poor in Spirit are those who have no spiritual “credit” to their account; no spiritual “wealth” to boast about before God (for example see Luke 18:9-14 or the regular mention of children).
Those who Mourn refers to those who grieve God’s apparent absence in the world as signalled by death, injustice, grief, and pain (see Rev 21:4).
The Meek are those who have no status or standing and none of the power and influence that comes with such standing. They are without earthly influence or power to coerce (for example widows, or see Matthew 20:25-27).
Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness are those who crave for the world to line up with God’s standards; with his own righteousness (see Matt 6:33).
The Merciful are those who seek to forebear the failings of others rather than being quick to condemn them.
The Pure in Heart are those who stake their whole selves wholeheartedly on God. They don’t hedge their bets, say, between God and wealth, or between God and earthly approval.
The Peacemakers are those who welcome reconciliation, as opposed to those who provoke conflict and pursue revenge.
To be Persecuted because of Righteousness is to suffer because of one’s devotion to what God considers good and right.
None of these experiences of life would be bearable or sustainable if not for the dawning of God’s kingdom in Jesus’ life and ministry. Jesus himself fulfils (makes concrete) God’s rule on earth; a reality that the law and prophets could at best anticipate and approximate. With Jesus’ coming the poor, the meek, those mourning (etc.) are assured that God’s rule will vindicate them.
B) THE CHALLENGE
From 5:17 onwards Jesus turns from comforting the oppressed to challenging those who would seek to undermine the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew, this is unquestionably the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law. In 23:13-15 Jesus delares…
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to… you travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.
Most of the Sermon on the Mount sees Jesus explicitly rebuking the way the Pharisees sought to limit, evade, or co-opt the Kingdom of Heaven for their own benefit. Compare…
Matt 5:31-32 with 19:3.
Matt 5:33-37 with 23:16
Matt 6:5 & 16 with 23:1-7, 12
The comfort of heaven’s coming kingdom allows us to pursue its righteousness in a manner that had been obscured by the Pharisee’s approach to the Law & Prophets.
C) THE PROMISE
At the heart of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (6:9-13) lies both…
i) a prayer that Jesus himself teaches us, and
ii) a call for us to forgive.
Jesus promises that God will both give to those who ask (7:9-12) as well as forgive those who forgive.
Prayer and Forgiveness seem to be two key aspects of how Jesus’ people are called to respond to the arrival of Heaven’s rule on earth. More to come on this…
OTHER RESOURCES:
The Sermon on the Mount covers some challenging terrain. Below are some additional resources that might help navigate and apply some of its implications for Christian discipleship.
THE NOTION OF “REWARDS” IN MATTHEW’S GOSPEL
CLICK IMAGE to open file (version 2)
Often readers of Matthew’s Gospel struggle to grasp the meaning and significance of Jesus’ language of recompense.
Particularly, how are we to understand all of Jesus’ talk about buying & storing up heavenly treasure, wages, and rewards?
Does this mean that some of us will enjoy the premium experience of the Kingdom of Heaven, while others will make do with just the basic version?
When we read the “rewards” passages of Matthew’s Gospel in context it becomes clear that Jesus is not speaking about reward in the individualised and personal sense our earthly economies usually do!
Video summary (of above paper) discussing Jesus’ language of reward in Matthew’s Gospel
An edited-down video summary of the above-linked paper exploring some key moments in how Jesus speaks about Rewards in Matthew’s Gospel
domestic violence and Jesus on Resisting evil
“Don’t resist an evil person…” (Matt 5:39)
Jesus’ challenging teaching about forsaking personal vengeance and entrusting vengeance to God can raise all kinds of critically important and difficult questions for us. This video will seek to make clear where Jesus’ words sit with respect to relational abuse and manipulation. While we are to forsake taking personal vengeance (in the form of slander, manipulation, or intimidation) this does not rule out entrusting ourselves to the just judgement and protection of those governing authorities God has given us.
VENGEANCE, JUSTICE, And forgiveness
Below is a talk by Rev. Andrew Errington delivered at Moore College reflecting upon Matthew 5:38-48 and the topic of Vengeance. Andrew’s talk fits very well within how we are framing our talk series on the Sermon on the Mount at Summer Hill Church. Andrew also is joined by his wife Lauren who works in Bowen Systems Family counselling.
ON The Lord’s PRAYER
David Hohne (a theology lecturer at Moore Theological College) in eight podcasted conversations about the significance of the Lord’s Prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer lies at the heart of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
FURTHER READING: ON THE LORD’S PRAYER
For those who’d like to specifically explore The Lord’s Prayer further, here are two further resources I’d recommend:
“YOURS IS THE KINGDOM: a systematic theology of the Lord’s Prayer”, by Gerald Bray. This book started out as a lecture series at Moore College, morphed into a series of bible talks for churches, and then ended up in a book!
“THE MESSAGE OF PRAYER” by Tim Chester. This book is a study of prayer throughout the bible. It has a handy chapter on the Lord’s Prayer.
PRAYING TO GOD AS “FATHER”?
In the Lord’s prayer we address God as “Our Father”. But our respective earthly experiences of Fatherhood often differ greatly. Is Jesus’ call to address God as “Our Father” insensitive or a salve?
Below is a link to a helpful article Lauren Mahaffey (Assistant Minister at Summer Hill) wrote on the comfort of addressing God as Father, despite our mixed experiences.
Books on Prayer
There are more books on prayer than anyone could ever hope to read! The three below are the most helpful Steve has read for a few varied reasons! (reviews to come)
Prayer, by Ole Hallesby
This is my all-round favourite book on prayer. Confession - I find reading books on prayer usually either too dry or too narrowlyreflective of the author’s personal experience. This book both stired my heart for prayer AND provoked my thinking on prayer at the same time.
Prayer & the Voice of God, by Phillip Jensen and Tony Payne
This book is now also out in a second edition. It is the clearest statement I’ve read of what prayer actually IS, and what the scriptures say we can expect from prayer. It is the best starting point.
Prayer, by Timothy Keller
This is book not as *mystical* as the sub-title might sound. It has some really wonderful chapters on what protestant theologians such as Calvin and Cranmer have taught us about prayer, along with thoughts on how to apply their insights for ourselves today.
HOW TO WORRY WELL
a mid-week seminar
[details to come]
SYDNEY DOCTRINE COMMISSION REPORTS
The Diocese of Sydney has a Doctrine Commission that from time to time is asked to write reports that might provide theological and scriptural guidance in caring for members of our churches. These reports do not set out an “official” Anglican teaching as such but are rather carefully considered explorations of complex issues. If you’d like a staff member to explore them together with you or help you navigate them, please feel free to let us know.
RELATED TEACHING:
Below are some teaching recordings from other sermon series at Summer Hill Church. The linked recordings relate to key issues that arise in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
SERMONS ON FORGIVENESS & RECONCILIATION
Sermons preached at Summer Hill Church on forgiveness and reconciliation that draw from Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.
SERMONS ON MARRIAGE, SEPARATION, and DIVORCE
Sermons preached at Summer Hill Church on the topics of marriage, separation, and divorce.
1) 1 Corinthians 7:1-8
2) 1 Corinthians 7:10-24
3) JESUS’ TEACHING ON the certificate of DIVORCE
A Sermon preached as part of this sermon series focussing upon Jesus’ challenge to the Pharisees and Disciples on the issue of divorce & oath making - from Matthew 5 & 19.
Below is a text-link to another sermon on the same discussion in Mark 10:1-12.
4) vulnerable and fearless Christian wives
A sermon preached at St Andrew’s Cathedral on 1 Peter 3:1-7. The sermon reflects on what it means for the vulnerable (particularly wives of unbelievers) to not give way to fear