Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

This morning then, we come to a critical juncture in Matthew's Gospel, where he gives special attention to a sermon that our Lord had preached, somewhere on a mountain in Galilee, where multitudes from all over the land of Israel had gathered to hear Him speak, as He addressed His twelve Apostles. The next three Chapters contain a detailed account of much of our Lord's sermon, spoken on this mount. And as we work through the whole of this sermon, we will find that it contains quite a thorough and in-depth look at the quality of heart, that makes up the citizenship of God's "Kingdom of Heaven." To this end, we are inevitably forced to discover the answer to those most important questions, "What does a Christian truly look like? What does true faith in Christ ultimately bring about in the life of a redeemed sinner? What work does the
Holy Sprit accomplish in the lives of those whom He indwells (those who have been born again)? What is the difference between Pharisaical Judaism (or any other religion for that matter) and authentic Christianity? What is the difference between a non-Christian and a Christian?" As we answer such questions through the grid of this sermon, and we examine ourselves in the light of this grid, Matthew's hope is that his audience will be led to flee to the only means of entering and becoming part of this Kingdom.