Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

We live in a culture that is saturated with treasures.

We can have cars with no money down and no interest for 5 years.

We have Pinterest and Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Each showing us carefully scripted fragments of unreality, that often create within us a sense of envy, jealousy, and general overall dissatisfaction.

Treasures as far as the eye can see, fantasies that develop surreal visions of people, like us, with these treasures living the good life!

Somewhere in the midst of all this is God’s covenant community.

You remember...those who have been redeemed from the prison house of sin, who will not be condemned for their rebellion against God, having peace with God; who have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, unfading, and kept in heaven for them!

Is it possible that they/we could be so dissatisfied with being part of God’s kingdom, a son of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ, that we also long for the same treasures the world pursues?

In his Sermon on the Mount, in , Jesus lays out for us what the Kingdom of God looks like, and how the people of that Kingdom should live.

So this morning, I propose to you this Main Idea which I believe sums up Jesus words in .

Main Idea

Since God's covenant people have been given a rich and glorious inheritance, we must treasure that inheritance above all else on this earth.

Read The Text (), page 811 in pew bibles

Background

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus lays out for us what it means to be a part of the Kingdom of God.

Chapter 5 focuses on what characteristics a Kingdom dweller, poor in spirit, meek, peacemaker and the like.

Chapter 6 shows where their motivation comes from, which we will look at shortly, and chapter 7 describes their purpose, to bear fruit.

1.

The Wrong Treasure

ma

a. Treasure of the earth

Command: Do Not Lay up (pres, act, imp) - lay up in store, preserve, pickle

lay up in store, preserve, pickle

Don’t treasure your earthly treasures

This word does not mean daily needs, but hoarding for the future

This word does not mean daily needs, but hoarding for the future

This word includes earthly rewards (6:2, 5, 16)

•This word includes early rewards (6:2, 5, 16)

b.

Treasure under the curse

Reason: because moth, rust, and robbers destroy it

These robbers of our earthly treasures are a result of sin

The earth was cursed by God because this sin

ku

2. The Right Treasure

a. Treasure of Heaven

but: In contrast to that, do this instead

Command: lay up (pres, act, imp), treasures in heaven

This word includes heavenly rewards (6:4, 6, 18)

b.

Treasure that is untouchable

Reason: can’t be touched by the curse!

3. The Heart-Treasure Link

matt 6:

a.

An inseparable bond

Where…there: where one is, there in that same place is the other

Where our treasure is, there in that very same place is our heart.

Also, where are heart is, there in that very same place is our treasure.

To say it again, our hearts and our treasures occupy the same space!

b.

A scale of Spiritual commitment

4. The Eye-Treasure Link

Matt 6:22-23

a.

The healthy eye is flooded by God’s light

The eye (similar to the “heart” in Jewish literature) is a lamp that reveals the quality of a person’s inner life.

A healthy eye (clear vision) suggests loyal devotion to God, while a bad eye (impaired vision) connotes moral corruption.

Light has always denoted the presence of God, while darkness, the presence of evil.

Those with a “healthy” eye are those who have been regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit

b.

The unhealthy eye is blinded by the world’s darkness

The eye (similar to the “heart” in Jewish literature) is a lamp that reveals the quality of a person’s inner life.

A healthy eye (clear vision) suggests loyal devotion to God, while a bad eye (impaired vision) connotes moral corruption.

[Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1833.]

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1833.

5.

The Slave-Treasure Link

Matt 6:

a.

What we treasure enslaves us

To Serve (Gk.

douleuō): to act as a bondslave (; )

indicates the work of a slave, not an employee.

Since a slave is the sole property of one master, he must give the master exclusive service.

A disciple’s loyalties cannot be divided—that is, one is either a slave to God or to money.

[Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1833.]

indicates the work of a slave, not an employee.

Since a slave is the sole property of one master, he must give the master exclusive service.

A disciple’s loyalties cannot be divided—that is, one is either a slave to God or to money.

indicates the work of a slave, not an employee.

Since a slave is the sole property of one master, he must give the master exclusive service.

A disciple’s loyalties cannot be divided—that is, one is either a slave to God or to money.

(Gk.

douleuō): to act as a bond slave (; )

b.

What enslaves us, does so completely

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1833.

the work of a slave, not an employee.

Since a slave is the sole property of one master, he must give the master exclusive service.

A disciple’s loyalties cannot be divided—that is, one is either a slave to God or to money

With the level of devotion to his master, it is impossible for a bondslave to be devoted to more then one.

So What?

indicates the work of a slave, not an employee.

Since a slave is the sole property of one master, he must give the master exclusive service.

A disciple’s loyalties cannot be divided—that is, one is either a slave to God or to money.

indicates the work of a slave, not an employee.

Since a slave is the sole property of one master, he must give the master exclusive service

Where is our treasure?

For there you will find your heart.

Where do you find your self worth?