Simple yet Difficult
The Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsWhile every person knows what is right and leads to life, the majority will still choose what is wrong and choose death.
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12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
We started the sermon on the Mount all the way back in October
We could have finished it sooner if I would have chosen a different pace for ourselves
But it could have easily been longer too because it is so packed with some of Jesus’ most well known teachings
This week we are going to begin the concluding section of the sermon on the mount
But to fly over it all… Because there are some parallel from the beginning that I want us to see here at the end
v 5:3-11 - Jesus teaches who the Citizen of God’s kingdom is… and it’s surprising to most of the listeners -
Because it’s not the righteous person who obeys all the laws of God that Jesus tells us is blessed
but rather it is those who are spiritually bankrupt of any righteousness
13-16 - Jesus further describes the kingdom Citizen that is distinct from the rest of the word. Salt and Light
The rest of ch 5 - Jesus taught that he wasn’t coming to change the law, rather he came to fulfill it
He gives six examples of what it would look like if we were to obey the law perfectly and be righteous according to the Law
Going into Ch 6 exposed different forms of false righteousness where we are unable to keep the law
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
No reward in heaven… means your not the kingdom Citizen from the beattitudes at the beginning of the sermon on the Mount
And then throughout the sermon he has taught us how the Kingdom citizen is to relate to God and the world
That God is Father… who who we can go to because he cares for us who are his children
And then our love for things for the things of the world are loosening…
That brings us to this week, where we begin the concluding section of the Sermon on the mount:
including this week, it’ll take us four weeks to get through
Four different sections - with one common theme: obey what you have heard…
The for tonights sermon is: Simple yet difficult
Claw machines - or any carnie game at the fair
Simple yet difficult
An itch right in the middle of your back
simple yet difficult
Or the popcorn kernel that gets stuck between your tooth
I share this, because I think it summarizes this passage of scripture so well
v 12 shows the simplicity of all that Jesus has taught us in the sermon on the mount … and for that matter all that God instructs in the OT
and then v 13-14 shows how difficult doing v 12 really is
Four different sections - with one common theme: obey what you have heard…
Two paths…
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Is a paraphrase from the OT
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Matt 7:12-14
Lev
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
If you ever wonder what the Law would require consider what you would desire.
If you ever wonder what the Law would require consider what you would desire.
We call this the golden rule… that’s not found anywhere in the Bible
All the Law and the Prophets are summarized in this one command!
(Now some might want to say, what about loving God?)
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Key phrase here is in v 39… the second is like it
that is to say it this way: if you are to love God, then it will be displayed in your love for your neighbor
This is why Jesus said to Peter in … Do you love me? Then feed my sheep
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Or
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This wasn’t only taught by Jesus, but even Paul
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Gal
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
So what does this mean?
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Well consider this… would you like it if someone murdered you?
well then the command to not murder is wrapped up in this one command
How about if your spouse was unfaithful to you?
so the command to not commit adultery is wrapped up in this one command
Whether it a law to care for the poor, or a law to not cheat or steel…
it can all be summed up in this one word…
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
or as it is in
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Love your neighbor as yourself
Others might contend, what about the sacrificial system to atone for sin?
There would be no need for sacrifice if there was no sin
This is why there was no sacrificial system before the fall of man
And after adam and eve sinned against God… they and their children began to sin against each other
There would be no need for sacrifice if we could keep the law
22 And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
This is what it means when Jesus says “this is the law and the prophets”
that everything written in the law and the prophets is fulfilled when we do to others what we would want them to do to us
So what does this mean when it says?
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Well consider this… would you like it if someone murdered you?
well then the command to not murder is wrapped up in this one command
How about if your spouse was unfaithful to you?
so the command to not commit adultery is wrapped up in this one command
One commentator said of the golden rule… that it is the only command, and the rest of the 600 + laws are simly a commentary
Or even take Jesus’ true interpretation of the Law from earlier in the sermon on the mount
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Or even take Jesus’ true interpretation of the Law from earlier in the sermon on the mount
Just take the first one
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Matt 5:21
When a boy in a Pharisee family turned two years old, they would take the scroll of the Law, the Torah, put honey on it, and have him lick it so that his earliest memory would be, “How sweet are Your Words to my taste. Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (). At four years old he would start memorizing the book of Leviticus. By twelve years old, he had memorized Genesis through Deuteronomy. As a teenager, he memorized the Prophets and the Psalms.
Now that sounds really difficult doesn’t it
But Jesus is saying, there is a simplicity to all the law and the prophets
A simplicity where one does not need to have mastered and memorized the first five books of the Bible (that is the TORAH or the Law) and then even all the writings of the prophets
it can all be summed up in this one command…
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
or as it is in
Love your neighbor as yourself
and notice, it’s not just love your neighbor
B/c that could be something that could be debated
one might be able to say…
that leaves room for us to what love is and what love is not
But when it says… as yourself
all of a sudden there is no room for debate
And furthermore, it’s a word that you don’t even need to be taught
why?
Because even children know how they want to be treated and loved
Knowing what the law requires is so simple… and even this, everyone knows what is required of them according to the law
English Standard Version Chapter 2
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Whether it a law to care for the poor, or a law to not cheat or steel…
One commentator said of the golden rule… that it is the only command, and the rest of the 600 + laws are simply a commentary
Romans 2
English Standard Version Chapter 2
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts
If you ever wonder what the Law would require consider what you would desire.
If you ever wonder what the Law would require consider what you would desire.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
And yet despite this simplicity… look where Jesus goes next.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
That is to say, the majority are those who will not obey even the simple instructions of Jesus
So simple that Jesus is saying, there are two Gates, take the narrow one not the wide one!
and even still the majority will take the wide gate
Regardless of how simple the Law is, most people will not obey it.
Regardless of how simple the Law is, most people will not obey it.
And this isn’t even new information that Jesus is teaching on…
This is actually how Moses closes the law in the Deuteronomy
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
But then listen to what he says in ch 31:27
27 For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death!
Deut
I can remember as a young kid getting in trouble with my mom for disobeying her…
and after she sat me down and talked to me about my disobedience she gave me specific instructions
32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
There is one thing I hate hate in my job is when I see people struggling with sin… that they know is wrong
There are a lot of things I love about my job…
but the one part of it that I hate is when people sin
Especially when that sin was so simple to avoid due to knowing that it is sin
Even now I watch a family back in Montana at my old church that is suffering from so much hurt…
because a dad chose to gratify his flesh… and cheated on his wife
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
and here’s the thing; we know it will bring death
Sin always leads to death…
it did when Adam and Eve ate the fruit… even though God told them the day they ate of it they would die
Moses said it in Deuteronomy…
setting life and death before all of Israel
and what did they do? they disobeyed
over and over and over again
Jesus is saying it here
And even now we are all hearing these words
And so now, do hear me… take the narrow way… and know this about it
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
The path to life is difficult and is found by the minority.
The path to life is difficult and is found by the minority.
The path to life is found by the minority.
Difficult…
this is not new news
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
The path to life is the path of difficulty.
The path to life is the path of difficulty.
The path to life is worth it.
The path to life is worth it.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
And in all these things listen to James
James 1:2-
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
and then
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
The path to life is difficult and is found by the minority.
The path to life is difficult and is found by the minority.
Let’s talk about this word for a moment
minority
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Again not new information
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Describes one that is unique compared to the rest
You won’t fit in with most of your peers
Jesus here is calling his kingdom citizens to be prepared for what is to come
But hear this:
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
But listen, in the end it will be worth it, because you will have life
Jn
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
While path to life is difficult and is found by the minority, it’s worth it… so if you lake holiness ask.... if you lack faith ask… if you wisdom ask… if you don’t have Jesus…
Listen, knowing the Law is not difficult
But obeying the law is…
And in order to obey…
which will be the theme for the next four weeks, we need what the Lord promises us in
19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.