Sermon Tone Analysis

The Content of the Sermon on the Mount

The Christian life is the center focus of Jesus sermon on the mount.

The citizens of the kingdom of God are called to put God first in their motives, and their actions, in their business and their language, in their though life and their priorities.

All life comes under his royal control.

There are seven main sections to Jesus sermon and today we are going to look at section number five where Jesus examines our mis-placed worldly priorities in life.

Instead, he demands unswerving loyalty to kingdom values and uncompromised trust.

Randy Alcorn reckons that “15 percent of everything Christ said relates to this topic—more than his teachings on heaven and hell combined” (The Treasure Principle, Multnomah, 2001, p. 8).

“One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21).

“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven … Woe to you rich, for you have received your consolation” (Luke 6:20).

“Whoever does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:25).

“A person’s life does not consist in the possessions that he has” (Luke 12:15).

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

“Sell your possessions and give alms; provide yourselves with purses in heaven” (Luke 12:33).

“Zacchaeus … said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.…’

And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:8–9)

.“The

kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up.

Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).

Jesus “saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them” (Luke 21:1).

“But God said to [the man who built even bigger barns], ‘Fool!

This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20–21).

“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head … Follow me” (Luke 9:58).

3 Imperatives or Commands

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.” - specifically what seeking the kingdom of God looks like.

“Do not be Anxious.”

(found 3 times in the text) - this is the condition of the heart which we break free of earthly treasures and passions and give ourselves with passion to heaven-treasure.

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” - This is a large overarching command to be passionate about experiencing the saving, purifying, empowering, love-producing, reign of God in your life over the world.

Big Idea: “When you embrace the Dust you learn to Trust.”

When we remember that God made us from the dust of the earth and breathed life into the nostrils of man it reminds us of the only one we should trust with our lives and our future.

Like Job said, “Naked I have come from my mothers womb and naked I will return to the dust.”

1. Unswerving loyalty of Kingdom priorities

v. 19-24

*The do not store up treasures Principle

(3 metaphors used)

Treasure -

Light

Slavery

*The Treasure in Heaven comes through obedience

Kingdom treasures come when we put obedience to God in all areas of our life; kingdom treasures are the reward of the disciple who puts God first.

Note: your treasure is that thing that you prize the most.

Ask Yourself:

“What do you desire, seek, aim for, pursue, and hope for?”

The answer to this question will show the true state of your heart and treasure on earth or heaven.

If you desire, seek, aim for, pursue, and hope for the things that this world has to offer then your treasure is here on this earth.

However, if you desire, seek, aim for, pursue to please God in all you do, then your treasure is most likely stored up in heaven.

You cannot choose both, you either love and pursue God first and best, or you love and pursue this world.

*The Treasure on Earth comes through compromise

Treasures on earth are given up to moths, rust and decay.

It is not so much the disciples wealth that Jesus is concerned with, most of them have already given up all earthly possessions to follow him.

Jesus is more concerned with an unswerving loyalty to Him alone.

The danger of amassing possessions is that the treasure will demand the disciple’s loyalty, that material affluence will breed materialism.

This leads to a life of compromise, where Jesus is not the focus of your life.

Jesus is not longer the waking and sleeping priority of your life.

*The Healthy light brings illumination

When the eye is functioning properly the light it perceives means illuminating benefits to the whole body.

Remember that Satan is called an angel of light.

There is only one true light of the world and that is the only light that can give us proper sight.

The problem comes when many of us are looking to other illuminations that are not from God.

Cultural Problem: Many of us are looking to the wrong light to illuminate us.

The angel of light that conceals the truth and blinds the spiritual eyes of this generation.

What does it mean that Satan masquerades as an Angel of light?

Darkness and light are metaphors for evil and good.

Therefore, Satan capitalizes on our love of the light in order to deceive.

He wants us to think that he is good, truthful, loving, and powerful - all the things that God is.

To appear as a dark devil like figure with horns would not be very appealing.

Satan appears as a being of light to draw us to himself cloaked in lies and deception.

How can we discern which is light of God and which is light of Satan?

Our minds and hearts are easily deceived.

Psalm 119 tells us that you word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path verse 105 tells us that your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

There is is incredible power in Jesus words.

Just as God’s words spoke physical light into existence.

Constant exposure to His voice in His word - will help us recognize the difference between the good light of God and that which is counterfeit.

The light that is in you is greater than the Angel of light that is in the world.

You are the light of the world a city set on a hill.

Kingdom people are meant to be a beacon to the world.

God did not save you to remain hidden in this world.

Jesus is the light that illuminates our lives.

As long as we live on this earth we are meant to have influence on the people around us. Paul taught in Ephesians 5:8 that you were once children of darkness destined for the wrath of God, but now you are children of the light.

The Christian life is meant to have a visible impact in the world where we live.

When we chase after the riches of this world and store up things in the closet of our lives that are destined for destruction we miss the greatest joy the world has ever known.

CULTURAL CONNECTION: We live in a Christian culture today that has attempted to separate our spiritual life from our public and private life.

We are prone to leave our spiritual self at the door of the Church when we leave on Sunday.

The problem with this way of living is that it is impossible to be a Sunday Christian.

Those who are truly his have the indwelling of the spirit of God.

This spirit compels us to do no other than to testify to the gospel of Christ.

If you do not have a compelling spirit within you to do this then the scripture would say that you are lost, still walking in darkness.

*The Service of God must be wholehearted

Your service of God must be a wholehearted service.

It is impossible to give your first allegiance to God and the things of this world.

No one can belong completely to two masters.

To be a slave meant to belong completely to another, but in this case the slave belonged to neither.

DO NOT BE DOUBLE MINDED

A double minded person is unstable in his way of thinking, wavering in both his character and feelings.

A double minded person is wrestles and confused in his thoughts, his actions, and his behavior.

Such a person continually lives in conflict with themselves.

One that is caught in such an inner turmoil can never truly live with confidence on God and His promises.

Those who are double minded do not have the faith that the writer of Hebrews writes about in chapter 11 of Hebrews.