C A R L B. G A R N E R

THE GREATEST SERMON

When Jesus sat down to teach on a mountain in Galilee, His disciples and a multitude of followers were privileged to hear the great "Sermon on the Mount," recorded in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. Called "The Magna Carta of The Kingdom" by one, or the "Manifesto of The King," by others, it contains a blueprint for the Kingdom of God that was to come. It is said that the comprehension of a body of information must begin with the proper arrangement of that material. The following outline may assist us all in our study of that great proclamation of truth.

ATTAINING GENUINE HAPPINESS
In Matthew 5:1-12, we find Jesus' formula for the attainment of life's ideal: peace and contentment. But the ingredients in this "recipe" are not at all like that of the world's. It includes humility, meekness, grief, mercy, purity and persecution. These ingredients may not sound tasty to us, but blended together properly, they lead to what Jesus described as an "abundant" life, John 10:10. Why not try Jesus' recipe for life?

CHRISTIANS NOT BENIGN CREATURES
Jesus speaks of His disciples as having the qualities of the most permeating elements of His day; Salt and Light. In doing so, He makes it clear that if one is to be His disciple, he/she must have an impact on the world in which they live. Salt creates thirst and brings out flavor in various foods. It prevents decay and can thaw the coldest of hearts. Light is powerful in that it can guide men through difficult straits. It can warn of danger and dispel darkness. The darkness of this world demands we be"sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world," Philippians 2:15.

JESUS AND THE LAW OF MOSES
Every Jew who heard Jesus preach was interested in His view of the Law of Moses. He put them at ease by saying that He did not come to destroy the Law, but "to fulfill" it, 5:17. He then proceeded to modify, explain, contrast, narrow and broaden that Law, proving He had authority to do so. We are not under that Law of Moses, but Jesus fulfilled that law, making possible the full remission of our sins, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:24, and 1 John 2:2. Included in this section is instruction concerning marriage and divorce, personal purity, dealing with our enemies, and the use of false oaths.

JESUS DISCUSSES WORSHIP
From man's beginning, worship to God has been desired and required. But man's worship is subject to our corruption and dishonor. In time past God had rebuked Israel for this very thing, Amos 5:21, Isaiah 1:14. In Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus states that our worship must be from the heart, not to impress others. When we give or pray or fast, it must be to honor God and edify one another. In this context Jesus shows the possibility of being condemned for doing the right thing in the wrong way or with the wrong motive.

ATTITUDE TOWARD POSSESSIONS
It is said that Jesus spoke more on the subject of materialism than any other. Man has not changed much, for we have the same problem today. Matthew 6:19-34 centers around "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." He forces us to face the question: Where Is My Treasure? When we find it, our heart will not be far away.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Chapter 7 is an application of great truths introduced in chapters 5 and 6.
7:1-5: Be careful not to judge others more harshly than you would judge yourself. Clean up your own back yard before you criticize your neighbor's. Instead, why not "judge righteous judgment," John 7:24. Take the beam from your own eye, then you can better help a friend with a speck in his eye.
7:7-11: God's goodness provides us with our needs if we will but ask, seek and knock. His attitude is like a loving father who freely gives to his child those things most needed.
7:12: The Golden Rule is found in this context. Consider the treatment you would want yourself when you are deciding how to treat others, for "this is the law and the prophets."
7:13-14: Ultimately, there are but two roads to choose; the strait and the narrow, which leads to eternal life; or the broad and easy way that leads to eternal destruction. You must choose.
7:7-19: Jesus warns of the danger of false prophets. Even then it was common to find those who "wrest" the scriptures "to their own destruction." He said we would recognize them "by their fruit."
7:21-27: We find the answer to the question: Who is going to heaven? Jesus says it will not be the talkers, but the doers. Some will even be sure of their entrance to heaven, only to hear the words, "I never knew you." Jesus described those who will occupy the glories of heaven as being those who obey "the will of my Father which is in heaven."
7:28-29: Jesus spoke as one "having authority," and this was a shock to some. But we know that He has been given "All authority.... in heaven and on earth," Matthew 28:18. When Jesus uttered the words found in this great sermon, He had the authority to say them, and we are obligated to respect and obey Him!

Jesus likened those who listen and obey to a wise man, who built his house upon a rock. No one is truly wise who ignores and rebels against the will of God. Here we have access to The Greatest Sermon; preached by the Greatest Preacher emanating from the Greatest Story Ever Told!