Welcome to Timeless Truth with Pastor Jim Thomas. This season, Pastor Jim is leading us in a study of The Sermon on the Mount.
The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew, chapters 5-7.
As Prof. Jonathan T. Pennington points out, these six illustrations are stated in three parts:
- The Old Testament Law/rabinnical tradition
- Jesus’ interpretation of the intent of God’s laws
- Jesus’ practical application
“The real contrast in the section is between the meaning of the law according to Jesus and the meaning of the law according to religious tradition and the ancient teachers.”
Sinclair Ferguson, The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World
Jesus focuses on an inner disposition of heart that will lead to greater righteousness…
- Example #1 – Avoid anger, pursue reconciliation v21-26
- Example #2 – Avoid lust, pursue sexual purity v27-30
Our world overflows with sources of temptation. They are creatively crafted to manipulate, influence, shift and shape our values and conclusions. The greatest temptations of all are the ones that we are not aware of because we have come to believe they do not exist or cannot possibly affect us.
We need to spend less time being shaped and influenced by the screens on our devices and more time being shaped by the Word of God and in prayer.
“If this biblical story is not the one that really controls our thinking then inevitably we shall be swept into the story that the world tells about itself. We shall become increasingly indistinguishable from the pagan world of which we are a part.”
Leslie Newbigin
