Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

1. The Sermon on the Mount: A Blueprint for Transformed Living

The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His way with us.

Not just ideals. The Sermon on the Mount isn't a set of unattainable ideals, but a practical description of the life that emerges when the Holy Spirit guides a believer. It's a roadmap for how a life looks when it's fully surrendered to God's will, not a checklist of impossible tasks. It's about transformation, not mere aspiration.

Transformation, not imitation. The teachings within the Sermon are not meant to be imitated through sheer willpower, but lived out as a natural consequence of a changed heart. This transformation comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who empowers believers to live according to His principles. It's about becoming, not just doing.

Despair as a starting point. The Sermon on the Mount often leads to despair in the natural man, which is precisely its intention. This despair is not a dead end, but a crucial starting point, driving individuals to recognize their spiritual poverty and seek Christ as their only hope. It's in this state of humility that true transformation begins.

2. Purity: Beyond Actions to the Depths of Disposition

Purity is not a question of doing things rightly, but of the doer on the inside being right.

Inner transformation. True purity extends beyond outward actions to the inner disposition of the heart. It's not merely about adhering to rules, but about having a heart that reflects the character of Jesus Christ. This kind of purity is not innate but cultivated through conflict and surrender.

Purity vs. Innocence. Purity is distinct from innocence, which is characteristic of a child. While innocence is beautiful, true purity is the outcome of overcoming evil, of being tested and tried. It's a state achieved through spiritual warfare, not a naive absence of knowledge.

God's standard. Jesus Christ demands a purity that is explicit and implicit, where both conduct and the underlying motives are beyond reproach in God's sight. This requires a new heredity, the unsullied nature of the Holy Spirit, which works out in practical, observable ways. It's about God's perspective, not just human standards.

3. Reality vs. Sincerity: The Heart's True Temper

The test Jesus gives is not the truth of our manner but the temper of our mind.

Beyond outward actions. Sincerity, while valuable, is not enough. True reality requires aligning the temper of our mind with the truth. Many are truthful in manner but harbor rottenness in their hearts. Jesus seeks to alter the very temper of our minds.

Reconciliation as a test. Jesus emphasizes reconciliation, urging believers to address grievances before worship. This isn't about rights, but about obedience. The willingness to yield one's rights is a sign of a transformed temper, a heart that prioritizes reconciliation over self-assertion.

The Holy Spirit's role. The Holy Spirit makes us sensitive to things we never thought of before. Never object to the intense sensitiveness of the Holy Spirit in you when He is educating you down to the scruple; and never discard a conviction. If it is important enough for the Holy Spirit to have brought it to your mind, that is the thing He is detecting.

4. Love Your Enemies: The Radical Nature of Divine Love

I say unto you, Love your enemies’—an easy thing to do when you have no enemies; an impossible thing when you have.

Beyond natural affection. Divine love transcends natural affinities and extends even to enemies. This love is not merely an emotion, but a deliberate act of will, reflecting God's own love for humanity. It's about acting in God's interests, even towards those who oppose us.

The impossible standard. Loving enemies, blessing those who curse, and doing good to those who hate seems impossible to the natural man. This impossibility is intentional, driving believers to seek God's transforming power to live out this radical command. It's about divine enablement, not human effort.

Specific commands. Jesus gives specific commands: love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you. Each command is impossible to the natural man. When a man does love his enemies, he knows that God has done a tremendous work in him, and every one else knows it too.

5. Religion: A Matter of the Heart, Not Outward Show

The main idea in the region of religion is, Your eyes on God, not on men.

Inward focus. True religion is not about outward displays of piety, but about an inward relationship with God. Philanthropy, prayer, and penance should be motivated by a desire to please God, not to impress others. It's about God's approval, not human applause.

Secret devotion. Jesus emphasizes secret prayer, entering into a closet and shutting the door to pray to the Father in secret. This cultivates a personal, intimate relationship with God, free from the distractions and temptations of public performance. It's about genuine connection, not religious performance.

Penance with humility. Penance, or self-discipline, is necessary for spiritual growth, but it should be practiced in secret, without seeking attention or pity. This ensures that the focus remains on God, not on self-righteousness or martyrdom. It's about inner transformation, not outward display.

6. The Mind: A Battleground for Truth

Unless we learn to think in obedience to the Holy Spirit’s teaching, we will drift in our spiritual experience without any thinking at all.

Renewing the mind. The New Testament emphasizes the importance of stirring up our minds and learning to think in obedience to the Holy Spirit. This requires a conscious effort to align our thoughts with God's truth, rather than drifting aimlessly. It's about intentionality, not passivity.

Treasure in heaven. The Holy Spirit teaches us to fasten our thinking upon God; then when we come to deal with property and money and everything to do with the matters of earth, He reminds us that our real treasure is in heaven. Every effort to persuade myself that my treasure is in heaven is a sure sign that it is not.

Single-minded devotion. A single eye, or a conscience put right by the Holy Spirit, is essential for correct understanding. This requires prioritizing our relationship with God above all else, allowing His light to guide our actions and decisions. It's about focus, not division.

7. Faith: Trusting God Beyond Common Sense

By the reasonings of faith is meant the practical out-working in our life of implicit, determined confidence in God.

Beyond logic. Faith is not based on common sense or logical reasoning, but on personal confidence in a God whose character we know, even when His ways are untraceable. This requires trusting God's love, justice, and truth, even when circumstances seem to contradict them. It's about trust, not understanding.

Obedience as discernment. The golden rule for understanding spiritual matters is not intellect, but obedience. Discernment comes through doing God's will, not through intellectual curiosity. If things are dark spiritually, it's because of disobedience, not ignorance. It's about action, not just knowledge.

Careful carelessness. Jesus teaches a "careful carelessness," prioritizing our relationship with God above all else. This means being studiously careful about our connection with God, while being relatively careless about self-interest, food, and clothing. It's about priorities, not neglect.

8. Character: The Fruit of a Transformed Life

Character is that which steadily prevails, not something that occasionally manifests itself.

Steady trend. Character is not defined by occasional acts, but by the steady trend of one's life. It's what consistently prevails, not what sporadically manifests. This requires persistent effort and dedication to living out one's faith. It's about consistency, not just moments.

Uncritical temper. A critical temper is detrimental to spiritual growth, paralyzing moral energy and hindering spiritual force. The Holy Spirit alone can criticize human beings, revealing what is wrong without wounding or hurting. It's about grace, not judgment.

Humility and holiness. Humility and holiness always go together. The realization that every good thing we have is a gift from God cultivates humility and prevents harshness towards others. It's about gratitude, not entitlement.

9. Discipleship: A Call to the Narrow Way

There is a difference between salvation and discipleship.

Beyond salvation. While salvation is a gift of God's grace, discipleship is a personal dedication of life to Jesus Christ. It's a call to a narrow way, a life of discipline and commitment, not a broad path of self-realization. It's about dedication, not just acceptance.

Difficult but noble. The life of a disciple is not a dream, but a difficult and noble calling that requires the use of all our powers. It's about embracing the challenge, not seeking ease. It requires spiritual grit and a willingness to persevere.

Stout heart. To keep a stout heart to the difficult braes of life, watch continually against worry coming in. "Let not your heart be troubled," is a command, and it means that worrying is sinful. It is not the devil who switches folk off Christ’s way, but the ordinary steep difficulties of daily life.

10. Testing Teachers: Fruit as the Ultimate Arbiter

There are two tests—one is the fruit in the life of the preacher, and the other is the fruit of the doctrine.

Beyond words. Jesus tells His disciples to test preachers and teachers by their fruit. The fruit of a man’s own life may be perfectly beautiful, and at the same time he may be teaching a doctrine which, if logically worked out, would produce the devil’s fruit in other lives.

Life and doctrine. A teacher's life and doctrine must both bear good fruit. A beautiful life can be deceptive if the doctrine leads to negative outcomes, and vice versa. It's about holistic assessment, not just partial observation.

Beware of pretense. It is appallingly easy to pretend. If once our eyes are off Jesus Christ, pious pretence is sure to follow. 1 John i, 7 is the essential condition of the life of the saint, ‘If we walk in the light as God is in the light,’ 1.e., with nothing folded up, nothing to hide.

Last updated: February 7, 2025