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THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Matthew 5 – 7 Study X. Study X A Christian’s Motivation: not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34). Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves:. A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34).
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THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Matthew 5 – 7 Study X
Study X A Christian’s Motivation: not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves:
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves: First half: Private life in the “secret place.” • Giving. • Praying. • Fasting.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves: First half: Private life in the “secret place.” • Giving. • Praying. Christians are to be different from • Fasting. the hypocrisy of the religious.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves: First half: Private life in the “secret place.” • Giving. • Praying. Christians are to be different from • Fasting. the hypocrisy of the religious. Second half: Public business in the world. • Money. • Possessions. • Food • Drink • Clothing • Ambition
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) Matthew Chapter 6 is divided into two halves: First half: Private life in the “secret place.” • Giving. • Praying. Christians are to be different from • Fasting. the hypocrisy of the religious. Second half: Public business in the world. • Money. • Possessions. Christians are to be different from • Food the materialism of the irreligious. • Drink • Clothing • Ambition
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities. • Secular activities must be based on religious principles.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities. • Secular activities must be based on religious principles. • Jesus continues to offer his disciples choices.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities. • Secular activities must be based on religious principles. • Jesus continues to offer his disciples choices. • These choices distinguish kingdom citizens from citizens of the world.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) The disciples had religious and secular responsibilities. • Secular activities must be based on religious principles. • Jesus continues to offer his disciples choices. • These choices distinguish kingdom citizens from citizens of the world. 1. Two treasures (on earth and in heaven, 19-21). 2. Two bodily conditions (light and darkness, 22-23). 3. Two masters (God and mammon, 24). 4. Two preoccupations (our bodies & God’s kingdom, 25-34).
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21)
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) What is the comparative durability of the two treasures?
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) What is the comparative durability of the two treasures? What does Jesus prohibit? • Possessions? • Saving for a rainy day? • All of the pleasures of life?
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) Jesus prohibits selfish accumulation of earthly treasure.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) Jesus prohibits selfish accumulation of earthly treasure. • Because of the danger of envy, greed, & covetousness.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) Jesus prohibits selfish accumulation of earthly treasure. • Because of the danger of envy, greed, & covetousness. • Because earthly treasure is not durable.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) I. A question of treasure: What makes us truly rich? (19-21) Jesus prohibits selfish accumulation of earthly treasure. • Because of the danger of envy, greed, & covetousness. • Because earthly treasure is not durable. • It can rust, rot, or spoil. • It can be stolen. • It distracts from the pursuit of true happiness. • We can’t take it with us.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) II. A question of vision: How is our eyesight? (22-23)
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) II. A question of vision: How is our eyesight? (22-23) • Jesus speaks of two conditions: blind and sighted.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) II. A question of vision: How is our eyesight? (22-23) • Jesus speaks of two conditions: blind and sighted. • The obvious contrast is between spiritual darkness and light.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23)
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise. • God on Sunday and mammon on weekdays.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise. • God on Sunday and mammon on weekdays. • God with our lips and mammon with our hearts.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise. • God on Sunday and mammon on weekdays. • God with our lips and mammon with our hearts. • God in appearance and mammon in reality.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. The world says otherwise. • God on Sunday and mammon on weekdays. • God with our lips and mammon with our hearts. • God in appearance and mammon in reality. • God with half our being and mammon with the other half.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) “Can” and “cannot” excludes compromise.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) “Can” and “cannot” excludes compromise. Jesus wants to teach a lesson on comparative value:
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) III. A question of allegiance: Which master will we serve? (22-23) “Can” and “cannot” excludes compromise. Jesus wants to teach a lesson on comparative value: • The intrinsic worth of serving God. • The intrinsic worthlessness of serving mammon.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…”
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…” The disciples are to think about what Jesus has been saying. • He calls them to thought before calling them to action. • Then He tells them how to behave.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…” Jesus is describing two types of ambition:
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…” Jesus is describing two types of ambition: • The stressful striving for self-satisfaction and self-reliance (that’s what pagans do).
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) “Therefore I tell you…” Jesus is describing two types of ambition: • The stressful striving for self-satisfaction and self-reliance (that’s what pagans do). 2. The calm reliance on God (that’s what kingdom citizens do).
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 1. Worry is incompatible with Christian faith.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 1. Worry is incompatible with Christian faith. 2. But reliance on God is not a free ticket.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 1. Worry is incompatible with Christian faith. 2. But reliance on God is not a free ticket. a. Believers are not exempt from earning a living. b. Believers are not exempt from responsibility for others. c. Believers are not exempt from experiencing trouble.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 3. Worry is incompatible with common sense.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) A. False or secular ambition brings worry. 3. Worry is incompatible with common sense. a. Many worries do not materialize. b. Worry about tomorrow robs us of joy today.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) B. True Christian ambition: God’s rule and righteousness.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) B. True Christian ambition: God’s rule and righteousness. 1. Seeking first God’s kingdom.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) B. True Christian ambition: God’s rule and righteousness. 1. Seeking first God’s kingdom. 2. Seeking first God’s righteousness.
A Christian’s Motivation: Not material security but God’s rule (6:19-34) IV. A question of ambition: What is worth striving for? (25-34) B. True Christian ambition: God’s rule and righteousness. 1. Seeking first God’s kingdom. 2. Seeking first God’s righteousness. Result: “All these things will be given to you.”