As we have walked through the Sermon on the Mount we have seen this major arching theme throughout — Jesus describing what a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven should and will look like. Jesus started with what we call the Beatitudes — that hard word makarios to translate — some have tried the word blessed, or happy — But we looked that word with a larger scope of this Kingdom of Heaven theme. Yes, it will be a blessing to be in the Kingdom, yes we will be happy to be in the Kingdom, but that is the only place where we could truly flourish as God had intended for humanity in the Garden.

Jesus wants to show us what flourishing on this earth looks like that leads to ultimate and perfect flourishing in Heaven. Throughout Jesus’s teaching we have seen the exacting and difficult standard that Jesus puts forth — It’s all about heart transformation for the Kingdom Citizen— not just outward actions.

And now Jesus concludes with one more image in a parable of sorts about the importance of heeding this hard teaching. And Matthew records the crowd’s reaction to this teaching. Let us remember that this whole time there have been two groups in the audience of Jesus — The Disciples — His followers  & the Crowds.

And now Jesus concludes with this implied question:

How will you respond to this teaching?

All the people hearing these words have to respond — the nature of Jesus’s teaching demands it. So we start there — looking for our own response.

[Prayer]

Now we dig into Jesus’s parable.

Read 7:24a & 7:26a

A Kingdom Citizen Heard Jesus’ Words and Takes Action

I know we normally don’t dice up scripture in this manner — but I want you to see the stark correlation of these words of Jesus.

First we find the word Everyone. That encompasses the entire group — the crowds and the disciples. But, the simple gloss for this greek word πας is translated each. Which I think gives us a little more introspective examination — it does individualize it. Remember we are looking for our response to this teaching. Each one will respond in one of two ways.

You can’t just go with the masses  — or follow the crowd — There is no prize for jumping on the bandwagon. No, there is an individual response that is needed. These actions of following the crowd or following the momentum of the day are outward actions, but as Jesus has shown us — Those outward actions can be deceptive and not properly reflect the true heart motivation. There can even be danger by those “following” the crowd.

Everyone must respond, but it is surely each one’s individual response that Jesus is after.

The next juncture we come to is the word hears. Jesus again is exacting and demanding a response — those gathered on that hillside— both groups— have now HEARD His words. You all — have heard these words. This is the qualifier — the hearing of these words.

This is at the heart of missions isn’t it? We want all people, every tribe, tongue, and nation to HEAR the Good News! We want all people to respond to THESE WORDS! Ultimately as followers of Jesus we want all of humanity to flourish, that is what we desire. That is why we continue to support global workers and ministries all over the world so that they might HEAR THESE WORDS.

And now— we have a unique opportunity that Samantha has presented to us — people from afar coming to our land — Coming from a land where HEARING THESE WORDS is nearly impossible — But are now in this land, THESE WORDS are far more accessible! It all starts with helping them flourish here on the cusp of winter, in a foreign land, with an unknown language to them, unknown customs and a complex economic system. What an opportunity to share as a Kingdom Citizen.

We have heard these words — we want others to hear these words — These words demand a response.

Next we come to words of mine. This word mine shows possession — we cast this off as normal — of course they are the words of Jesus — they are written in red…. But think about the way Jesus has reinterpreted the words of God. This is a major claim — His possession of these words again demand a response. How often did Jesus’s words cause those around them to respond with anger or exasperation — Matthew and the other Gospel writers record those incidents later in His life. These are not the words of another — these are His Words.

Lastly, in this first portion we have a contrast, does them or does not do them. This little Greek word comes up often throughout Jesus’s Sermon. Jesus is clear — action is involved in the heeding of His teaching. It cannot just be lip service. It cannot be casual observance. There is an action to be taken.

There is danger in just having the knowledge of these words — We will see shortly the results of action and inaction— Stott says this well:

“The real question is not whether they hear Christ’s teaching (nor even whether they respect or believe it), but whether they do what they hear.”[1]

Yes, hearing is needed — but not simply hearing — but doing what they have now heard. That is the response that is demanded. Which brings us to our first point.

Point 1:

A Kingdom Citizen responds to Jesus’ words with action.

It’s simple — A Kingdom Citizen DOES. Someone that is not a Kingdom Citizen does not. Remember there is not a hint of legalism or works based salvation here because Jesus has just painstakingly taught that it is all about the heart behind the action.

Let’s put this first point back together with the whole text.

A Kingdom Citizen’s Foundation

Read 7:24-27

We not come to the parable or metaphor that Jesus uses — this is a literary device that is identified by the words “is like”. So Jesus is comparing following His words and failure to follow His words to the foundations of houses.

Many of you who have grown up in church circles might remember the old children’s song about this parable. 

The wise man built his house upon the rock….

The rains came down and the floods came up…..

And the house on the rock stood firm….

It is clear what Jesus’s story is teaching us here — His Words — His way of life — that is our strong foundation. Disregard of His Words — whether by conscious decision or lazy inaction; it is like building on a weak foundation. The word picture is genius that Jesus uses, helping us really understand the erosion of our life’s foundation upon anything other than Jesus.

But, lets think deeper about this storm — There are many things that happen throughout this human experience that are storms within our life. Tragedies, disruptions, outright evil actions. When these storms come — that is the test of your foundation.

Is your foundation upon the God’s Word? His promises? His Savior? His Son. Jesus? His Character and promises do not change. They have stood the test of time, since the very beginning.

Or is your foundation upon something else? Financial security? Your Job? Your family? These are not bad things, but they cannot weather a terrible storm in life. They do not bring true comfort. They will not hold, on account of their own nature of changing with circumstance as well.

Church Father John Chrysostom comments:

“Now “rock” refers to the reliability of Jesus’ teaching. For his commands are stronger than any rock. They place one quite above all the human waves of life. For the one who guards these commands with care will excel not only over human beings when treated maliciously but even over the demons themselves in their plots.”[2]

I love that Jesus’ commands — His promises are well above the human waves of life. They are not subject to changing circumstance — one can almost see the rocky outcropping of the North Shore of Lake Superior as those structures are upon solid bed rock where the wind and the waves cannot even reach. It is clear that is what our foundation is to be. The Word of God.

Point 2:

A Kingdom Citizen’s life is founded upon God’s Word — Jesus.

We know this is the intention because the Apostle John makes clear:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.                   Jn 1:1–5

Jesus is God’s unchangeable WORD — ABIDE by HIS WORD! He is the narrow gate that we enter the Kingdom. He is the foundation that will not be tossed by the waves. This is good news isn’t it!

A Kingdom Citizen Recognizes Jesus’ Authority

We now move to our concluding remarks by Matthew about the Sermon on the Mount Scene.

Read 7:28-29

Look at the response that Matthew records: Astonishment — They are in awe — in wonder — probably some confusion — bewilderment.

Jesus just preached a Sermon that again were words of His own.

In that day rabbis and scribes didn’t teach on their authority but by other trusted scholars.  Remember He just reimagined the Law — the Words of God and has now claimed that His Words are on that same par. I love how this commentator put it:

“he claimed the right to legislate for the kingdom of God”[3]

This is God’s Kingdom that He is speaking of — And Jesus just taught what it means to abide by the laws of THAT land.

Now the response has been given — The crowds were amazed — but what comes next? What will their amazement be translated to? To action — building on the rock? Or inaction and just casual inaction and marveling at Jesus’s audacity? Because these words were audacious.

He says Truly I say to you — He imposes His Word with God’s Word. One can respond with amazement and yet lack action — they can hear and be amazed, but it is the one who puts His word into action that is responding rightly.

C.S. Lewis is often quoted about Jesus being either a liar, a lunatic, or is truly Lord:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”[4]

Jesus claims authority — so how do we respond to His claim? Is He lying? Is He some crazy teacher that we can shake our head at? Or do we respond by acknowledging is Lordship —

Point 3:

A Kingdom Citizen recognizes the authority of their King.

As we recognize that authority — we are moved to action in our abiding by His Words, founding our life on His authority and character.

This Sermon is quite a steep expectation, and I love how Stott sums up this teaching.

“In applying this teaching to ourselves, we need to consider that the Bible is a dangerous book to read, and that the church is a dangerous society to join. For in reading the Bible we hear the words of Christ, and in joining the church we say we believe in Christ. As a result, we belong to the company described by Jesus as both hearing his teaching and calling him Lord. Our membership therefore lays upon us the serious responsibility of ensuring that what we know and what we say is translated into what we do.”[5]

What we say should reflect what we do, and what we do should reflect the heart transformation within us. This is living and abiding by Jesus’s words.

So what do we do at the end of this great Sermon? How does it impact our life moving forward? I want to suggest that there is one main take-away as a Kingdom Citizen. As a professing follower of Christ it is this:

Take away – 1

We must submit wholly to Christ Jesus as our Lord and live our lives accordingly.

If we profess Him as Lord — We acknowledge His rightful authority over our life — rather than our own authority over our life. Everything else pales in comparison of following Him — the vanities and luxuries of this world.

These are not just lofty ways for the “Super Christians” to live, but for all that would be a citizen of Heaven. This is our way as Kingdom Citizens.

But, if you have not professed Jesus as your Lord — I plead with you— You have heard these WORDS! Act upon them. Confess that He is the only one that can be your Savior and trust that He lived, died, and rose for you. To pay the penalty of your sins — And then turn from all those other ways — and turn to HIS WORDS.

This is the narrow way — He is the Narrow Gate — enter the Kingdom through Him. Jesus exclusively is our King and the only way to to find a truly flourishing life. In God’s place, with God’s people, under God’s eternal rule.

[Prayer]

 

References:

1 John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 209.

2 Manlio Simonetti, ed., Matthew 1–13, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 157.

3 Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism (1923; Eerdmans, n.d.), p. 36.
John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985).

4 C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (HarperOne; New York, NY: 2015), 56

5 John R. W. Stott and John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Christian Counter-Culture, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 210.