OUTLINE OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

MATTHEW 5-7

I. Introduction (5:1-2)

II. Beatitudes (5:3-12)

A. Poor in spirit (5:3)

1. Spirit of humility

a. Humility before God

b. Humbling of self

c. Humility toward others

2. Sanction of heaven

B. Mourners (5:4)

1. Pain of sorrow

a. Sorrow of sin

(1) Own sin

(2) Others’ sin

b. Sorrow for suffering

2. Paraclete for sorrow

C. Meek (5:5)

1. Brokenness

a. Tameness

b. Teachableness

c. Tenderness

2. Blissfulness

D. Hungering and thirsting (5:6)

1. Strong desire

2. Satisfied desire

a. Initially

b. Progressively

c. Finally

E. Merciful (5:7)

1. Give mercy

2. Receive mercy

F. Pure in heart (5:8)

1. Heart cleansed

2. Eyes opened

G. Peacemakers (5:9)

1. Bridge builders

2. Co-laborers

H. Persecuted (5:10-12)

1. Reason for persecution

a. Righteousness sake

b. Jesus’ sake

(1) Reviled

(2) Persecuted

(3) Spoken evil of

2. Reward for persecution

a. Rejoicing

b. Relationship

III. Similitudes (5:13-16)

A. Salt (5:13)

B. Light (5:14-16)

IV. Greater righteousness (5:17-48)

A. Anger (5:21-26)

1. Be reconciled to your brother–before you go to the altar.

2. Be agreed with your adversary–before you go to the courts.

B. Adultery (5:27-30)

1. Abstain from fleshly lusts.

2. Resist Satanic temptation.

3. Surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit.

C. Divorce (5:31-32)

1. Only cause for divorce

2. Other causes for divorce

D. Oaths (5:33-37)

1. Sacred world

2. Sacred words

E. Retaliation (5:38-42)

1. Unjust treatment

2. Unjust requirements

3. Unjust demand

4. Unjust requests

F. Enemies (5:43-48)

1. Be loving, as your Father.

a. Go beyond loving the ones who love you.

b. Go beyond greeting the ones who greet you.

2. Be mature, as your Father.

V. Outward righteousness (6:1-18)

A. Giving (6:2-4)

1. Giving for the glory of men

2. Giving for the glory of God

B. Prayer (6:5-15)

1. Preparation for prayer (5-8)

a. Meaning of the passage

1) The disciples’ prayers–not to be like the prayers of the hypocrites (5)

(a) Place of their prayers

(1) Standing in the synagogues

(2) Standing in the corners of the streets

(b) Purpose of their prayer

(1) Their love for the rewards of men

(2) Their loss of the rewards of God

2) The disciples’ prayers–not to be like the prayers of the heathen (7)

(a) Their liturgical prayers

(b) Their lengthy prayers

b. Motive of the participants

1) Intimacy with God (6)

(a) Secrecy in the inner closet

(b) Seclusion from the outer cares

2) Instruments for God (8)

c. Model of the prayer (9a)

1) God-ward (9b-10)

2) Man-ward (11-13)

2. Pattern of prayer (9-13)

a. Position

1) Access

2) Advocate

b. Petition

1) World (9-10)

(a) His name

(b) His kingdom

2) Church (11-13)

(a) Our bread

(b) Our debts

3. Problems in prayer (14-15)

a. Fellowship with the Father

1) Confession of sins

(a) Unconfessed sins hinder prayer

(1) Unconcern for other’s needs

(2) Unbelief in God’s wisdom

(3) Unresponsive to God’s will

(b) Unconfessed sins halt prayer

2) Crucifixion of sin

b. Relationship with others

1) Forgiving others

2) Forgiven by God

(a) Sin account with God

(b) Short account with people

C. Fasting (6:16-18)

1. Fasting for redirection

2. Fasting in repentance

3. Fasting during requests

4. Fasting for revival

VI. Material things (6:19-34)

A. Absorption with things (6:19-24)

1. Dislodges loyalty to Christ (19-21)

a. Treasure upon earth

1) Rust

2) Thieves

b. Treasure in heaven

1) Souls

2) Stewardship

2. Darkens light from Christ (22-23)

3. Dethrones Lordship of Christ (24)

B. Anxiety over things (6:25-34)

1. Command and questions (25)

a. Illustration–birds (26)

1) Question ("worth more than birds?")

2) Answer (fatherhood of God)

b. Illustration–lilies (27-30)

1) Question ("worth more than lilies?")

2) Answer (faithfulness of God)

2. Conclusion (31-34)

a. Illustration–Gentiles (God as source)

VII. Judging others (7:1-6)

A. Judging a brother’s righteousness (7:1-5)

1. Seduction of legalism (1)

2. Standard on legalism (2)

3. Sarcasm about legalism (3-4)

a. What is seen

b. What is said

4. Surgery on legalism (5)

a. Cast out of the eye

b. Clear the eye

B. Judging an unbeliever’s receptivity (7:6)

1. Truth before dogs

2. Treasures before swine

a. Trampled

b. Turned

VIII. Ask, seek, knock (7:7-12)

A. Possibilities in prayer (7:7)

1. Asking makes possible giving

2. Seeking makes possible finding

3. Knocking makes possible opening

B. Promises of prayer (7:8)

C. Paradox about prayer (7:9-10)

D. Parallel to prayer (7:11)

IX. Tests of salvation (7:13-27)

Invitation to Life

Make certain of salvation.

♦ Salvation is more than appearance.

♦ Salvation is more than profession.

Make the choice of salvation.

♦ Two gates, two ways

♦ Two trees, two fruits

♦ Two professions

♦ Two houses, two foundations

Warning About Hell

♦ Destruction (13)

♦ Fire (14)

♦ Departure (23)

♦ Fall (27)

A. False paths (7:13-14)

1. Entrance to salvation (gate, new birth)

2. Endurance in salvation (way, new life)

3. End of salvation (life, new home)

B. False prophets (7:15-20)

1. Inside the church, but carnal inside (15)

2. Christians known by spiritual fruit (16-20)

3. Carnal lives unable to bear spiritual fruit (17-18)

4. Carnal souls cast out (19)

C. False professors (7:21-23)

1. Pseudo works of a professing Christian (22)

a. Evangelism

b. Exorcism

c. Experiences

2. Christ’s profession to a pseudo Christian (23)

a. Impress their family (15-20)

b. Improve themselves (21-23)

D. False peace (7:24-29)

1. Building on the right foundation

a. Word of God

b. Rock of Christ Jesus

2. Standing in the storms of testing

a. Rain

b. Floods

c. Wind

(1) Filtered by Divine purposes (wise)

(2) Unleashed as satanic attack (fools)