Zane Hodges continues his exposition of the Sermon of the Mount beginning with the thematic statement in Matthew 5:13-16 and continuing with the beginning of the body of the sermon in Matthew 5:17-24. Why is there an impression in Matthew 5:17 that Jesus came to destroy the Law or the Prophets? What is meant in Matthew 5:18 that all the law will be fulfilled till heaven and earth pass away. The Lord Jesus Christ is teaching us a standard by which we can live, which is nothing more or less than the righteous standard of His coming kingdom.

An outline of the Sermon of the Mount:

Prologue: Matthew 5:3-12

Thematic Statement 5:13-16

Body of Sermon: 5:17-7:12

Conclusion: Matthew 7:13-27

Passages mentioned: Nehemiah 8:17; Zechariah 14:16-19; Luke 18:9-14, 1 John 2:22; Matthew 25:32-46.

Zane examines why there are 3 Gospels for discipleship, Matthew, Mark and Luke, and what audience was each Gospel directed to?

Luke – Greek

Mark – Roman

Matthew – Hebrew

How does Matthew’s emphasis for discipleship to the Hebrew audience effect our understanding of the Sermon of the Mount? Matthew is discipleship with the King Jesus.

An outline of the Sermon of the Mount:

Prologue: Matthew 5:3-12

Thematic Statement 5:13-16

Body of Sermon: 5:17-7:12

Conclusion: Matthew 7:13-27

In Part 1, Zane explains the Prologue and covers the Beatitudes. The stress of the Beatitudes are on being and not doing. Discipleship to Jesus Christ is character driven not activity driven. The beginning point of all real discipleship to Jesus Christ has to be a recognition that God wants to make you the person that He wants you to be.

If you think it is bad to lose communication with a partner in marriage, then it is even worse to lose communication with God. Did you ever stop to think what a tremendous privilege it would be to have Jesus Christ as a guest in your home? That was exactly the opportunity given to two ladies in this passage by the names of Mary and Martha. When we turn our attention to the Word of God, it ought to be as if God and I are alone in the world. God must have our undivided attention. The more you complain about your lives, the less you will be able to hear God speaking to your heart through His Word. One of the main problems that we have in the Christian life, is that we think we need to do lots of things, that we do not need to do. We overload ourselves with things that we do not have to do, so that we do not have time for the things we really need to do, that is time for the Word of God. Other passages mentioned: John 11; John 6:4-13; Matthew 14:32-38. This message was given in 1984 at Christ Bible Fellowship of Del Rio, Texas, pastored by Chip Brunott.