An Ominous Warning
The Sermon on the Mount is NOT a program for reforming civil society, implementing economic justice, or a perfect society. Instead, it provides clear instructions for how his disciples must live in the present age as faithful citizens and envoys of HIS kingdom. And his teachings are NOT optional, and Jesus concludes his discourse with a stern warning.
To modify, compromise, or
ignore his words will result in everlasting destruction for the offender. This
includes men and women who have performed mighty works in his name. The ability
to prophesy or work miracles does not exempt anyone from the obligation to obey
his teachings.
On the day
when his disciples appear before him, many
who did perform great deeds in his name will nevertheless be rejected and
driven from his presence.
- (Matthew 7:21-23) - “Not every man that says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of the heavens, but he that is doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name did many works of power? And then will I confess to them: Never have I acknowledged you! Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness!”
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is NOT engaged in a discussion about Reformation theology or grace versus meritorious works. He describes what actions will exclude a person from the kingdom of God, not what a disciple must do to “earn” salvation. For that matter, those whom he excludes have done “many works” in his name. They are not hardcore and impenitent sinners.
Unfortunately,
they failed to do what Jesus requires the most of his would-be followers –
mercy, justice, humility, self-sacrificial service to others – the very heart
of the Law. All that God gives us is by His grace. Nevertheless, disobedience has
consequences.
In the
passage, Jesus does not depict those whom he rejects as pagans or especially immoral
sinners. They even call him “Lord,” and they prophesied, exorcised demons,
and did many other mighty deeds in his name.
A WARNING TO ALL
In the
passage, Jesus does not depict those whom he rejects as pagans or especially immoral
sinners. They even call him “Lord,” and they prophesied, exorcised demons,
and did many other mighty deeds in his name.
The
emphasis in the Greek text is on the term “many”
- the “many” things they did as his envoys in this world. Thus, the
warning is not just applicable to a tiny minority of disobedient believers.
And Jesus does not classify their miracles as counterfeits. The problem is something deeper than the ability to perform miraculous signs. And here, not only does he not acknowledge them as belonging to him, but he also classifies them as “workers of lawlessness.”
On the day
when he judges his own, he
will command such “lawless” ones to “depart.” And elsewhere, he warns
of a coming day when his opponents will be “cast into outer darkness, where
they will be wailing and gnashing of teeth!”
Fortunately,
Jesus provides his audience with an explanation for how some disciples became “workers
of lawlessness”; namely, by ignoring his instructions recorded in the Sermon
on the Mount:
- (Matthew 7:24-27) - “Therefore, everyone who hears my words, these ones, and does them will be likened to a prudent man, who built his house upon the rock; and the rain descended, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and rushed against that house, and it fell not; for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these my words and does them not will be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the streams came, and the winds blew and lashed against that house, and it fell, and its fall was great.”
FAILURE TO HEED HIS WORDS
Jesus
compares the man who hears and does
his words to the “prudent” builder who constructs his house on a rock-solid foundation. In Luke’s version, the
man is quite thorough – “he is like a man building a house who dug and
deepened and laid a foundation upon the rock.” Here is a man who is deadly
serious about following the commandments and teachings of the Nazarene – (Luke
6:48).
The Greek word
rendered “prudent” or phronimos indicates someone who is
thoughtful, intelligent, attentive, and astute - a man who plans his decisions
and actions very carefully. This is the origin of the English noun ‘phronesis,’
which refers to wisdom in determining goals and how to achieve them.
In contrast,
the man who fails to heed his words is compared to the foolish man who built his
house on a foundation of sand. The Greek term rendered “foolish” is môros
from which the English word ‘moron’ is derived. It denotes one who is dull,
witless, unthinking, and heedless.
But what
determines whether a man enters the kingdom is not his intelligence quotient,
but whether he heeds the words of Jesus. It is the man or woman who follows his
instructions without compromise who is “prudent” and thus rewarded on
the day when it matters the most.
THE WORDS OF HIS SERMON
But which of
his “words” does Jesus mean? At the outset of his discourse, he declares
that he did not come to discard the “law and prophets,” but to “fulfill”
them.
The Pharisees were renowned for their scrupulous observation of the
Law, including the added oral traditions that go well beyond the Law’s basic
requirements. Nevertheless, their meticulous
law-keeping is insufficient for entrance into the kingdom of God. Jesus
did not come simply to renew
the Torah. Something more is necessary.
In his concluding remarks, the “words” that must be heeded are the ones declared by him in the Sermon. And all of them without exception.
Thus, anyone
who desires to enter his kingdom must live a life characterized by humility,
hunger for righteousness, mercy, a pure heart, the avoidance of retaliation,
peacemaking, honest communications, and a willingness to endure unjust
suffering for his sake - (Matthew
5:3-12).
HIS disciple must
be a light illuminating this darkened world. Not only is he forbidden to kill, but
he must also not harbor any anger towards another man. Instead, reconciling with
the offended party must be his top priority - (Matthew 5:13-26).
The disciple
must not lust after someone who is not his spouse, but instead, he must keep a
lifelong commitment to his wife. Rather than swear oaths, he must, not “should”
or “perhaps,” speak plain and true words - Let your “yea be yea, and nay,
nay” - (Matthew 5:27-37).
To inherit
the kingdom, it is necessary to eschew retaliation and violence. HIS
disciple is summoned to love, pray for, and do good to his “enemy.” By showing
mercy to one’s foes, he will emulate
God and becomes “complete”
just as the “Father in the heavens.” HIS disciple is called to
something higher than the world’s way of doing things - (Matthew 5:44-48).
NO LOOPHOLES
The man
who seeks loopholes in his words does not have the mind of a disciple and risks
rejection along with the other “lawless” men when judged before his
court.
HIS disciple must
not do works of righteousness to attain the applause of others. Hypocrisy is incompatible with discipleship.
The disciple must center his life on the “Kingdom of God” and “lay up
treasures in heaven” rather than in the present evil age. An heir of the
kingdom “cannot serve two masters.” His allegiance to Jesus must be
absolute - (Matthew 6:1-24).
HIS disciple must
not judge or condemn others. Judgment is the prerogative of God alone. Instead,
he must treat others as he wishes to be treated, and in this way, he will “fulfill
the law and the prophets” - (Matthew
7:1-6).
The disciple
must stay on the narrow path and avoid the popular and “broad” roads of
this age. He must avoid false prophets who are recognizable by their fruits - (Matthew 7:7-20).
Much is at
stake in how we respond to the words of Jesus. Men that do not heed and do them
will be rejected. Therefore, it is unwise to ignore his words, choose which
ones we will obey, or create
loopholes TO avoid his commandments.
The Sermon
on the Mount is an “instruction manual” for
how his disciples must live regardless of the values, demands, and
expectations of the surrounding society. Obedience is far more important than
the ability to prophesy or work miracles.
This does
not mean that following his teachings is easy. In places, his words are quite
challenging, and many pastors and Bible students have worked diligently to
water down and domesticate his more troubling sayings.
By
claiming that “only he who hears these words of mine and does them will
enter the Kingdom,” Jesus places ultimate authority in his teachings, an authority
that exceeds even the “law” and the “prophets.” We ignore,
modify, twist, and disobey them at our own risk.
