The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached

Pastor Joe
May 26
5 min read

We are blessed that we can watch or listen to sermons on demand because of technology. Some of the best sermons from some of the best preachers are available at any time.

But how many of us have read or listened to the greatest sermon preached by the greatest preacher who ever lived? I’m talking about the Sermon on the Mount, preached by non other than God’s own Son. This is recorded in Matthew’s Gospel; and up until this point in the gospel, Jesus’ recorded words have been limited to just a few verses. But now, in one powerfully comprehensive yet compact message, our Lord sets forth the foundational truths of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God that He came to proclaim.

Though Jesus repeated many of these truths on other occasions, chapters five to seven record one continuous message of the Lord, delivered at one specific time. What He spoke were revolutionary truths to the minds of those who would hear it— especially the Jewish leaders, and they have continued to impact the minds and hearts of readers for two thousand years.

I have a question: Have you ever set up your own standard to keep you spiritually safe? That shows courage, wisdom and spiritual maturity, which is actually quite commendable.

The problem begins if you were to impose your standard on others and thereby create a new standard; and then you become offended when people don’t do it just like you. That’s was the mindset of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. They would take the Old Testament law, and build all these “fences” around it—some to a ridiculous level. For example, in John chapter 5, Jesus heals the invalid man by the pool, who had been in that condition for 38 years. After He healed him, Jesus told him, “get up, pick up his mat and walk.” But rather than rejoice over his healing, the Pharisees blamed the man for picking up his mat, accusing him of working on the Sabbath—and accused Jesus of healing on the Sabbath.

So Jesus confronts what is called, “pharisaic legalism” head-on, in the Sermon on the Mount. Later, in Matthew chapter 16, Jesus warns His disciples to “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,” who were too concerned with externals and ceremonies and with appearances, and not concerned enough with matters of the heart. Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus rebuking them for their hypocrisy.

So here comes Jesus, bringing a message that was radically different from the current understanding of the Old Testament that the Pharisees were teaching, which struck violently against the Jewish traditions of His day. For them, it was all about keeping the law, which is an impossible thing. By the law, this primarily refers to the 10 Commandments. And who can perfectly do that? Yet that was the appearance the Pharisees were projecting. That’s what the apostle Paul was telling his readers, especially in his letters to the Romans and to the Galatians, that the purpose of the law was not to save (Galatians 3:21-24).

So the Old Testament law simply demonstrates our need of salvation—whereas the New Testament message offers the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And so the Sermon on the Mount clarifies the reason for the law and shows that men and women have no righteousness that can survive God’s standards—meaning, His law.

So Jesus’ sermon offers blessing— and that is our Lord’s opening offer. The Sermon on the Mount start with the Beatitudes, which are heart-characteristics of those who are blessed. But the blessedness Christ offers is not dependent on self-effort or self-righteousness, but on the new nature God gives by His Spirit.

So the Lord begins with the offer of blessedness, and then proceeds to demonstrate that human righteousness, such as what the Jews sought, cannot produce it. The good news is that of blessing. The bad news is that men and women cannot achieve it, no matter how self-righteous or religious they are. In light of that, we can see five reasons why the Sermon on the Mount is of utter importance.

First, it shows the absolute necessity of the new birth. We will see the standards that Jesus puts forth are much too high and demanding to be met by human power. Only those who partake of God’s own nature through Christ can fulfill such demands. Indeed, the standards of the Sermon on the Mount go far beyond that of the law— demanding not only righteous actions, but righteous attitudes. It’s not just that people do right, but that they be right.

Second, the sermon intends to drive people to Jesus Christ as their only hope of meeting God’s standards. So the proper response to the sermon leads us to Christ.

Third, the sermon gives God’s pattern for happiness and true success. In fact, we see that immediately in the Beatitudes—which is how the Sermon on the Mount opens. Here, Jesus shows the way of joy, peace and contentment.

Fourth, the sermon is perhaps the greatest Scriptural resource for reaching others for Christ. A person who demonstrates these principles of Jesus will be a powerful witness in attracting others to the Lord.

Fifth, the life that is obedient to the principles of this teaching is the only life that is pleasing to God. This is the believer’s highest reason for following Jesus—not only does He save us, but this pleases and glorifies God.

There were two groups hearing Jesus’ sermon—the disciples and the crowd. And Jesus’ words were words of celebration for the disciples, who had been awakened by the present power, as well as of the age to come. To the crowd, they are words of invitation—the people who came out of curiosity or skepticism. And for some, they are words of transformation—by nothing other than the power of God!

If you’re reading this, you probably fall into one of those categories: either a disciple of Christ, or a curious skeptic. But just know, you’re reading this blog for a reason. And if you haven’t yet surrendered your life to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, now can be the time to do that. Just acknowledge your sin before God and tell Him your want what Jesus did on the cross in bearing the sins of everyone who would every believe, to count for yours too. Trust Him as your Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will have eternal life with Him!

If you have questions, email pastorjoe@huntingtonchurch.net

You can hear the whole Sermon on the Mount message series at huntingtonbaptist.net.