The Sermon on the Mount

Under a Lordship Salvation paradigm of interpreting Scripture, whether the teachers teach this or not, the habit and approach is to see the Bible constantly through the lens of the law and to always look for contrasts between believers and unbelievers, the true disciples and those who are not saved. Their approach is to always weed out the unbelievers from the true believers by pointing to the law, saying that you don’t measure up and you don’t look like this, and you’re not willing to give all, then you’re not saved. It’s very much a black and white kind of thinking. And since their interpretation of a disciple is always a true believer, they don’t allow grace for anything that seems to come short of the law. This can cause much unneeded condemnation for true believers who are struggling to live holy. However, in this section, it is my aim to uphold the law while also understanding grace and interpreting Scripture from the viewpoint that discipleship is something to grow into, not something every Christian already is. First, we will cover Matthew 5, and then Luke 6. At the same time, I will do my best to faithfully present the true intention of the text, whatever that may be. Some Lordship teachers have even gone so far as to say that the Sermon on the Mount is the gospel or the message of salvation. But I would disagree with that. However, that is not to say all Lordship teachers would say this. Additionally, for the individual layperson who holds to that doctrine, the lens in which they view all of Scripture will be skewed towards that bent. So here, it is my aim to remove that lens. It is also my purpose to affirm the Lordship of Christ for those who might deny it. At the end, I shall also answer what the purpose of the law is for those who are now saved and answer how it is we can have assurance of salvation with the presence of the law and with our sin and imperfections.

Matthew 5

We have to understand that in Jesus’ sermon, there was no official gospel message yet because He had not died on the cross and rose from the grave at this point. So Jesus is preparing people’s hearts showing them what really matters for God. He shows the standard of God’s law and reveals that God cares more about the heart than He does with external behavior. In Luke’s account, he seemed to bring out more of the message that was directed towards the disciples while with Matthew’s account, it seems to be more directed towards those who don’t believe and also towards the religious elite (at least, in the latter half of the sermon). Verse one says that Jesus was teaching both the disciples and the crowd. Jesus also said, “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (v. 20). That would have been a real gasp moment for any scribe or Pharisee listening because Jesus basically just said that they weren’t going to enter heaven. Their righteousness wasn’t good enough. So what does that mean for the average folks? Things don’t look good. If they’re not good enough to enter, then who can enter at all? Then Jesus proceeds to explain how hatred for someone is like murder and lusting after someone is like adultery. Even saying to someone, “you fool” will be guilty enough to go to hell (emphasis on the anger aspect here). You could even try to stop sinning by plucking out your eye or chopping off your hand to avoid hell but then you’re going to find that you will still sin because your heart is the real problem and so the only way to get rid of it is to cut out your heart. In addition to this, making promises to God is wrong and also has no power in itself to overcome the flesh. Revenge and retaliation are also wrong. Jesus is speaking to you, Taylor Swift (maybe you don’t actually know what love is, even though you sing all about it). Then Jesus says to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. And finally, He concludes His sermon with: “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” You got all that? All you have to do is surpass the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees and perfectly do everything in this sermon, and you’ll be golden. You’ll get into heaven.

Hold on! Slam the brakes. Screeching noises Let’s back up. Is it even possible to do all these things? Earlier, Jesus said, “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (CSB, v. 19). That word for break literally means “to loosen.” This doesn’t specifically mean to disobey the law (though it might include that by implication) but to lower the standard of the law. This means that those who teach that God’s standards are less than what they actually are, they will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But those who teach God’s law in a way that upholds the standard, they will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. So, there is a sense in which for Jesus’ disciples, some imperfection and failure is allowed since even the “least” are still in the kingdom.

But Jesus does say that we can “keep” or do these commands, so there is an expectation to do them and teach them and He wants us to—He commands us to be perfect (v. 19, 48). But did Jesus expect perfect obedience to enter heaven? Well, He doesn’t say that. But He does say that our righteousness would need to surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Which, if we think about it, the standard they upheld was really low because they only focused on outward conformity, behavior modification, and strict rule observances to inconsequential things. Their righteousness wasn’t about the heart. So Jesus is telling us that we need to deal with the heart problem. If there is no heart change, then there is no salvation. Jesus gave us really high standards but living by those standards is not how we receive forgiveness. It’s how we grow into the perfect nature of Christ after our heart has been changed. All the Beatitudes of “blessed are the…” are encouragements for the disciples who will face hard times and assurances of their salvation. Their intent was not to be qualifications for entering but rather, indicators that one was already in and blessed promises to hold fast to the path of life.

These Beatitudes are reflections of those who have changed hearts which is a righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees and the first one is where it all begins, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus has mentioned elsewhere that only the humble will enter heaven (Lk 18:17). It is only by the mercy of God that someone can enter heaven because God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). We’ll never be able to enter heaven through our own obedience to God because we fall far too short. Only by God’s mercy and forgiveness can we be saved.

This then leads to the next step which is contrition over sin (or merely, great suffering in general) in verse 3 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Then comes the bearing of fruit out of this repentance which begins with gentleness because that comes from this new life and new heart of humility. Then the new believer begins to hunger and thirst for doing the things of God and discovers that this brings them much satisfaction. The next step is that they show mercy to others because they themselves have been shown mercy and they will receive back compassion from others as a result (and shall also receive mercy from God at the end of the age). Then all of these qualities of humility, gentleness, seeking the things of God, and loving others, develops within them a pure heart. And what did David write? “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully” (Ps 24:3-4). James also writes, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (4:8). So, a pure heart is expected and it will be the pure in heart who shall see God. In this life they shall perceive Him and then in eternity they shall see Him with their own eyes. Next comes the peacemakers and they are so because they are pure in heart and operate from that purity. All these qualities have generally built up on one another. There is an increase in maturity and in the things of God. Yet with all this upright character also comes persecution but despite it all, they are blessed, because the kingdom of God belongs to them. These are Jesus’ disciples and true followers that this message is for and their reward will be great in heaven for enduring all the evil that comes against them. But some of their blessings will also come in the present life.

Next, the disciples are instructed to be the salt of the earth to be useful to society and to slow down the corruption and decay of society but if they do not live uprightly, they are no good for doing that. They will not have purpose or usefulness if that be the case. Next, they are to be the light of the world, to let their light shine rather than be hidden so that their Father in heaven can be glorified.

Jesus then clarifies His purpose and intent as He is transitioning in His sermon to bring to light the high standard of the law. But though it will soon sound like He is contradicting the law of Moses, He is not. Rather, He is bringing clarity to it. Because He did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets (Old Testament instructions) but to fulfill. That is, to consummate what those laws really are—to bring them to their full realization and purpose. Additionally, He came to fulfill the prophecies in the Old Testament by His life, death, and resurrection.

Many of the laws that Israel had were to restrict evil behavior like containing a virus but that was only a dumbing down of God’s true laws for a time. They were also governing laws for the nation of Israel more so than personal laws to keep. Not all of those laws were God’s perfect standard of obedience in conformity with His nature. So now Jesus comes and reveals that standard to us in the Sermon on The Mount and says for everyone to keep and teach these laws. When He says, “you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” He is really showing us who God actually is through all these laws. God’s character and perfection are all about humility, love, peace, and unity. He wants us to imitate that.

Jesus also fulfilled and accomplished the law by His own perfect life. He ascended this ladder, so to speak, by learning obedience through the things that He suffered yet all the while being without sin (Heb 4:15; 5:8). He is also said to be the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2). So Jesus accomplished perfect obedience and perfect faith, and His death and resurrection put an end to the corruption of the flesh so that when we put our faith in Him, we receive His nature within ourselves to have His heart to work out of us the sins and imperfections of our minds and bodies.

So, there is this standard of obedience that God has, but it can only be ascended through a new heart and the life of Christ living through us. Otherwise, there is no salvation. Those who do not acknowledge and live as Jesus being King of their lives, will not be saved. But this doesn’t mean perfection. Grace covers our imperfections. But heart transformation is required and growing in discipleship is commanded. Only righteousness that comes from the heart is acceptable to God for salvation. Mere conformity, human conditioning, outward performance, and civil obedience will all fall short.

Jesus’ full sermon continues on to Matthew 7 but we’re just going to turn to Luke’s account now.

Luke 6

In the context of Luke, Jesus had just named the twelve disciples and called them apostles. He had just selected these twelve individuals and then right after this, he begins to instruct them. He gives a series of blessings and then a series of woes. The blessings were intended for all those who truly believed in Him while the woes were mostly intended for those who did not truly believe in Him. In other words, Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. Those who truly believed and dedicated their hearts and lives to follow Jesus unto the end, they would be encouraged and challenged by these words. But those who were double-minded as Judas was, it would have been a sobering warning. It is also a warning to believers who do not walk according to God’s way, they will bring unnecessary trouble to their lives.

The series of blessings and woes gave pictures and characterizations of what one’s life might look like and what the results would be of those who lived for God and for others vs. those who lived for themselves. The very top and optimization of a believer’s life is a life of total dedication to discipleship which includes assurance of eternal life and additional rewards in heaven whereas at the very opposite end of the spectrum, there is loss and condemnation. This could be speaking about eternal condemnation and loss or it could also be referring to a loss of rewards in heaven, suffering under God’s discipline, and suffering for doing what is evil under God’s governmental system of equity. Therefore, Jesus’ message is applicable to both believers and unbelievers and those who would stop following the spiritual path of Jesus.

In Jesus’ message in the Sermon on The Mount, He is like the second Moses, instructing the people about the law. The law of Moses was about blessings for obedience and warnings for disobedience. Here, Jesus also speaks with the same tone of subject. The focus here is more about the law and the standards of right and wrong and what the consequences of these laws are. Jesus is not saying you have to do these things perfectly in order to be saved. Remember that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness and so he was justified by faith (Ro 4:3; Gal 3:6). Also, recall all the believers in Hebrews chapter eleven who were not perfect in their faith and obedience to God but they are mentioned as examples and they were saved by faith.

Jesus then speaks in a parable about a blind man, a teacher, and a student, along with the speck or log in the eye. In Matthew’s account, this part isn’t specifically mentioned, but it goes straight to “you will know them by their fruits,” and that is in reference to “false prophets” (Mt 7:15-19). In Matthew’s account, Jesus is taking jabs at the religious elite of His day and also formulating these words to be applicable to other situations in other times of future history. Since the religious leaders only had outward conformity to rules rather than any inward transformation of heart, they were like blind men and blind teachers leading people in the wrong direction towards the pit of hell. And if that were true of them, what would become of their students? They could only achieve the height of religion that their teachers had attained and so they would both fall into a pit. The religious elite were compared to having a log in their own eye while trying to help those with a speck in their eye which is basically like saying, “let me help you,” when they can’t even help themselves. But isn’t that how so many religions are like today? Even psychologists who try helping others have their own problems that they’re stuck in and they can only take people as far as the success that they have achieved for themselves. But if you watch these people closely to examine the fruit of their lives, you’ll be able to tell if they have power over the evil heart or not because whatever comes out of the mouth is an indication of that which fills the heart. If anger is revealed by those who yell out, “you fool,” or “you good-for-nothing,” then that shows what is in their heart (Mt 5:22).

Another approach we can take for this passage is to see it within the context of Luke’s account, which seems to focus more on preparing the disciples for ministry by challenging them to a higher standard and for them to realize that they have much growing to do. After all, even later, we see that the disciples were arguing and bickering with one another over who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Mt 18). It’s like they completely forgot about Jesus’ Sermon on The Mount and so Jesus had to remind them of the previous things He said and further explain Himself about the standards of humility, loving one another, a heart change being required, and showing mercy and forgiveness to others to also be shown mercy. They had much needed growing to do and so in these words of Luke 6:39-45, there was something for them to learn. He said to His disciples, “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher” (Lk 6:39-40). Jesus is telling them that they need to learn and grow to become like Him and then they will be effective for teaching others and helping others. A blind man is equated to a pupil who cannot see his own blind spots but is nonetheless ambitious to be like a teacher already and tries to point out everyone else’s flaws but fails to do so effectively because there is a log in his own eye.

Then Jesus says that a tree is known by its fruit and it is impossible to obtain fruit from things that are not trees or fruit-producing plants. The good man is then equated to a fruit-producing plant while the evil man is equated to a non-fruit-producing plant. The good treasure or fruit that proceeds from the good man’s heart will reveal itself as good while the evil or bad fruit within an evil man’s heart, will also reveal itself as so. Whatever comes out of the mouth is the result of what fills the heart. Jesus is saying that the distinction between these two people should be evident. What you say and how you act will reveal what kind of person you are and where your heart is at and what really matters to you. But who is the “good man” and “evil man”? Is it the saved and unsaved person? That’s very likely in accordance with Matthew’s account. But in accordance with the context of Luke, it may be may be more of a challenge to His disciples to imitate Him and to become fully like Him so that evil will not come out of their hearts. Jesus as the teacher here, who does not have any log or speck in His own eye, is showing his students how there are impurities in their hearts which need to be cleansed away. This comes around full-circle to His disciples not being able to see the logs and specks in their own eyes and are in this way, blind to the impurity in their own hearts. However, for a tree to produce fruit, it needs to be a fruit-producing tree to begin with. If some of His disciples were not of the faith, then they would be as briars and thorns, incapable of producing the standards of fruit Jesus has explained in His sermon. So, there is a level of good fruit that true believers will produce while unbelievers will not be able to produce real fruit at all. The disciples are encouraged to follow the paths of Jesus through His Sermon on the Mount so that they will grow in producing more fruit and to grow in cleansing the remaining impurities of their heart. Then they can become of good service to God, having wisdom, understanding, spirituality, and maturity to effectively help others and disciple others in the ways of Jesus.

At the end of Jesus’ sermon, He challenges His large group of followers who are not loyal to Him or who lack loyalty to Him. This is a message to challenge true believers to be faithful and grow in their devotion to Him in their discipleship and it is also a message of warning to unbelievers or those who may not endure to the end to remain His disciples. Jesus says, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like” (Lk 6:46-47). Jesus then gives an analogy about a man who built his house on a rock and a man who built his house on the sand. When a flood came, it tested the foundation of each house. One stood strong and the other collapsed and came to ruins. Those who (1) come to Him, (2) learn from Him, and (3) act upon His teachings, they will have a rock-solid house that can withstand a flood. But for those who have heard Jesus’ teachings and not acted upon them, their foundation and house are in danger of being swept away and also will be swept away if they remain complacent.

This means that complacent Christians are in much danger if they don’t obey the teachings of Jesus and follow His path. Their weak foundation in their faith and growth makes them easy prey for the devil who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8). Also, if their faith does not endure to the end, then they shall not be saved but will come under judgement. And if they do not endure in obedience to God, they could have a great moral failing which may remove them from being effective or able to render service to God like many pastors these days who get caught in adultery or who become corrupted by power and wealth. In the end, their works may be burned up and they may only barely escape the flames to enter into eternal life (1 Cor 3:10-15). But such failures even lead some to apostasy. However, if the devil, the moral failings, and complacent growth don’t ruin the Christian or church-goer, then the busyness of life or persecution might ruin them. This could mean apostacy or being ineffective for the kingdom of God. Like in the parable of the Sower, the worries of this life, afflictions, and persecutions choke out the plant and having no firm root, no firm foundation, the person falls and withers away (Mt 13). They did not abide in the Vine—there were no nutrients to support life—and so the branch withered and dried up and ended up being burned (Jn 15:1-11). The path of discipleship in following Jesus requires commitment because without commitment, there is great failure and ruin.

This was the message Jesus had for all those who wanted to come after Him and truly be His disciples. This was a message about counting the costs so that they could prepare for the difficulties ahead and endure by continually growing in Christ and laying a firm foundation through Christ’s teachings and through the obedience of His teachings. It was for His chosen twelve apostles to prepare them for the large task they had in their future. It was also a warning to all those who were following Him and didn’t do anything He instructed. They were just there for the show, for the food and entertainment, and to marvel at Jesus’ miracles and eloquent words. Jesus, as the Greater Moses, instructed about the blessings for obedience and the warnings for disobedience. For the disciples, it was their standard to grow into, their call to walk the narrow path, and to not fall away. For the unbelievers and fence-riders, it was their condemnation to reveal the dangerous path that they’re on.

But this wasn’t a gospel presentation. It was primarily a call to deeper discipleship for those who already believed in Him. Jesus also wasn’t saying, “either you’re like this and you’re a believer,” “Or, you’re like that, and are an unbeliever.” This standard of obedience was not presented as a way into salvation but they were supposed to be reflections of what true disciples are supposed to look like. In this way, those who did not look like that would be convicted against this standard of upright living, whether believer or unbeliever. To the believer, they would be challenged and grow into it. To the unbeliever, it would reveal to them the darkness in their own hearts so that they would see their need for Jesus and repent. But in either case, true believers will produce fruit and “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Mt 7:19).

While Luke’s account focuses more on the message being received by Jesus’ disciples, Matthew’s account focuses more on the message being received to the ears of the religious leaders and unsaved. Matthew’s account has many clear references to hell and judgement while Luke’s account doesn’t specifically mention that except for in the three “woe” warnings. Though I believe it is the same sermon preached at the same time and Jesus spoke all these things, Luke’s version is condensed and shows another perspective from those listening to Jesus’ sermon, indicating that Jesus’ wise and tact words had something for everyone.

Some of us really need to change our minds when it comes to Jesus’ Sermon on The Mount. Some of us might see it as Jesus being a cruel task-master saying that “if you don’t do this, then I’m going to punish you...” But Jesus is not a cruel task-master. He’s not saying, “you better do this or else…” but rather, “this is the danger of where you’re heading if you don’t listen to Me.” Jesus is saying all of this out of love because God is love. Sin and unbelief are what destroys us and disconnects us from the life of God so that we have no life in us, but faith and obedience is the way of life and healing and that is our connection to God to have His life in us. And so, everything Jesus is saying in the Sermon on The Mount is to help mankind to lift them up. Even the saints in the Old Testament rejoiced in God’s law and saw it as good and pleasing to them (Ps 119). God’s laws are to make us into who He created us to be and to have us operating by all the inner working parts of our manufacture specifications so that we run well. Jesus says these commands out of love and those commands can all be summed up in that one word, love, because God is love. He is not a cruel task-master. But He is Lord. And so those who just want the benefits of Jesus without the obedience, cannot be saved. But again, this is about heart transformation and being humble before God because God sees the heart and is concerned with where our heart is at. This is why for me; the Lordship of Christ is about a heart devoted to Him which brings about outward change. But it first begins with inner change and abiding in Jesus through faith. That is what doing the will of the Father is (Mt 7:21; 10:33; Jn 6:40).

When we approach God’s law, we ought not to separate the laws from the nature of God. If we keep them both together as united, it will most greatly benefit us. The very law that proceeds from God which we might think to condemn us is the very same love proceeding from God that offers us mercy and saves us. That is, He commands that we do all these good things to people because God loves them because God is love. In this way, He even abides by the standard of His own law even more so in which He loves even those who break His law. He commands us to show mercy because He shows mercy. He commands us to forgive because He forgives. He commands us to love our enemies because He loves His enemies.

So then, we find that God’s law has the power to both condemn mankind while at the same time having the power to lavish grace and forgiveness upon mankind and give them assurance of God’s love for them. God’s law is united to His being and if we see this correctly as Christians, instead of feeling the condemnation of the law, we can turn the law around and say, “Herein lies the very nature of God who commands love and therefore He is full of love to continue forgiving me and keeping me within His covenant of grace. Where I once stood condemned in guilt, I now stand in faith and it is through that faith that I can love Him with purity of heart.” So now, rather than seeing God as a cruel task-master like the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son or the slave who buried the money his master gave him, we see His grace wide enough for our dirty mess and various levels of productivity (Mt 25:14-30; Lk 15:25-32).

According to Romans 8:1-2, we are no longer under the condemnation of the law because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. The requirement of the law is fulfilled in us as we walk by the power of Christ’s life in us, who Himself perfectly fulfilled the whole law. And so, “we have been released from the law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter” (Ro 7:6). It is essential that from here, we have faith in God’s good nature, the truths of His Word, our assurance in salvation in Him, and our identity united to Him so that from that faith, true fruit will be produced. But if we seek to find assurance and to produce good works the opposite way by having faith in our ability, performance, by seeing our identity as sinners, and to strive by self-effort to be pleasing to God, then we will find ourselves in a very troublesome place. But the only way up is through faith.

John Calvin writes about assurance: “For if they begin to judge their salvation by good works, nothing will be more uncertain or more feeble … From this comes about that the believer’s conscience feels more fear and consternation than assurance … If righteousness is supported by works, in God’s sight it must entirely collapse; and it is confined solely to God’s mercy, solely to communion with Christ, and therefore solely to faith.”

In summary, here are the main ideas of this entire series:

Following Jesus isn’t about salvation—it’s about endurance in the faith despite persecutions and hardships.

We have to keep in mind that many people Jesus asked to follow Him had already showed some level of belief or interest in Jesus. They were also from a Jewish world, many already believing in Yahweh. So this may have been less about conversion and more about ministry and dedication to acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God and being called in deeper service to God.

To become a disciple isn’t how to become saved—it’s about learning and following the teachings and ways of Jesus. It’s a process that begins before conversion and continues in growth in increasing degrees after conversion.

Discipleship is about spiritual growth—not about the minimum conditions to be saved.

Counting the cost of being a disciple/follower of Jesus is not about the necessary obedience to obtain salvation—it’s foreseeing the difficult road ahead and making the decision that Jesus is worth following all the way to the end despite all the obstacles. One focuses on what you have to do while the other focuses on what will happen to you. Faith in Jesus is only useful if it endures all the way to the end. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time.

Jesus often presented the law to people so that they would see their spiritual need so that they would be in a humble enough spiritual condition to receive salvation (e.g. the rich young ruler). God’s forgiveness cannot be earned.

For further reading on the Lordship Salvation controversy from the perspective of Reformed Calvinists, here are two books. The one by Horton is heavily theological though. I would not recommend that one for the average person:

The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson

Christ the Lord by Michael Horton

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