When Jesus began His ministry He went to the lost sheep of Israel, the Jewish people. And He taught them so differently than any of their past or present teachers that they were astonished. You see the culture accepted many false teachings from the scribes and Pharisees because they had no others to teach them. While they followed the High Priest and others, their lifestyle reflected a hardened heart. But when Jesus appeared and began His ministry His words cut deep.
So what exactly did Jesus teach at the Sermon of the Mount?
Jesus took one of the ten commandments, you shall not murder and expanded on it. He took this law and explained a deeper truth they had never heard. He spoke on the issue of anger and how it can lead to other offenses. Jesus tells us to reconcile ourselves (forgive) to the person and then offer your sacrifice to God.
Another ten commandment Jesus expanded on was, you shall not commit adultery and again explained it to the people in a way they had never heard before. He taught it’s not just the very act of adultery, but, it’s also when a man or woman looks at another with lust in their heart. And of course, He teaches a remedy for lust.
He also taught the Law stated a man could divorce his wife by giving her a certificate of divorce. But Jesus explains this was written because of their hard hearts. Because God had made them male and female from the beginning and when a man leaves his parents home he is to be joined to his wife and the two are united into one. It’s also why Jesus tells His disciples, whoever divorced His wife and married another, he commits adultery against her.
Jesus taught against making vows against heaven cause it’s God’s throne, by earth, it’s His footstool, by Jerusalem, it’s the city of the Great King or even by one’s head since we can’t change it’s color. But simply say yes, or no.
Jesus expanded on the commandment, Love your neighbor and taught we should love our enemies also. To do good to those who persecute us, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To turn the other cheek without exacting our own revenge and to lend to others, if they ask, without expecting anything in return.
He also taught on the right way to do good deeds, taught on Prayer and fasting, the correct way to store up treasures and not to judge others. He taught about the Golden Rule, the Narrow Gate, the Tree and it’s Fruit, True Disciples and building on a solid foundation.
All these things were taught in a way which they had never heard. Which caused many of the people to be convicted in their heart by what they heard, meaning, their hearts was open and receptive to the words of Jesus, but also rendered them guilty over their wrongdoing, their sin.
And it’s this same conviction today which leads one to repent, turn from their ways and turn to the Son of God, Jesus.
How do we turn from our ways, from sin?
First understand, we all sin making all of us sinners, and, there’s a heavy penalty for that sin and it’s death. But there is hope, there is a way out, by believing in the Son of God, Jesus. The Lord Jesus was sent by God to dwell among mankind (in the flesh), who taught we needed to repent of our sin, taught we should live a righteous life and turn back to God. Jesus became our atonement for sin and was sacrificed on a cross for our sins. Then on the third day, Jesus was raised.
Romans 3:10 – As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one.
Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:9,10 – That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth He confesses, resulting in salvation.
God wants us to humble ourselves before Him, to get on our knees and confess every sin, every wrongdoing we can think of. Because nothing is done in secret, He knows all, sees all and hears all and He knows our hearts.
Jesus the Righteous Path 