A popular m isconception relative to the Sermon on the Mount is that this message embodies what is known as the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Looking at it carefully, how ever, one will see that such is not the case. In commenting on the religious people of His day the Saviour de clares, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall ex ceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mat thew 5:20). God’s demand of right eousness is absolute perfection. Of course, there was no Israelite, or any one else who could attain this. Thus they endeavored to circumvent the law. In Matthew 7:12 we read, “There fore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Studying the history of ethics, there are four cardinal laws which come into existence: the law of the jungle, the law of the Old Testament, the law of the Sermon on the Mount, and the law of the Gospel. The law of the jungle says, “Do to others be fore they do to you.” The law of the Old Testament is found in Exodus 21:2, “Do to others as they have done to you.” The law of the Sermon on the Mount is, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This is the altruistic approach. But in Ephe sians 4:32 there is the last enuncia tion of the law. It is, “Do to others even as Christ has done for you.” Herein we see that the gospel of grace is far superior to the Sermon on the Mount. The last discourse of our divine Lord, having finished His public min istry, was given as He had gathered His own about Him. In John 13:1 we read, “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his
hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” Here is the shadow of Calvary. It was the hour of the cross. He wasn’t afraid to die. This would only bring a moving day for Him. The word “depart” means that He should “step out” of the world. THIS I KNOW I cannot tell you all my sins— Too long the list and black as hell; But this I know, that God's own Son Did die for me —■that, I must tell. They spat on Him and scourged His back; They hanged Him on a cruel tree; But ere they pierced His broken heart He cried, "Forgive them," to you and to me. I cannot tell you all the why He chose to suffer thus and die; But this I know— 'twas love for me, And you, that brought salvation nigh. His precious blood for me was shed From wounded hands, and feet and side; His broken body bread became For all who in His love abide. Yes— this I know— it was for me My blessed Lord did die; To cleanse my soul, to make me whole, To dwell with Him on high. —Arthur Schnasse Look at the love He so wonderfully exhibits to his disciples, and ultimate ly, of course, to you and to me. The disciples thought He would be Mes siah their King. The last thing they expected was that he should be put to death as a felon. They never thought about standing at the foot of His cross. They didn’t plan on being 9
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