Authority of Jesus (Matt 7:28-29)
How did people react to this sermon? They were amazed and astonished at what he said because he taught as one who had the authority to say such things. He wasn’t quoting other rabbis or schools of theology. He was himself the origin of authority. When he did quote Moses or others he did so only to show how his teachings were superior. This was not to say that Moses got it wrong, but rather that Jesus came to finish the work that was started under the Mosaic Law. He would be the one to fulfill this law not simply by his teaching, but by his very being. This is one major difference between Jesus and other religious figures. Others could only claim to be teachers or at best prophets, but nothing more.
Unfortunately, today people no longer seem to be amazed at this sermon and his teachings. They try every way possible to turn these truths into something abstract. Their point is to make it unnecessary for anyone to take it seriously as a way of life. They turn it into a form of idealism where one can only meditate upon it, but certainly not apply these teachings to their reality. Was Jesus giving this sermon just for the mere reason of establishing a “Christian Ideology?” No! So, when you read or listen to these teachings simply allow yourself to become amazed and astonished. This will be the beginning of true understanding.
The Importance of the Beatitudes
BEATITUDES (Taken from the Sermon on the Mount)
I always enjoy a lively debate over philosophical and theological points of the Bible, but there is one thing that makes such arguments seem very small and unimportant. This one thing is what called me into service for the Lord over 50 years ago. There are times that I drown out its quiet voice with what I think are more immediate concerns, but it is always there whispering to me and it is only when my spirit becomes quiet enough to listen that I once again here it plainly call me back. It is the very words of Jesus which express who he was then and is now and the standard that he sets for us as his beloved.
There is no pastor or teacher who can teach a greater lesson than what comes to us in the Sermon on the Mount. It is not just beautiful poetry that Jesus created to move us emotionally, nor is it a lesson in theology through which we can show off our knowledge of scripture. It is a portrait of Jesus in perhaps the purest written form available to us today.
The Sermon is found in Matthew 5:1-7:29. The Sermon begins with what has been called the Beatitudes (Latin). A beatitude is a great blessing of happiness. Each blessing written is both poetic and inspiring, but it is not something that we should simply place on our walls so others might know we are Christians. It is something that we place in our hearts to give us strength as we go through life’s daily trials.
In these blessings Jesus turns everything upside-down concerning what it means to be blessed. The Jews, much like many Christians today, believed that good health, wealth, prestige, and fame were the true blessings of God, but in the Beatitudes Jesus changed all that. He taught that the blessed of God are those who are low in spirit, those who mourn, those who are meek and mild. They are the ones who have a hunger and thirst for doing what is right in God’s eyes no matter what the cost. It includes those who show mercy to others rather than retaliate when they are wronged. He promises that those who are pure in heart will see God. And those who seek to bring peace shall be known as children of God. Finally, those who are persecuted, taunted, and reviled by others for being Christians will be greatly rewarded.
This is not what most people think of when they think of the blessings of God. Even though many have read these verses and perhaps even display them in their homes, few actually believe and practice them the way Jesus intended.
Within these verses lies the true personal power of God through his Holy Spirit. These verses not only give us confidence in spite of worldly struggles, they give us a means to measure ourselves as to our spiritual maturity. For what lies in these verses is the very character of the Holy Spirit of God. Without this humble attitude we can never really see the world as Jesus did.
So as you read these verses which follow don’t filter them out with reason and logic or whatever you think is impossible for you to accomplish. Read them with the intent of learning who Christ really is. Then and only then can you decide if you really and truly love the real Jesus or some false Christ created by yourself or others. Herein is the true Christ that saves.
Matthew 5:1-12
(KJV)
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up
into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of
God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for
so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
The Philosophical Trend of the Church
During the early years of the Christian church many of its theologians and bishops were influenced by their training in philosophy when they began to create the doctrine of the church. It was at this time that Tertullian (c. 160 – c. 225 AD), a polemicist against heresy, made the comment “What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?”
His concern was that theology was becoming based too much upon philosophical ideals and not enough upon the Scriptures—what he called the Rule of Faith. He considered philosophy to be a form of paganism and something that did not mix well with faith. He did, however, use the tools of philosophy in his argumentation, but did not base his beliefs upon them.
The pattern that Tertullian saw in the late 2nd century existed throughout the history and development of the church. We can see the influences of both Plato and Aristotle in the thinking of the church fathers as well as many theologians to follow. This pattern continued during the time of the Enlightenment when philosophy seemed to be at its heights. And we still see this pattern continue through Modernism and into the Post-modern world.
These various forms of philosophy have had a dramatic and lasting impact upon the church’s theologians that extended into the beliefs of the church itself. Today, if we look carefully, we can see the effects of Post-modern thinking upon the average church-goer who has little experience in Biblical training and who is looking for simple answers to complex questions. Even pastors are assimilating today’s philosophical idealism into their sermons and teaching materials.
We need to rethink this trend and once again ask, “What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?”
What do you think?
PHILOSOPHY & CHRISTIANITY 