The Sermon on the Mount's Place in the Gospel of Matthew

Key takeaways

The Sermon on the Mount initiates the first of five major teaching blocks in the Gospel of Matthew, crucial for understanding Jesus' teachings.
Matthew's structuring of Jesus’ teachings serves to emphasize his role as a teacher and the fulfillment of the Torah.
There are intentional literary parallels between the beginning and end of Matthew that underscore the ethical and theological dimensions of Jesus’ teachings.
Listeners can expect a detailed exploration of the Sermon on the Mount, delving into its profound implications for contemporary followers of Jesus.

Summary

Understanding the Sermon on the Mount within Matthew

Lindsay introduces the episode, spotlighting the culmination of their series on Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Tim and Michelle discuss the importance of considering the Sermon on the Mount not just as an isolated passage but as part of a larger narrative structure in the Gospel of Matthew, which consists of five significant blocks of Jesus’ teachings. They emphasize that Matthew's portrayal of Jesus as a teacher exemplifies how the sermon serves as a foundation for understanding Jesus' mission and message.

The Literary Structure of Matthew

The hosts delve into how the structure of Matthew is meticulously crafted. They highlight that the first four chapters of Matthew set the stage for Jesus’ ministry with thematic connections, including seven fulfillment quotes that illustrate Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. They point out that the structure isn't just about sequencing but serves a theological purpose, presenting Jesus as a new Moses, tasked with guiding Israel back to a covenant relationship with God.

The Parallel between the First and Last Teachings

Tim shares insights from scholar Jonathan Pennington regarding the parallels between the Sermon on the Mount and the last teaching block in Matthew (chapters 23-25). Both sections feature contrasting blessings and woes, and both conclude with parables that underline different paths of living, emphasizing the significance of how Jesus’ teachings can be viewed as a unified body of work—each block reinforcing the message and call of the kingdom.

Going Line by Line through the Sermon on the Mount

The hosts propose a series of future episodes that will examine the Sermon on the Mount in detail. They outline the sermon’s structure—introduction, main body, and conclusion—and hint at discussing the Beatitudes. They express excitement about unpacking this foundational sermon, showing how each section connects to the wider themes in Matthew and what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Show notes

Sermon on the Mount E3 – The Sermon on the Mount is one of five major speeches Jesus gives in the Gospel of Matthew, and there are many similarities between these speeches. What is Matthew doing in his gospel that is unique from the other gospels? And how does this shape his portrayal of Jesus? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss how the Sermon on the Mount fits into the larger context of the Gospel of Matthew.

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Timestamps

Chapter 1: Jesus’ Five Speeches in Matthew (00:00-14:55)
Chapter 2: How Matthew 5-7 and 23-25 Work Together (14:55-18:09)
Chapter 3: The Structure of the Sermon on the Mount and Conclusion (18:09-22:55)
Chapter 4: A Reading of the Sermon on the Mount (22:55-40:33)

Referenced Resources

Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen
BibleProject theme song by TENTS
Additional Music by Tyler Bailey and Matthew Halbert-Howen

Show Credits

Dan Gummel is the Creative Producer for today’s show. Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; Colin Wilson, producer; and Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Yanii Evans and Tyler Bailey are our audio editors. Tyler Bailey is also our audio engineer, and he provided our sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Special thanks to Jonathan Pennington. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.

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