You’ve correctly identified that Jesus’s sermon, as a whole, divides humanity into two groups: those on the narrow way and those on the broad way; good trees and bad trees; wise builders and foolish builders.
The core message is simple: to be a wise builder on the rock, we must not only hear the words of Christ but also do them. If our religion is one of mere lip service and external performance, we are building on sand, and our house will not withstand the storms of life and the scrutiny of judgment day.
The Content of the Sermon: A Life of Obedience
The Sermon on the Mount is a profound guide to a life of obedience. You’ve skillfully summarized the key principles:
- The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12): True blessedness is not found in worldly success, but in spiritual poverty, mourning over sin, meekness, and a deep hunger for righteousness.
- Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16): A life of obedience makes us the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” impacting our surroundings by exposing evil and pointing people to Christ.
- The Law and the Heart (Matthew 5:17-48): Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it and to show its true, heart-level meaning. Righteousness is not just about external actions, but about internal purity of heart—dealing with anger, lust, and other sinful attitudes.
- True Religion (Matthew 6): Our acts of righteousness—giving, praying, and fasting—should be done for God’s eyes alone, not for human praise. Our prayer life should be a secret, sincere seeking of our heavenly Father. We should live without anxiety, trusting in God’s providence and seeking His kingdom first.
- Judging and Asking (Matthew 7:1-12): We are called to be self-critical and to avoid hypocritically judging others. We are also called to be persistent in prayer, continually “asking, seeking, and knocking” for the grace to live this life of obedience.
- The Two Ways (Matthew 7:13-20): Jesus concludes by contrasting the narrow way of obedience with the broad way of self-deception and false teaching, emphasizing that only a few will find the path to life.
The Reaction of the Crowd
The Sermon on the Mount is not a feel-good message. It is a terrifying, humbling, and transforming one. The final reaction of the crowd is a testament to this fact. They were not converted in a mass revival; instead, they were “astonished” or “amazed.” This word literally means they were “struck out of their senses” or “dumbfounded.”
Why? Because Jesus did not teach like the scribes. The scribes taught based on tradition and human commentary, quoting other rabbis. But Jesus taught with authority. His words cut to the heart, demanding a response and leaving no room for human self-justification. This is the difference: Jesus’s teaching has the power to expose our spiritual poverty, break our self-righteousness, and leave us in awe of the absolute truth.
The fact that they were astonished but not converted serves as a final, powerful warning: it is not enough to be impressed by the truth; we must act on it. Acknowledging the authority of Jesus’s words is not enough; we must obey them and build our lives on the rock of His teachings.
Why They Were Astonished
The crowd was astonished by Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount for a powerful reason: “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” This was a shocking difference from the religious leaders they were used to.
- Scribes and Pharisees: The scribes’ teaching was full of human tradition. They would quote previous rabbis and focus on minor, external rules like tithing spices, while neglecting the more important matters of justice, mercy, and faith. Their sermons were often tedious, lifeless, and hypocritical. They taught about external righteousness while their hearts remained unclean.
- Jesus: Jesus spoke with an authority that was all His own. He didn’t quote others; He said, “But I say to you…” He went straight to the heart of the law, revealing that sins like anger and lust were just as serious as murder and adultery. His teachings were simple and easy to understand, using relatable examples like birds, lilies, and houses built on rock and sand. Most importantly, He was a man of peerless character who lived everything He taught. His holiness gave His words an undeniable power.
He made astounding claims, such as being the fulfillment of the law and prophets, and the ultimate judge of all humanity. These claims, coming from a poor, ordinary carpenter from Nazareth, were utterly astonishing to the crowd.
The Right Response: From Astonishment to Obedience
While the crowd was astonished, their reaction was not the one Jesus was after. They were filled with temporary wonder but were not converted. This is a crucial warning for us today. You can be amazed by a sermon, but if it doesn’t lead to repentance and a changed life, it is a useless hearing.
A true, saving response to Jesus’s Word will:
- Convict you of your sin: It will show you your poverty and depravity before a holy God.
- Drive you to despair of self-righteousness: You will feel a deep wound in your heart that can only be healed by Christ’s grace.
- Lead to action: You will be compelled to strive to enter the narrow gate and build your life on the rock of His teachings.
The Sermon on the Mount speaks to us today with even greater authority because Jesus, the one who delivered it, is now risen and speaking from heaven. We must not refuse Him, for the consequences of turning away from a message spoken from heaven are far greater than those who heard it on earth (Hebrews 12:25).
How to Be a Doer of the Word
The final and most practical suggestion is to follow the model of King David in Psalm 119:59-60. David shows us how to be a doer and not just a hearer:
- Reflect on Your Ways: David says, “I thought on my ways.” After hearing God’s Word, he didn’t just forget it. He made a conscious effort to compare his life and actions to the truth he heard. This is an essential step that many of us miss. We must stop treating God’s Word like entertainment and instead seriously meditate on what it says about our daily lives, our habits, and our sins.
- Turn Your Feet: David’s reflection led to a specific, personal action: “I turned my feet to Your testimonies.” He didn’t just have a mental agreement with the truth; he turned his entire being toward obedience. This is a deliberate, personal commitment to change your behavior and align it with God’s will.
- Make Haste: David says, “I made haste and delayed not.” This is a critical point. When the truth has made an impression on your heart, you must act immediately. Any delay is a dangerous act of disobedience that can lead to a hardening of your heart and a dullness of hearing.
Today, you are either a wise builder or a foolish one. There is no middle ground. Have the words of the Sermon on the Mount changed you? Have they broken your pride and made you mourn over your sin? If not, you are in a very dangerous place, deceiving yourself by simply hearing the truth without obeying it.
I plead with you: don’t let this sermon be in vain. Ask God to help you be a doer of His Word. Go home and seriously think about your ways. Turn your feet toward His will and make haste to obey Him.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 