I am a Jesus pusher!!! There are three chapters in the Sermon on the Mount. The first chapter (Matthew 5) sets the stage or establishes the foundation for this sermon. Jesus announces the PRESENT REALITY of the Kingdom. When the Kingdom of Heaven is announced as present, would not the laws of the Kingdom follow? But Jesus is not presenting a moral system. The reality of the Kingdom of Heaven is Himself. We are found in intimate relationship with Jesus, the King. Therefore, ours is the reality of the “state” of the Kingdom. We do not perform a moral code to be in the Kingdom; we are the Kingdom and the Beatitudes are our benefits (Matthew 5:1-10). The “state of being” is strongly contrasted with the Law of the old system (Matthew 5:21-48).
The middle section of the Sermon on the Mount is the pivotal section of the sermon. This chapter does not focus on the observance of basic religious activities: charitable deeds (Matthew 6:1-4), prayer (Matthew 6:5-15), or fasting (Matthew 6:16-18). This chapter focuses on the marvel of an intimate relationship with Jesus in the Kingdom that affects all activities of life, religious and non-religious. This chapter thunders to a close with “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). What a summary! The Kingdom of God is an intimate relationship between Jesus and me. No wonder I am a Jesus pusher!!!