"When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him." Matthew 5:1 (CSB)
We spoke yesterday that He had observed closely those following Him,
He then went up on a mountain to instruct them.
Very often the noting of the place where a particular utterance was made
supplies a key to its interpretation. For
example, in Matthew 13:36, Christ is seen entering " into the house,"
where He made known unto His own the inner secrets of His kingdom. In Luke’s
Gospel Christ is seen as a man (the perfect Man) among men, and there He delivers
a sermon "in the plain" (6:17)—descending as it were to a common
level.
But in Matthew, His royal
authority is in view, and consequently, He is seen again in an elevated place. In
the seventeenth chapter, we behold Him transfigured on the mount. In 24:3, He
delivers His great prophetic discourse from a mount. Then in 28:6, we see the
Conqueror of death commissioning His disciples from the mount.
So here in verse 1, He ascends
the mount when about to give forth the manifesto of His kingdom.
Many scholars think that Matthew
probably recalls Moses' revelation on Mount Sinai (Ex 19:3) here. In Exodus, we
find the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Here we find Jesus explaining
Kingdom Living under Grace.
If so, Jesus' superior revelation
also makes him superior to those who "sit in Moses' seat" (Mt 23:2)
(i.e. the Pharisees). The One greater than Moses, first encountered in 2:13-20,
has begun his mission.
Consider this today – what place
does the One greater than Moses have in your participation of worship today? Is
He primary – or do other things control your attention in worship? Music?
Atmosphere? Lighting? Comfort? As you seek to fellowship and worship the One
greater than Moses today, focus entirely on Him. Make Him the central concept
of your thoughts. Make Him the center, the point of contact with God today.
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