The Teacher Jesus

The Teacher Jesus

Jesus is the greatest Teacher, and His Sermon on the Mount lays the foundation for true discipleship. The Beatitudes remind us that God blesses the poor, the mourning, the meek, and even the persecuted. He calls us not only to outward obedience but to inward transformation.

True righteousness goes beyond appearances — anger must be replaced with reconciliation, lust with purity, and hatred with love for our enemies. Jesus urges us to seek God’s approval above all else and to build our lives on His Word.

The Sermon on the Mount is not just for leaders or “advanced” Christians; it is for all disciples. It challenges us to be teachable, humble, and obedient, so that our lives bear fruit that pleases God.

Introduction

  • Jesus as the Teacher (Matthew 5:1–2).

  • The Sermon on the Mount as the foundation of Christian living.

  • Distinction between teaching (maturing, shaping hearts) and preaching (proclaiming with authority).

I. The Beatitudes – The Heart of the Kingdom (Matthew 5:3–12)

  • Jesus blesses the poor, the mourning, the meek, the merciful, and the persecuted.

  • Message: God values the forgotten and marginalized.

  • Challenge: Do we reflect these qualities in our inner lives?

II. Teaching vs. Preaching

  • Preaching: inspires, proclaims, excites.

  • Teaching: shapes, nurtures, and transforms the heart.

  • Posture of a disciple: humble, moldable, childlike (Matthew 18:3).

  • Example: Even Judas, Peter, and Thomas were in Jesus’ “classroom.”

III. Righteousness from the Inside Out (Matthew 5:20)

  • Warning against Pharisaical hypocrisy—outward religion without inner transformation.

  • True righteousness goes beyond appearances.

  • The heart is where the real battle lies.

IV. Key Lessons from Matthew 5

  1. Anger and Reconciliation (vv. 21–22)

    • Reconciliation must come before worship.

  2. Lust and Purity (vv. 27–28)

    • Sin begins in the heart, not just in outward actions.

  3. Love for Enemies (vv. 43–48)

    • Loving only those who love us is not enough.

    • True disciples love beyond boundaries.

V. Living for God’s Approval (Matthew 6)

  • Prayer, fasting, and giving must be for God, not people.

  • Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

  • God provides—worry is unnecessary when our priorities are right.

VI. Authentic Discipleship (Matthew 7)

  • True disciples bear fruit through obedience.

  • Warning: “Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter” (Matthew 7:21).

  • Faith is proven by doing God’s will, not just religious words.

  • The wise builder: hearing and obeying is the foundation of faith (Matthew 7:24–27).

VII. Application

  • Check our posture of teachability.

  • Are we allowing Jesus to reshape our inner lives?

  • Are we bearing fruit that reflects obedience, not just outward religion?

  • Do we live to please God, or just people?

Conclusion

  • The Sermon on the Mount reveals God’s true standard—higher than our own.

  • The law shows our need; only Christ fulfills it.

  • True transformation comes through surrender to Jesus, the perfect Teacher.

  • Call to action: read Matthew 5–7, examine your heart, and commit to obedience.