Pastor's Pen
September/October 2002

Although the Sermon on the Mount represents the higher standard of the New Testament, it is a message that is within reach of the common layman. When the law of Moses was given, 3000 perished. The law of Moses was not attainable (in its fullest sense) because there was not the enabling grace to fulfill it. It was an inferior covenant!

When the New Covenant was effectuated (on the day of Pentecost) there were 3000 that were made alive. The New Covenant represents grace and divine help. The New Covenant represents power to live the life! The Sermon on the Mount introduces us to the New Covenant, which is an attainable covenant.

What has made this sermon to appear to be so unattainable, is the imbalanced interpretation and teaching of its message. The Sermon on the Mount has been a subject of much controversy over the centuries. There have been those who insisted that it was to be taken literally – to the letter. That means, if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out! That means, if you need to pray, look for a closet.

There have been others who have contested that it can only be fulfilled by clerics. Many joined the monastic societies and orders because they felt that, that was the only way the sermon could be fulfilled. Still, others have embraced many strange and ambiguous interpretations.

One thing is sure; God’s people have suffered many needless afflictions and miseries because of an imbalanced perception of its true message: People have suffered criminal assaults, people have been victimized with unjust lawsuits, personal damages, not to mention condemnation and guilt. As the prophet said: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

It is the Lord’s desire for His people to understand His ways. We are the New Covenant people. We are the people that should have the law written upon our hearts so that we too can teach the nations. May the Lord give us the grace to rightly divide and balance this beautiful message into our everyday life!