Sermon on The Mount is Only For Unbelieving Jews
Sad, but true, most Christians miss the point that the sermon on the mount is only a message for unbelieving Jews chasing out the law for righteousness.
For as long as I can remember, Christians have been told that the sermon on the mount is a message for Christians and how we should live or strive to live. But the truth is, anyone who hears this sermon is supposed to walk away, feeling totally condemned with no hope. Hell bound. No one should hear this message and feel like that should be their goal for daily living.
In the short video, we are going to examine Matthew 5 and we are going to break it down piece by piece. You will discover a few things:
- The sermon is only addressing Jewish people
- Jesus is going to show them they don’t even understand how perfect and holy the law REALLY is
- When Jesus gets done pointing out the true stand of the law, every human being on earth should be realizing how hopeless they are, and how desperately they need a better covenant found it on better hopes
This, if nothing else, should show us how we all need Jesus, forgiveness, the cross, and the promises of being saved, through faith, apart from works of the law.
Author: Mike Cynar
Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as ‘back sliders’ or ‘fake Christians’ just looking for ‘fire insurance’. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church’s message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one’s flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one’s identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don’t partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel – that our righteousness comes from Jesus’ actions, not our own – Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, “Jesus Without Religion” was born.
It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it’s true, if you’re convinced that God thinks you’re a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.
6 Comments
Hi! I’m blown away by this thank you for clearing this up!! It makes perfect sense! Can you explain tho chapter 7 about prayer and fasting? Is that still a part of the sermon on the mount? Also at the end when he said in chapter 7:26 Matthew 7:26
[26] And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. Is he still talking about the law? At what point is he introducing the “better way” to them? Is it when it starts at ask and ye shall receive? Sorry for all the questions:) thanks!
There’s a whole lot going on here. On one hand, he’s showing how hopeless you are under the law. But on the other hand, he’s bringing in a new message that will be found in through faith alone.
So, in the beginning of chapter 7, we’re saying that, however you judge other people that is the same way you will be judged.
The Pharisees, for example, or judging everyone else, by the standard of the law. And that’s exactly how they can expect to be judged. As Christians, we judge people’s salvation according to their faith, not their works. And that is how we will be judged on the final day. So there are two audiences getting a separate message. I guess the old expression, ‘if the shoe fits, wear it’, will come in to play.
Then we get through the part about prayer. But I don’t think he’s saying ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. I think that is a deep misunderstanding of the Scriptures. In fact, 1 Tim 6:5 tells us that “those who think godliness is a means of financial gain or of depraved mind”. So what he’s really saying in Matthew 7 is anyone who asked to receive Christ will receive him. It’s a promise of salvation. To anyone who seeks, or knocks, we will find him.
So about your question in verse 26. What are the words of his? He’s warning us to watch out for the false prophets. These are people like the Pharisees, who claim that the way to God is still the law, and human effort, and the temple, and animal sacrifices.. They are liars, who greatly destroy the word of God. God is calling us to seek him. He wants us to knock, and promises he will open the door. In other words, whosoever calls on the name of the Lord WILL be saved. The force man is the one who is listening to the Pharisees. The Pharisees are the false prophets. And we find modern day Pharisees, and even the most popular Christian churches today.
Great explanation thank you so much! This is life changing! Is there an email I can ask you more questions? I would rather them not be public. There are a couple of topics such as baptism I’m trying to understand. Thanks!
Yep, you may email me at info@jesuswithoutreligion.com. Regarding baptism, this video should really help 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LesTF2MDso&t=360s
Jesus is the end of the law FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, not the end of the law.Matthew 5:17-19 ESV
[17] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. [19] Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Brother, it seems you may have a confused or muddled understanding of the Old Testament law versus the New Testament covenant.
First, let me clarify what I actually said. I never claimed that the law no longer exists. If you’re arguing against that, you’re debating a point I never made.
What I did say—and what Scripture clearly teaches—is that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness (Romans 10:4). You acknowledged this, yet the rest of your response seems to imply that Christians still have some ongoing obligation to the law. If that’s your belief, then I respectfully say you’re mistaken.
You also referenced verses from the Gospels—particularly Matthew—as if they represent post-cross Christian doctrine. But we must be careful. Jesus’ earthly ministry occurred under the Old Covenant. The New Covenant wasn’t enacted until after His death:
Hebrews 9:16-17 – “For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead; it is NEVER in force while the one who made it lives.”
The teachings you quoted from Jesus before His crucifixion are directed toward people still under the Old Covenant. Post-cross theology is revealed through the apostles, and it radically shifts our relationship to the law.
Let’s look at what the New Testament actually says after the cross:
Galatians 3:23-25 – “Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law… The law was our guardian until Christ came… Now that this faith has come, we are NO LONGER under a guardian.”
Romans 3:28 – “We maintain that a person is justified by faith APART from the works of the law.”
Hebrews 8:13 – “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one OBSOLETE; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”
2 Corinthians 3:7 – “The ministry that brought DEATH, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory… but it faded.”
Romans 6:14 – “You are NOT under law, but under grace.”
Romans 5:20 – “The law was brought in so that the trespass might INCREASE.”
Hebrews 7:18-19 – “The former regulation is SET ASIDE because it was WEAK AND USELESS (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.”
Nowhere after the resurrection are believers commanded to live under the Mosaic Law. In fact, we are repeatedly warned against going back to it. Paul even calls it “a ministry of death” and “condemnation.” Why, then, would any Christian want to return to a system that was never intended to bring righteousness? It’s teh equivalent of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (The Law), and all you need is the tree of life (Jesus).
And let’s not forget: unless you are ethnically Jewish, the law was never given to you in the first place:
Ephesians 2:12-13 – “You were EXCLUDED from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise… But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Romans 2:14 – “When Gentiles, who DO NOT have the law, do by nature things required by the law… they are a law for themselves.”
The law is holy and perfect, yes—but its function was never to make people righteous. It was to shut every mouth and expose humanity’s desperate need for a Savior (Romans 3:19). It was designed to lead us to Christ, not to be mingled with grace.
James 2:10 – “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just ONE POINT is guilty of breaking ALL of it.”
Trying to live by the law is a burden no one can bear. It leads only to guilt and condemnation. That’s why Paul, Peter, and the other apostles fought so fiercely against those who tried to bring believers back under its yoke.
So again, I challenge you: what exactly do you believe your relationship is with the law as a Christian? If you’re under grace, you cannot also be under the law. That’s not how the New Covenant works.
Let’s not mix old wine with new wineskins (Matthew 9:17). We have something far better now—a covenant founded on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). So let’s walk in that freedom, and stop trying to drag others back into bondage.
Grace and peace to you.