The Impact of Jesus' Words Facts for 3-8 Year Olds

Categories: Sermon on the Mount

• At the end of the Sermon, Matthew talks about the impact of Jesus' teaching upon the crowds. 
• He puts the focus on Jesus himself.
•  “And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
• “And it came to pass” is a phrase that Matthew uses to let readers know that something important has happened.
• The word “finished,” here, has the meaning of being “fulfilled.” We can think of being filled full up with Jesus’ teachings.
• Jesus begins this Sermon by going up the mountain and having his disciples join him. 
• It gives the idea that he moves away from the crowds in order to privately teach his disciples.
• Now at the end, it seems that the “crowds” have been there all along also listening.
• No doubt, Matthew wants all Christ-followers to hear these words.
• And they were “amazed.” The Amplified New Testament translation says that the crowds “were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder.”
• This phrase, being amazed, is most likely, copied from the gospel of Mark (1:22ff) when Jesus has finished teaching at Capernaum.
• There, too, the people are “amazed.”
• This “amazed” is a continuous action. It’s not a one-time response; people are amazed again and again. The amazement lasts a long time.
• The word “teachings” also suggests repeated teachings—teaching over and over.
• The reason for all this amazement is not just the words Jesus has used, but his sense of authority (power) in speaking them. 
• Going forward, Jesus will use that authority to forgive sins, heal the sick, and cast out demons.
• The crowds compare his teachings with those of “their teachers of the law.”
• These teachers are people who devote their lives to studying the law.
• They quote a lot of scripture (bible) or figure out the meaning and intent of the words of teachers who lived or taught before them.
• This becomes known as the “oral law,” and much of it involves trivial matters, like the proper length of a tassel or how to properly wash a cup.
• The only times Jesus quotes the law is when he wants to explain it in a different way.
• He repeatedly uses the phrase, “you have heard it said…but I say unto you….”
• Jesus speaks of important issues: anger, kindness, eternity.
• He speaks so forcefully that it becomes obvious that he has God’s authority.
• Jesus talks about God’s purpose for their lives.
• In 7:21 he says “many will come to me.”
• Jesus, alongside the Father, explains the difference between true and false disciples.
• At the end of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus will state: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt 28:18). 
• It’s an amazing claim and sets Jesus apart from all others.
• There’s nothing said to tell us if the crowds follow Jesus’ teachings or not.
• The Sermon on the Mount calls its listeners to be doers. 
• So let’s look at the order and flow of the Sermon.
• The blessings come first; it is because of the blessings, because of God’s gifts that followers are commanded and enabled to do any of Jesus’ words. 
• No one can do any part of the Sermon without the blessings. 
• The Sermon describes a process, a way of living in relation to God and other people. 
• The path will be difficult, but it’s important, and it’s up to us to live it.
• The Sermon remains a standard for those who possess the Christ spirit and live in the kingdom of God.
• And we can follow it.