The Big Picture
Describe the eras of the Creation and Fall.
God creates a perfect world, but humans sin and ruin it.
This was the empire occupying Israel in Jesus’ time.
What is the Roman Empire?
The primary concern of the Sermon's introduction.
What is Kingdom Identity?
The topic of the first section of the introduction.
What are the Beatitudes (the Blessings)?
What Jesus claimed he came to do.
What is "to fulfill the Law and the Prophets"?
Describe the eras of the Covenant and Exile.
God makes a partnership with Israel, but they break it and are punished via exile in Babylon.
This describes the everyday life of most common people in Jesus’ time.
What is poor, powerless, and oppressed?
The primary concern of the Sermon's body?
What is a Greater Righteousness?
The topic of the second part of the introduction.
What is being salt?
This is as bad as murder according to Jesus.
What is angrily belittling someone?
Describe the eras of the Messiah and Church.
Jesus lives, dies, and resurrects, and his followers are called to make disciples of all nations.
This is a Jewish leader who believed in strict obedience to the Torah.
What is a Pharisee?
The primary concern of the Sermon's conclusion.
What is the Choice?
The topic of the third part of the introduction.
What is being the light of the world?
This is adultery according to Jesus.
What is objectifying someone?
Describe the era of Re-creation.
Jesus returns, judges the wicked, and God restores the world to its original, perfect state.
This is a Jewish leader who believed in cooperating with Rome.
What is a Sadducee?
The entire Sermon on the Mount is concerned with this.
What is the Kingdom of Heaven?
What Jesus calls the poor and powerless in the Beatitudes.
What is "blessed"?
Only for adultery or for any reason.
What is the Torah debate on divorce?
Explain why it is important to understand the big picture to understand the Sermon on the Mount.
- To understand many of the references Jesus makes.
- To understand the goal of Jesus' teachings.
This is a Jew who believed in a violent revolt against Rome.
What is a Zealot?
The Sermon is consistently divided into these.
To preserve the God/human partnership and bring hope to the world.
What is the meaning of salt and light?
To protect women from being needlessly cast aside.
What is the reason Jesus taught divorce only for adultery?