Here we have all over again: hearing leads to doing or the hearing is totally useless. Martin Luther, a champion for gospel orthodoxy, says this well: “The doctrine is a good and a precious thing, but it is not being preached for the sake of being heard but for the sake of action and its application to life.”8
Yet, Doing Is Not a New Law
The Sermon is not the Torah on steroids. The Sermon, paradoxically, continues to point us from the demands of Jesus to the Demander, from the laws to the Lawgiver, from what is taught to the One who teaches.9 The Sermon begins with Jesus ascending, like Moses, the mount in order to speak to God’s people how God wants the people to live. It begins, in other words, on a new Moses or a messianic theme. But we fail to read the Sermon aright if we read it as law. It is law, but the striking note is the audacity of the one who deigns to reveal the eschatological Torah for kingdom people.
We are driven, in other words, to see once again the words used by Matthew to close off the Sermon: “because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (7:29). What struck the listeners was the audacity of Jesus to do what Moses did. In the end, enclosing the Sermon as the first part of what runs from 4:23–25 all the way down to 9:35 is that Matthew is saying, “Here’s Jesus!” The implication of his presentation is found right here in 7:13–27: “Either do what he says, or don’t do what he says. It is your choice.”
So, we dare not reduce Christology to ethics. Instead, the Sermon calls us to lift ethics into Christology. What echoes down through the corridors of history when this Sermon is read or preached is that Jesus, in the closing passage, clasped those very words to himself:
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine…
To respond to the Sermon is not to respond to an ethical vision. To respond is to respond to Jesus. The proper response is to declare who he is by the way we live.
Notes
1. On parables, I cannot recommend highly enough the book by K. Snodgrass, Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008).
2. The emphasis of the present tenses in 7:24a (hearing, doing) is not so much to describe an ongoing hearing and doing, or a constant hearing and doing, but instead the present tenses sketch the acts in front of us as if they are happening before our very eyes. Sketched in C. R. Campbell, Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), 40–43.
3. It is fanciful to allegorize “rock” here into a reference to Peter (cf. 16:13–19); rather, “rock” refers to “hearing and doing.”
4. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, 1:81. See also Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God, 292, 334.
5. Keener, Matthew, 255–56; Turner, Matthew, 221.
6. Snodgrass, Stories with Intent, 337.
7. K. Snodgrass, “Reading to Hear: A Hermeneutics of Hearing,” Horizons in Biblical Theology 24 (2002): 1–32. I sketch his stuff in McKnight, Blue Parakeet, 98–103.
8. Luther, Sermon on the Mount, 281.
9. Guelich, Sermon on the Mount, 413.
Scripture Index
Genesis
Ge 1–3; 94
Ge 1–2; 85, 97, 107, 215
Ge 1; 71, 226
Ge 1:26–27; 55, 94
Ge 1:28–30; 164
Ge 1:28; 95
Ge 2:16–17; 162
Ge 2:18; 95
Ge 3; 111
Ge 3:1–16; 95
Ge 3:6; 88
Ge 3:8; 162
Ge 3:14–19; 95
Ge 4; 75, 77
Ge 4:23–24; 122
Ge 6–7; 273, 275
Ge 9:6; 75, 77, 123
Ge 10; 140
Ge 12; 42, 55, 94, 95
Ge 12:10–20; 111
Ge 14:19; 32
Ge 14:22; 118
Ge 15; 64, 94, 95
Ge 17:20; 140
Ge 18:19; 268
Ge 19:5–6; 97
Ge 22:1–19; 186
Ge 22:16–18; 118
Ge 27:1–40; 111
Ge 29:1–30; 111
Ge 37:12–36; 111
Exodus
Ex 3:2; 46
Ex 3:13–15; 176
Ex 4:14; 81
Ex 6:8; 118
Ex 7–8; 268
Ex 16; 181, 215, 216
Ex 19–24; 8, 65, 249
Ex 19; 236
Ex 19:1–24; 256
Ex 19:3; 19, 22
Ex 19:4–6; 55
Ex 19:4; 22
Ex 19:18; 256
Ex 20; 8
Ex 20:1–17; 151
Ex 20:3–5; 170
Ex 20:3; 203, 209
Ex 20:7; 110, 112, 176
Ex 20:13; 75, 77
Ex 20:14; 85, 86
Ex 20:16; 111
Ex 20:17; 87
Ex 20:22–33; 151
Ex 21; 122
Ex 21:10–11; 98
Ex 21:18–19; 123
Ex 21:23–25; 121, 122
Ex 21:24; 123
Ex 21:26–27; 127
Ex 23:11; 155
Ex 24; 236
Ex 24:3; 256
Ex 24:12–13; 19, 22
Ex 25–31; 151
Ex 29:33; 238
Ex 30:35; 57
Ex 32; 169, 170
Ex 32:14; 187
Ex 33:20; 46
Ex 34:1–2; 19, 22
Ex 34:4; 19
Ex 34:28; 24
Ex 34:29; 22
Ex 35–40; 151
Leviticus
Le 2:3; 238
Le 2:13; 57
Le 6:3–5; 112
Le 10–16; 238
Le 11:9–12; 72
Le 11:15; 219
Le 16:29–31; 193, 194
Le 16:30; 80
Le 17–26; 249
Le 17–18; 100, 101
Le 18:16–18; 100
Le 18:21; 177
Le 19; 151
Le 19:9–10; 155
Le 19:9; 203
Le 19:12; 110, 112
Le 19:18; 38, 123, 125, 139, 141, 173, 249, 252
Le 20:10; 85
Le 22:6–7, 10; 238
Le 23:22; 203
Le 23:26–32; 193, 194
Le 24:17–21; 123
Le 24:19–20; 121, 122
Le 24:19; 203
Le 24:20; 123
Le 25; 203
Le 25:18–24; 216
Le 26–27; 29, 32
Le 26; 216
Numbers
Nu 5; 77
Nu 6:1–21; 216
Nu 15:37–41; 162, 249
Nu 18:8–19; 238
Nu 21:5; 181
Nu 30:2–15; 112
Nu 30:3–15; 110, 111
Nu 35:16–34; 75, 77
Nu 35:22–23; 123
Nu 35:31–32; 123
Nu 35:31; 124
Deuteronomy
De 5–8; 65
De 5:1–21; 151
De 5:17; 75, 77
De 5:18; 85, 86
De 6; 256
De 6:4–9; 48, 139
De 6:4–8; 162, 169, 170, 173
De 6:4–5; 249
De 6:4; 209
De 6:5; 74
De 7; 140
De 9:9; 19, 22
De 10:3; 19, 22
De 11:13–21; 162, 249
De 12–26; 151, 249, 256
De 12:30; 140
De 14:9–10; 72
De 14:14; 219
De 15; 151, 155
De 15:9; 208
De 17:8–13; 77
De 18:21–22; 267
De 19:5; 123
De 19:16–21; 126
De 19:21; 121, 122, 123, 124, 129
De 22:19; 97
De 22:22; 85, 87
De 22:28–29; 97
De 23:21–23; 111, 112
De 23:21–22; 110
De 23:23; 112
De 24; 99
De 24:1–4; 94, 96, 101, 102
De 24:1; 96, 98, 101, 102
De 24:12–13; 127
/> De 24:19; 203
De 25:11–12; 123
De 26:16–19; 256
De 28; 29, 32, 33, 43, 63, 203, 204, 216, 258, 264, 273
De 28:3; 32
De 30:15–20; 273
De 32:35; 123
Joshua
Jos 1–5; 256
Jos 23:1–24:28; 256, 257
Judges
Jdg 1:6–7; 123
Jdg 16:28; 122
1 Samuel
1Sa 1:13–17; 166
1Sa 8:5; 140
1Sa 8:20; 140
1Sa 11:2; 89
2 Samuel
2Sa 4:9–12; 123
2Sa 12:1–5; 226, 227
2Sa 12:20; 198
2Sa 14:2; 198
1 Kings
1Ki 2:1–9:9; 236
1Ki 11:1–13; 86
1Ki 11:1–4; 140
1Ki 18; 170
1Ki 18:16–46; 169
1Ki 20:39, 42; 123
2 Kings
2Ki 4:42–44; 216
2Ki 17:7–24; 243
1 Chronicles
1Ch 29:11–13; 187
2 Chronicles
2Ch 3–7; 86
2Ch 9:13–28; 86
2Ch 28:3; 78
Ezra
Ezr 1–6; 257
Ezr 7:1–10; 257
Ezr 9–10; 236
Ezr 9; 140
Nehemiah
Ne 8:1–10:39; 256, 257
Esther
Es 7:10; 123
Job
Job 2:4; 123
Job 6:6; 57
Job 19:26; 46
Job 24:15; 86
Job 31:1; 88
Psalms
Ps 1; 29, 32, 264, 273
Ps 1:1; 32
Ps 8; 55
Ps 9–10; 123
Ps 9:20; 23
Ps 11:7; 46
Ps 23; 172, 216
Ps 23:5; 198
Ps 24; 46
Ps 24:3–4; 46
Ps 24:4; 112
Ps 32:1–2; 32
Ps 32:1; 32
Ps 35:11–16; 194
Ps 35:13; 193
Ps 37; 42
Ps 37:4; 241, 244
Ps 37:8–11; 42
Ps 37:8; 81
Ps 37:11, 22, 42; 42
Ps 50:14; 111, 112
Ps 55; 242
Ps 55:17; 163, 189
Ps 68:5; 175
Ps 69:2; 175
Ps 84:11; 241, 244
Ps 85:10; 48
Ps 103:13–14; 175
Ps 104:15; 198
Ps 106:45; 187
Ps 119; 242
Ps 126:2–6; 41
Ps 139:21–22; 142
Ps 147:9; 219
Ps 149:4; 39
Proverbs
Pr 3:13; 32
Pr 5, 7; 86
Pr 8:17; 243
Pr 8:32; 32
Pr 10:25; 273, 275
Pr 20:7; 32
Pr 20:22; 123, 125
Pr 22:9; 208
Pr 24:29; 123, 125
Pr 25:21–22; 123
Pr 28:20; 32
Pr 30:20; 86
Ecclesiastes
Ec 5:4; 112
Ec 7:9; 81
Song of Songs
So 1–8; 85, 88, 93, 94
So 7:1–8:7; 85
Isaiah
Is 2:1–5; 68
Is 2:2–3; 59
Is 3:14–15; 155
Is 6; 236
Is 6:1–5; 46
Is 9:1–2; 59
Is 9:5–6; 46
Is 9:7; 49
Is 32:17; 49
Is 40–66; 39, 41
Is 42:14; 192
Is 44:6–20; 169, 170
Is 45:23; 118
Is 49:13; 39
Is 49:15; 244
Is 50:6–8; 126
Is 51:4; 55, 58
Is 51:8; 206
Is 52:7–10; 179
Is 58; 193, 194
Is 60:3; 55, 58
Is 61; 29, 33
Is 61:1; 33
Is 61:1–4; 41
Is 61:1–2; 39
Is 61:2, 3; 33
Is 61:6; 55
Is 61:7, 8, 10–11; 33
Is 63:15–16; 175
Is 65:24; 172
Is 66:2; 39
Jeremiah
Je 3:8–9; 85, 86
Je 6:11; 81
Je 9:2; 86
Je 19:2–9; 78
Je 23:9–15; 267
Je 29:13–14; 241, 243
Je 31:9, 20; 175
Je 31:31–34; 25, 65, 68
Je 31:33; 82
Ezekiel
Eze 5:5; 59
Eze 13:10–16; 273, 275
Eze 16:59; 123
Eze 22:27–28; 266
Eze 33:30–32; 273, 274
Eze 36:22; 177
Eze 39:27–28; 177
Daniel
Da 6:10; 163, 166, 189
Da 6:19–24; 123
Da 7:9–10; 46
Da 9:3; 197
Da 12:3; 58
Hosea
Ho 1–3; 85, 86
Ho 1–2; 175
Ho 11:1–4; 175
Joel
Joe 2:13–14; 187
Amos
Am 3:2; 268
Am 7:3–6; 187
Am 8:4–6; 155
Obadiah
Ob 15; 121, 123
Jonah
Jon 3:5; 197
Jon 4:2; 187
Nahum
Na 1:7–8; 275
Haggai
Hag 1; 203
Zechariah
Zec 1:67–79; 170
Zec 7:5; 195
Zec 9:9–10; 46
Zec 11:17; 89
Malachi
Mal 2:13–17; 97
Mal 2:15; 97
Mal 3:11; 206
Matthew
Mt 1–13; 22
Mt 1–2; 68
Mt 1:1–17; 239
Mt 1:19; 44, 97
Mt 1:35; 30
Mt 2:1–12; 239
Mt 3:1–4:22; 21
Mt 3:3; 68
Mt 3:4; 216
Mt 3:8; 276
Mt 3:10; 64, 267, 276
Mt 3:15; 276
Mt 4:1–16; 68
Mt 4:1–11; 185, 200
Mt 4:3; 244
Mt 4:12–16; 239
Mt 4:14–16; 58, 59
Mt 4:15–17; 208
Mt 4:17; 11, 178
Mt 4:18–22; 35, 56, 207
Mt 4:23–9:35; 20
Mt 4:23–25; 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 277
Mt 4:23; 25, 208
Mt 4:25; 21
Mt 5–9; 20
Mt 5–7; 14, 20
Mt 5; 87, 101, 146
Mt 5:1–7:12; 258
Mt 5:1–2; 19
Mt 5:1; 17
Mt 5:3–12; 29, 56, 197, 207
Mt 5:3; 220
Mt 5:6; 70, 220, 276
Mt 5:9; 131, 144
Mt 5:10; 276
Mt 5:11–12; 258, 267
Mt 5:12; 144, 154, 184
Mt 5:13–16; 55, 160, 197
Mt 5:13; 237
Mt 5:14–16; 161
Mt 5:17–7:11; 250
Mt 5:17–48; 22, 44, 56, 68, 258
Mt 5:17–20; 65, 105, 141, 147, 250, 251, 273
Mt 5:19–20; 207
Mt 5:19; 69, 90, 156, 197, 257, 276
Mt 5:20; 44, 90, 141, 144, 145, 276
Mt 5:21–48; 25, 66, 67, 69, 71, 72, 146
Mt 5:21–47; 145
Mt 5:21–26; 47, 75, 89
Mt 5:22; 89, 207, 267, 275
Mt 5:25–26; 118
Mt 5:25; 64
Mt 5:27–30; 85
Mt 5:27; 75
Mt 5:29–30; 207
Mt 5:29, 30; 64
Mt 5:31–32; 94, 143
Mt 5:31; 75
Mt 5:32; 87
Mt 5:33–37; 110
Mt 5:33; 75
Mt 5:37; 125, 186
Mt 5:38–42; 12, 77, 121
Mt 5:38; 75
> Mt 5:40; 228
Mt 5:43–48; 45, 47, 139, 172, 252, 253
Mt 5:43; 75
Mt 5:45; 44, 126, 175
Mt 5:46; 49, 154
Mt 5:48; 90
Mt 6; 17
Mt 6:1–18; 45, 59, 152, 170, 171, 205, 258, 228, 273
Mt 6:1–4; 151
Mt 6:1; 44, 49, 144, 170, 184, 196, 197, 266, 276
Mt 6:2–18; 152
Mt 6:2–4; 163, 170
Mt 6:2; 49, 144, 164, 171, 184
Mt 6:3; 211
Mt 6:5–6; 162, 170, 189
Mt 6:5; 49, 144, 152, 156, 171, 184
Mt 6:6; 152, 245
Mt 6:7–15; 169, 242
Mt 6:7–13; 165
Mt 6:7–8; 219
Mt 6:9–15; 152
Mt 6:9–13; 211, 242
Mt 6:10; 207, 230
Mt 6:11; 217
Mt 6:12; 80
Mt 6:13; 237
Mt 6:14–15; 47, 80
Mt 6:16–18; 170, 182, 193
Mt 6:16; 49, 144, 152, 156, 171, 184
Mt 6:17–18; 152
Mt 6:18; 152
Mt 6:19–34; 12, 205, 258
Mt 6:19–24; 203, 217
Mt 6:19–21; 273
Mt 6:21; 45
Mt 6:22–23; 273
Mt 6:24; 273
Mt 6:25–34; 181, 182, 205, 215, 244
Mt 6:25, 26; 205
Mt 6:28–30; 205
Mt 6:30; 64, 273
Mt 6:31–34; 205
Mt 6:32; 212
Mt 6:33; 276
Mt 7; 17, 242
Mt 7:1–27; 237
Mt 7:1–11; 258
Mt 7:1–6; 32
Mt 7:1–5; 182, 183, 226, 237, 250, 269
Mt 7:6; 233, 236, 250
Mt 7:7–11; 241, 250
Mt 7:11; 125, 237
Mt 7:12; 5, 38, 44, 126, 141, 199, 237, 243, 249, 258, 276
Mt 7:13–27; 27, 195, 197, 228, 265, 273, 276, 277
Mt 7:13–14; 207, 250, 265, 273, 275
Mt 7:13; 275
Mt 7:15–27; 261
Mt 7:15–23; 250, 257, 264, 273
Mt 7:15–20; 208
Mt 7:15; 153
Mt 7:17–18; 126
Mt 7:19; 64, 275
Mt 7:21–27; 90, 207
Mt 7:21–23; 69, 207, 238
Mt 7:21; 40, 180, 257, 275
Mt 7:23; 275, 276
Mt 7:24–8:1; 19
Mt 7:24–27; 19, 20, 250, 257, 267, 273
Mt 7:28–8:1; 19
Mt 7:28–29; 8, 19
Mt 7:28; 17
Mt 7:29; 277
Mt 8–9; 20
Mt 8:1; 21, 22
Mt 8:5–13; 148
Mt 8:11–12; 69
Mt 8:11; 40, 257, 259
Mt 8:12; 48
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