In 1947, Brother Harvey Scott who, at the time was preaching for the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Texarkana, authored a booklet titled The Sermon On The Mount – “The Constitution of Christianity.” I would like to share some of what he wrote. The only change I have made is to use the NKJV in the verses quoted below rather than the translation brother Scott used. (Jim Mitchell)
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:12-17)
“Matthew does not mention Jesus’ early ministry in Judea. He begins his story of the work of our Lord in Galilee with the statement quoted above; that when he heard of the imprisonment of John he went into Galilee and began to teach. … John is given time to prepare the way of the Lord. He leaves the scene of action before Jesus begins his work. John is eclipsed before Jesus shines forth; for when Jesus the Son of Righteoueness begins to shine, all other teachers whom God had chosen and had given to the world cease to shine and are lost in the brightness of the light of the world as the moon and the stars lose their brightness when the sun rises and fills the earth with its light and glory. … The work of John and the prophets of the Old Testament were to introduce Jesus into the world; and when God had put all his words in the mouth of Jesus and had declared from the mountain that “This is My beloved Son in whim I am well pleased, hear him,” the world is to hear Jesus as God’s representative from that time on. Matthew 17:1-5. “In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” Colossians 2:9. There is nothing left for anyone else; for “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth,” said Jesus. Matthew 28:18.”
“The theme of Jesus’ teaching” [was] “the same as that of John – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” or is coming, or is drawing near. The Jews had been looking for this kingdom for many years, but their conception of the nature and extent of the kingdom was different from that which Jesus proclaimed. They were expecting that their Messiah when he came would establish again the Jewish nation and bring into subjection all the other nations around them. This he would do with his throne in the city of Jerusalem in the land of Palestine. This was not the conception which Jesus had of the kingdom, and it certainly is not the conception which he taught. Jesus said that “My kingdom is not of this world.” His kingdom was to be a spiritual kingdom with his throne in the city of Jerusalem which is above and the mother of us all. See Galatians 4:21-31.” [from pages 10-12]
As you read through the above quotes, several thoughts may have come to mind. Perhaps the statement of Jesus not leaving the area around Jerusalem until after John the Baptizer was arrested is a detail rarely remembered or mentioned. It is also possible that in echoing one’s agreement with what is reprinted above, the question might be – “so what?” However, the significance and timeliness of being reminded of the background behind and purpose of the teaching of Jesus will always be needed. We live in a religious world where the false idea and teaching of a rebuilding of the physical temple in Jerusalem and of the ushering in of an earthly kingdom of God continues to be proclaimed in the denominational world. Such a point of view misses the intent of God in reestablishing His relationship with humanity through Jesus and ruling in the heart rather than from a geographical location, even though that was foretold in the Old Testament (see Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:8, 13; 12:24).
Interestingly, in the preface of this booklet, brother Scott wrote that when he first presented this material in sermon form, one of the elders, Judge Reuben A. Hall, who was Chief Justice of the Court of Civil Appeals, stated “The Sermon on the Mount is not only the constitution of Christianity, it is also the Christian’s Bill of Rights.” Brother Scott writes, “For this statement, I am deeply grateful to Judge Hall, and shall have a deeper appreciation of the teaching of Jesus as I continue my study of “The Teaching on the Hill.”
May we endeavor to learn more and apply more of the teachings of Jesus every day we are blessed to live upon the earth. Have a blessed week! (Jim)