Who was Jesus addressing the Sermon on the Mount to?

[Jim Parker]

Could they be saved if they obeyed what Christ taught ?

a few thoughts:

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Those who, like the are materially poor, are totally dependent upon God and do not trust in their own wealth and power but realize their poverty with regard to their own ability to gain eternal life and, therefore, call upon the Lord to be merciful.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Those who mourn because of the separation from God which is the result of their own sin will be comforted. They mourn for the suffering of this life and for those who destroy their own lives through unrepentant sin. Those who mourn for their sins realize the possibility of loss of eternal life and are led to repentance. This condition is in contrast to the one who is not concerned with his sin; who concludes, "I'm a good person."

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Meekness is an attitude of being content with both honor and dishonor as was Jesus. The meek are god-controlled and have mastery over the passions. Like Jesus, they do not respond with anger at being slandered, lied about, spit upon, mocked and punished unjustly but trust in God for their vindication which may well not be seen until the resurrection. (Also like Jesus)

Mat 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
These are people who realize their fallen state and yearn for cleansing which comes from the Lord. (See Psalm 51) These are desperate for what is righteous in God's sight to the extent that a starving person is desperate for food. And they will be filled.

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
If you want Jesus to be merciful toward you at the judgment you had best be merciful to others in this life. (Mat 25:31-46)

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Those who are completely devoted to the worship and service of God and accept no compromises. These strive, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to be perfect in virtue, to remove all evil from their lives, and live in temperance. When the soul's only desire is God and a person's will holds to that desire, that person will see God everywhere.

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Jesus is the archetype of the peacemaker. He made peace between God and God's enemies by laying down His life for the world including those who loved Him and those who hated Him. The peacemaker puts other's need for peace with God above any personal need. Peacemakers imitate Christ the peacemaker.

Mat 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
These are persecuted because they, like Christ before them, have become the light of the world and those of the darkness are infuriated by their light because it exposed their evil. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven because they are showing forth the kingdom of heaven already by their works; by being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (5:13,14)

Mat 5:11-12 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Having demonstrated the kingdom of God and Christ to the world, your reward i heaven is secure.

 

[tdidymas]

Jesus founded the Church.

Abraham was the first member.

When you say "first" are you talking about priority, or about chronology?

I have an objection to the idea that Abraham was first chronologically, since Heb. 11:4-7 talk about Abel, Enoch, and Noah prior to Abraham. Abel had faith that pleased God, therefore, he was a forerunner-believer in the coming Messiah. He also typed Christ's sacrifice with the best of his flock, so he was also a prophet. He was also said to be righteous, therefore he had to have believed in the one to come mentioned in Gen. 3:15.
TD

 

[Edward]

The Sermon on the mount is the longest continuous section of Jesus speaking found in the New Testament, and has been one of the most widely quoted elements of the Canonical Gospels. It includes some of the best known teachings of Jesus, such as the Beatitudes, and the widely recited Lord's Prayer. The Sermon on the Mount is generally considered to contain the central tenets of Christian discipleship.
(Wikipedia)

Matthew 5:
1Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ESV

and Matthew 7 ends:

28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the CROWDS were astonished at his teaching, 29for he was TEACHING THEM as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. ESV

Matthew 8:1 tells us :
"When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him"

It appears from all the above verses that Christ was teaching a mixed crowd. Not just His disciples.
Mahatma Gandhi was one of thousands across the globe who were deeply moved and inspired by the The Sermon on the mount.
Did the sermon on the mount teachings then apply to non Christian also ?
Could they be saved if they obeyed what Christ taught ?

You nailed it. Yes they could be saved, the teachings of scripture are for every single man & woman on earth.

 

[JLB]

When you say "first" are you talking about priority, or about chronology?

I have an objection to the idea that Abraham was first chronologically, since Heb. 11:4-7 talk about Abel, Enoch, and Noah prior to Abraham. Abel had faith that pleased God, therefore, he was a forerunner-believer in the coming Messiah. He also typed Christ's sacrifice with the best of his flock, so he was also a prophet. He was also said to be righteous, therefore he had to have believed in the one to come mentioned in Gen. 3:15.
TD

The Lord made a Covenant with Abraham, which included his descendants, in that they would be an assembly or a holy nation of people for the Lord, whom the Lord Himself would one day be a part of when He became flesh.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
Genesis 17:1-4


So Abraham was the first or founding member, in which he is called the father of many nations of which God has called out a people to be His own holy nation, a Royal Priesthood a people of God Himself.

Does this mean other individuals before him didn’t have faith? Certainly not.


Remember paradise was called Abraham’s Bosom.


JLB

 

[chessman]

So Abraham was the first or founding member,

I always thought Christ was the foundation of the church.

And He Himself is the head of the body, the church.... Who is the beginning , the firstborn from the dead, in order that He Himself might come-to-be holding-first-place in all things,​

Colossians 1:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians 1:18&version=DLNT

 

[JLB]

I always thought Christ was the foundation of the church.

And He Himself is the head of the body, the church.... Who is the beginning , the firstborn from the dead, in order that He Himself might come-to-be holding-first-place in all things,​

Colossians 1:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians 1:18&version=DLNT

I said founding father, not foundation.


However, since you just need to prove me wrong...

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
Ephesians 2:20


I see agree with you though in spirit, as we build our lives on the Rock, who is our Foundation. His words are what we are to build our lives upon.


The covenant the Lord made with Abraham is the root, that supports the whole tree.

So in that sense I say Abraham is the founding father of the assembly, the ecclesia, the called out ones, that is the Church.


JLB

 

[tdidymas]

The Lord made a Covenant with Abraham, which included his descendants, in that they would be an assembly or a holy nation of people for the Lord, whom the Lord Himself would one day be a part of when He became flesh.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
Genesis 17:1-4


So Abraham was the first or founding member, in which he is called the father of many nations of which God has called out a people to be His own holy nation, a Royal Priesthood a people of God Himself.

Does this mean other individuals before him didn’t have faith? Certainly not.


Remember paradise was called Abraham’s Bosom.


JLB

Ok, I'll take this to mean you are talking about priority, that Abraham was foremost in the OT church.
TD