Jesus preached a long sermon, which is recorded in Matthew 5 through Matthew 7. It is known as the Sermon on the Mount. He had been preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and had been healing all manner of diseases.
Large crowds were following Jesus as His fame spread throughout Galilee and Judea. He was even known on the other side of the Jordan. People were amazed at His teaching. At the end of this sermon, we are told that the people were astonished at His teachings because He taught as someone having authority, not like a scribe. Scribes always prefaced their teachings with the words that a certain Rabbi taught what they were about to speak. Jesus never referenced a Rabbi but instead said, “I say,” several times.
Jesus also referenced the Father several times in this sermon. God is called Father over fifteen times in the Sermon on the Mount – once as “our Father” in 6:9 when giving the model prayer, five times as “thy Father” in verses 5:4, 6, 18 and ten times as “your Father” 5:16, 45, 48; 6:1, 8, 14-15, 26, 32; 7:11.
Matthew 7:21 is the only time that Jesus referenced “my Father,” and it is the last reference in the sermon to the Father. In context, Jesus said that no one will get into Heaven by stating that he is a disciple of Jesus. Jesus stated that it is necessary to do the will of “my Father.” He made several points with that statement. He wanted people present to know that He was preaching His Father’s will. He wanted them to know that He is intimate with His Father. He wanted them to know that obedience is necessary, and Jesus wanted His auditors to know that He is personally related to God, the Father, their God.
I am so glad that the Father sent His Son to earth. I am so glad that Jesus was willing to live and to die for us. I know you want to obey Jesus and His Father. Study your Bible and learn what is necessary to obey Them.
