“People in darkness saw great light”

1. “People in darkness saw great light” The King's Manifesto for Life Study 1 The King’s Manifesto for Life

2. Map of the Lord’s opening ministry Visits Jerusalem for Passover. Meets Nicodemus - Preached through Judea. Converted woman of Samaria. Returns to Cana of Galilee. Makes Capernaum his headquarters. The King’s Manifesto for Life

3. Galilee of the Nations Galilee means “ring” or “the circle” (i.e. of the Gentiles). A long history of invasion and treading down – Isa. 8:21-9:1. Inhabited by mixed races and many Gentiles – Isa. 9:1. Despised by Judean Jews – John 1:46, 7:52. Rejected by Nazareth the Lord made Capurnaum his home – Luke 4:31. The King’s Manifesto for Life

4. Discourse on the mount and plain Plain Luke 6:17-19 • In Galilee – near Capernuam. • Night of prayer in mountain. • Calls 12 disciples. • Stands in plain. • Joined by a large representative multitude. • Is heard, and heals. Mount Matt. 4:23-25 In Galilee – near Capernuam. Preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. Healing all sickness. Famous for healing. Followed by large representative multitude. Climbs a mountain. The King’s Manifesto for Life

5. The Lord’s Galilean Ministry Capernaum – Calls Simon, Andrew, James and John. Many healed. Preaches throughout Galilee. Delivers discourse on the mount. The King’s Manifesto for Life

6. The site of the Discourse “His taking his seat upon this hill in Galilee where he summoned his disciples around him must therefore be seen not as an isolated incident but as part of his whole life. It is a passage within a context - and the context is the revelation of God in Christ.” Bro. L.G. Sargent - The Teaching of the Master, pg.24 The King’s Manifesto for Life

7. Summary of the Manifesto Matthew 5 V.1-12 8 blessings – Portrait of a citizen of Zion V.13-16 Believers’ relationship with the world The new law in operation V.17-20 New and old law – True righteousness V.21-24 The law of the heart V.25-26 Humility in error – judgement and mercy V.27-30 The thought and the act V.31-32 Divorce and fornication V.33-37 The thought and the word V.38-48 The law of love – The Divine standard The King’s Manifesto for Life

8. Summary of the Manifesto Matthew 6 The secret and the manifest V.1-4 Worship in relation to men - Alms V.5-6 Worship in relation to God - Prayer V.7-8 Discipline in prayer V.9-15 The Lord’s prayer V.16-18 Worship in relation to self - Fasting V.19-23 The magnet of the heart V.24-25 The lord of the heart V.26-27 The lord of life – Food and drink V.28-34 The lord of life - Clothing The King’s Manifesto for Life

9. Summary of the Manifesto Matthew 7 Living under judgement V.1-5 Judges or judged? V.6 Pearls and swine V.7-12 The Father’s gift and the son’s response V.13-14 Two ways – Life and death V.15 Danger of false guides V.16-20 Parable of two trees – Known by fruits V.21-23 Deceived self-seekers rejected V.24-27 Parable of two builders - Judgement V.28-29 Effect on his hearers The King’s Manifesto for Life

10. What is a manifesto? MANIFESTO,n. [Latin - manifestus] A public declaration, usually of a prince or sovereign, showing his intentions, or proclaiming his opinions and motives; as a manifesto declaring the purpose of a prince to begin war, and explaining his motives. Webster’s Dictionary The King’s Manifesto for Life

11. Unique Author “From the first of the ‘blessings’ onwards this is a manifesto which could have been issued by the King of the Age to come, and no one else.” Bro. L.G. Sargent - Teaching of the Master, pg.89 The King’s Manifesto for Life

12. The Manifesto based on Ps. 15 Christ’s discourse is based on Ps. 15 – its structure, principles and context among the Psalms. Ps. 15 is in “Genesis” book of Psalms. Introduces the Perfect Man in contrast with “the man of the earth” – Ps. 9-14. Ps. 15 sets forth the true citizen of Zion. This leads to Ps. 16 to 41 which deal with “the man Christ Jesus”. Matt. 4:17-7:29 – Christ’s preaching reveals the character of the true subjects of the Kingdom. The King’s Manifesto for Life

13. Ps. 15 and Matt. 5-7 compared 1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 5:1-12 – A citizen of Zion 5:13-16 – Walking in light 5:17-20 – Works of righteousness 5:21-26 – Heart hatred 5:27-32 – Heart adultery 6:1-4 – Heart almsgiving 6:5-15 – Heart prayer 6:16-18 – Heart fasting 6:19-21 – Heart treasure 6:22-24 – Heart service 6:25-34 – Heart rest The King’s Manifesto for Life

14. Ps. 15 and Matt. 5-7 compared 5:43-48 – Loving neighbours and enemies 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 7:1-5– Avoiding judgement 7:15-23 – Beware of false prophets – known by fruits 5:33-37 – Communication Yea and Nay The King’s Manifesto for Life

15. Ps. 15 and Matt. 5-7 compared 5He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. 5:38-42 – Give to him that asketh 7:24-27 – Building on the Rock The King’s Manifesto for Life

16. The Roots of Matthew 23 Same audience – Matt. 5:1 and 23:1. The scribes and Pharisees centre stage – Matt. 5:20 and 23:2, 13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29. 8 woes match 8 blessings. Beatitudes represent complete character of the Christ-man. Woes represent character of carnal religiosity – self-worship and self-interest. 5th Woe (23:23) relates to mercy, inter-alia. Failure - no under-girding by humility, honesty, teachable-ness and integrity (first 4 blessings). The King’s Manifesto for Life

17. The Eight Blessings and the Eight Woes Blessings -Matt.5:3-12 1. The Kingdom opened to the poor in spirit - V.3 2. Comfort for mourners - V.4 3. The meek to inherit the earth - V.5 4. True righteousness sought by true desire - V.6 Woes - Matt.23:13-33 1. The Kingdom shut by Scribes and Pharisees - V.13 2. Mourners distressed - V.14 3. Fanatics compassing the earth - V.15 4. False righteousness sought by casuistry - V.16-22 The King’s Manifesto for Life

18. What is Casuistry? CASUISTRY, n. The science or doctrine of cases of conscience; the science of resolving cases of doubtful propriety, or of determining the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what a man may do, by rules and principles drawn from the scriptures, from the laws of society, or from equity and natural reason. Webster’s Dictionary The King’s Manifesto for Life

19. The Eight Blessings and the Eight Woes Blessings – Matt. 5:3-12 Woes – Matt.23:13-33 5. Mercy omitted and left undone - V.23-24 6. External purity - Blind to internal corruption - V.25-26 7. Hypocrites & lawless - Divisive and destructive - V.27-28 8. The persecutors condemned - V.29-33 5. The merciful to obtain mercy - V.7 6. The pure within will see God - V.8 7. Peacemakers to be sons of God - V.9 8. The persecuted rewarded - V.10-12 The King’s Manifesto for Life

20. “Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” … The King’s Manifesto for Life

21. Next Study (God willing) Study 2 – “Portrait of a citizen of Zion” The King’s Manifesto for Life

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