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own desires. It was indeed His fearless Second, Luke provides for us informa-
preaching opposing such behaviour that tion that Matthew 5 and Mark 3, in their
increasingly incensed these religious parallel accounts, do not. He informs
leaders, enhancing their desire to be rid us that farther up that same mount our
of Him. They hated Him without a cause. blessed Saviour spent the entire previous
Any preacher whose lifestyle contradicts night in prayer to His God. He had with
Scripture, who performs in order to be Him a multitude of followers, from whom,
seen of men, who leaves people with the when it was day, He chose the 12 disciples.
impression that human tradition is equiv- It was following this, as the multitude
alent to God’s Word, or who subtracts ascended the mountain to find Him, that
from Holy Scripture is a failed preacher. He appropriately descended slightly to an
Not so Christ! The authoritative Preacher area of a plain on the mountain perfectly
was in their midst. accommodated to such large crowds who
had come to hear Him. What practical
The Approved Preacher lessons we learn from this. How essential

In any study of the Bible, it’s always it is for a man to be in touch with his God
essential that we compare Scripture with before he can be in touch with the people.
Scripture in order to glean a complete Every preacher should also remember
picture of recorded narratives. Although that he must descend from the heights of
the closet to the plain of the pulpit. The
Matthew states (ch5) that our blessed Lord difference between exegesis and exposi-
“went up into a mountain” to be “seated” tion is illustrated this way: The unmixed
and teach the people, Luke identifies in his ingredients of a cake would be unpalat-
testimony that Christ “came down” and able, but mixed and baked taste delicious.
“stood in the plain” to teach (Luk 6:17). Likewise, to deliver only complicated
Why the difference? word studies to your audience will largely
First, Matthew is the Gospel of the leave them scratching their heads, but
King. How appropriate that he notes to expound in plain language what you
our Lord ascending a mountain to open have gleaned after the exegesis is done in
His teaching on subjects concerning the the study will be for edification. Lastly,
kingdom. We read elsewhere in Scrip- what Christ was and taught before His
ture that a mountain is seen figuratively disciples in private was what He was and
as a kingdom (Dan 2:34-45). The stone taught the people in public. Neither God
(Christ) that is cut out of the mountain nor any disciple raised an eyebrow when
by God will smash the final kingdoms of this blessed Man spoke. He was indeed a
this world and become a mountain (mil- preacher “approved of God” (Act 2:22).
lennial kingdom) which fills the whole Lord willing, in successive articles we’ll
earth. Moreover, the mountain is a place focus our attention on the opening and
of elevation, and, fittingly, Christ would closing public ministry of Christ. We invite
indicate that this truth was not from men you to stand with us upon the mountain
but from God. May every preacher of the in Galilee, before making our way directly
Lord be reminded of the immense dignity to Jerusalem where just days before His
of handling divine, elevated matters far crucifixion our Master will deliver His final
above human wisdom and the minds of message to the people. May we glean truth
men. and allow it to transform our lives.

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