Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: Mandating a Better Righteousness

373 Pages·2013·3.041 MB·English

by  Jack R. Lundbom

The heart of the Sermon—
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Through careful attention to the structure of Matthew’s Gospel and the place of the
Sermon within it, keen sensitivity to the patterns and themes of Israelite prophecy, and D
judicious comparisons with other Jewish and rabbinic literature, Jack R. Lundbom elu­ B
cidates the meaning of the Sermon and its continuity with Israel’s prophetic heritage O
as well as the best of Jewish teaching. By deft appeal to Christian commentators on the M Jesus’ Sermon
Sermon, Lundbom brings its most important themes to life for the contemporary reader.
Praise for Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount on the Mount
“Jack R. Lundbom writes with passion and power as a Christian rabbi and prophet. J
He not only draws upon the Old Testament and rabbinic sources to exegete e
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount but also interprets the Sermon in light of centuries
s
Mandating a
of Christian insights, so as to proclaim the mandate of holy living for our gen­
u
eration today. A highly academic yet readable and practical book.”
Better Righteousness
s
K. K. Yeo, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
’

“Drawing deeply on the author’s seasoned scholarship, and remarkably accessible S Jack R. Lundbom
to the general reader, the book offers a fresh and engaging study of the Sermon
e
on the Mount. Jack Lundbom places the teachings of the Sermon into the broad
r
context of the Bible, ancient Jewish teachings, and the history of interpreta­
tion for the sake of clarifying the sometimes perplexing, always challenging, m
pronouncements of the Sermon. Moreover, he draws upon hymns, devotional
literature, and pastoral experience to illustrate how the teachings of the Ser­
o
mon can be applied to life in the present. The book is an excellent resource
for the preacher, teacher, and any student of the Bible who is looking for solid n
scholarship and insightful application for service to the church and for per­

sonal reflection.” o
Arland J. Hultgren, Emeritus, Luther Seminary
n
“Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is a gold mine of Old Testament and ancient Jewish
texts used to interpret Jesus’ programmatic statement of how to live a holy life.
t
Devotional and realistic regarding the challenges of following Jesus, the study at
h
times softens, yet always sharpens how the words of Jesus apply to today. Lund­
bom’s work also places the Sermon in dialogue with e
others who have learned from it over the centu­

ries—from early church authors to reformers such as M
Luther, Calvin, and Wesley, and from Kierkegaard to
the hymns of Swedish Pietism.”
o
Walter F. Taylor Jr., Trinity Lutheran Seminary
u
JACK R. LUNDBOM is a professor at the University n
of Cambridge. He is the author of Jeremiah: A Study
t
in Ancient Hebrew Rhetoric (1997), the three­volume
commentary Jeremiah (1999 –2004), and from For­
tress Press, The Hebrew Prophets: An Introduction
(2010).
RELIGION / NEW TESTAMENT
The Beatitudes in Chinese

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount

Jesus' Sermon on the
Mount
Mandating a Better Righteousness
Jack R. Lundbom
Fortress Press
Minneapolis
JESUS’ SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Mandating a Better Righteousness
Copyright © 2015 Fortress Press. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in
critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without
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55440.
Cover image:Sankt Matthæus Kirke, Copenhagen, Denmark. /Altarpiece – “Sermon on
the Mount” – detail By Henrik Olrik
Cover design: Alisha Lofgren
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Print ISBN: 978-1-4514-9302-3
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4514-9422-8
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To
Elder Lindahl

Contents
Preface xiii
Abbreviations xvii
The Sermon on the Mount xxv
Introduction 1
Part I.The Sermon on the Mount and the Gospel
of Matthew
1. Rhetoric and Composition in Matthew 5
2. The New Covenant in Matthew 27
3. At What Elevation Is Jesus’ Sermon on the 45
Mount?
4. Imitatio Dei in the Sermon on the Mount 71
Part II.The Sermon on the Mount
5. Jesus on the Mountain (5:1-2) 89
6. The Blessings (5:3-12) 93
7. Be Salt and Light in the World (5:13-16) 129