The Place of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew

      The Sermon on the Mount is part of the early ministry of Jesus in Galilee.  Matthew sandwiches the Sermon on the Mount between two refrains: 

"And he went through all Galilee teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people."  (Matthew 4:23)

"And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction."  (Matthew 9:35)

     These verses both mention two ideas:  Jesus was proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom and what the Kingdom would be like.  He was also demonstrating the power in that Kingdom.  Teaching and proclaiming on one hand, and healing every disease on the other.

     These two ideas help us to understand the material between these verses.  At every synagogue He passed Jesus announced the coming of the Kingdom of God and what it would be like.  The Sermon on the Mount is a part of the teaching.  After the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7), we have the power of that Kingdom demonstrated.  Aspects of Jesus' healing ministry follow in Matthew 8-9.

     Matthew is making the argument that the Word of Christ and the witness of Christ go together.  The Sermon on the Mount explains the power of the miracles.  The miracles demonstrate that the Kingdom of God has truly come. The witness of the words and the miracles were unmistakable.  God was walking among them and calling mankind to Himself.