Bishop NT Wright says this of this very well know speech of Jesus:
“The sermon…is not a mere miscellany of ethical instruction. It cannot be generalized into a set of suggestions, or even commands, on how to be ‘good’. Nor can it be turned into a guidemap for how to go to ‘heaven’ after death. It is rather, as it stands, a challenge to Israel to be Israel.” (Jesus and the Victory of God, 288 – emphasis mine)
It is important to note that Jesus came not just as Savior, but he came as Israel true and rightful teacher of the Law. Or to say it slightly different, as Savior, understanding that biblically, it would be appropriate that he would be the true teacher and exegete of the Law of God. This certainly will be one theme developed in this week’s sermon.
When we think about it, these are radical words for a radical people! Frederick Dale Bruner commenting on the Sermon of the Mount says this of Jesus’ sermon:
“In his commands [the Sermon on the Mount] the then-earhtly and now-risen Jesus is especially alive; in believing response to Jesus’ commands people come alive. For Jesus’ words are not just human words but the divine Word, and as such they are alive with enabling power. The words of the Sermon on the Mount ‘spirant resurrectionem’, ‘they breathe resurrection’.”
Blessings to you.