Have you ever stepped into a situation where you quickly realize someone was in control and it totally flipped everything upside down?

This is exactly what Matthew is trying to communicate about Jesus. In two different sections, Matthew 5;1-2 and 7:28-29, Matthew tells the story of a new boss in town. And things will be different, but in ways totally unexpected.

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. Matthew 7:28-29

These two sections begin and end the Sermon on the Mount. In some ways, the say the exact same thing…while also telling two very different parts of the story. We are going to primarily look at the first text, Matthew 5:1-2.

Jesus comes, sits down (another big image) and immediately begins shaking things out. Imagine Jesus being the ultimate "undercover boss", seeing everything and making sure wrongs are made right, bad employees are sussed out and those who actually get it rewarded.

Meet the New Boss

There is a lot going on here. Most of it is some serious Old Testament allusions. But the most looming thing in it is the setting. For us, mountains can mean many things. Honestly, I think of a Bob Ross painting most of the time…or the classic character from Game of Thrones. But in Scripture, mountains are serious business. Mountains are where serious things happen.

So we are going to locate ourselves on the Mountain and learn what it means to truly meet with God.