Understanding The Scriptures

In this lesson, Carson examines the first thing Jesus says in Mark's Gospel, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15) by looking back at its rich Old Testament background, especially as found in Isaiah 52. It is there that we discover the term "gospel," which indicates the long awaited restoration of the Davidic Kingdom: the Kingdom of David. We then take an extended look at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the first of five discourses Matthew's Gospel presents to us. It is in this famous sermon where Jesus, as the New Moses, indicates what he expects of his disciples. As Moses gave the Old Law (the Mosaic Law) after receiving it atop Mt. Sinai, so Jesus "went up on the mountain" (Mt 5:1) and gave the New Law. The Old Law was the positive law of the state, with the intention of showing the Israelites how to be good citizens. The New Law will demand sanctity, as we are called and empowered to become "saints of the Most High" (Daniel