Sermon On The Mount (Part 1)

I recently wrote a blog article called The power of one voice (part 1) : leaving a legacy about people who bless us with the gift of their legacy. It struck me that many people today might know who some famous historical people are, but not necessarily what they stand for or what they said in person. Take the sermon included in this article as an example; these are words transcribed when Jesus gave His Sermon on the Mount. The words are over 2000 years old yet most of Jesus' words ring with a truth that's still relevant in today's world. Jesus was an amazing teacher and speaker. I believe if we all take Jesus' teachings to heart we may change perception of what it means to truly accept all people and live in peace.

Sermon On The Mount
These are short paragraphs in my own words summarising the words that Jesus spoke, but I believe what Jesus said needs no translation as His words transcend centuries. I have included Jesus' words as taken from the Bible further down in this article too.

Jesus had a special place in His heart for people who were brokenhearted and lost and lonely. He wanted everyone to hear about His love of God His Father and to find Father God through Him. Jesus comforted mourners saying they would find comfort in God. He said that people who show mercy to others would have mercy shown to them, and that the pure of heart would see God. Jesus blessed peacemakers as true children of God. Jesus said many people would be persecuted for righteousness sake and foretold that there would be times when true believers would be persecuted and hated and would be wrongly accused of committing evil themselves, just as had happened to many of God's prophets before them. 

In His words about salt and light Jesus spoke about fulfilling our purpose here on earth, about being who we are and doing good works. He preached that salt must keep its salty flavour to be of use as salt, just as we need to fulfill our God-given purpose and be who we were always meant to be. We must let our lights shine and take pride in all that we accomplish, so that all of the good works we do can bring glory to God the Father.

Jesus told us firmly that He was not abolishing the ten commandments handed down to Moses. He admonished people to continue teaching these laws to be seen as great in Heaven. Jesus gave new meaning to some of the old beliefs, turning the commandment "thou shalt not kill" around by stating that if we even become angry at someone without just cause we are in danger of judgement ourselves, and that we may be in danger of a fiery hell if we call another a fool.  Jesus told us that if there are any grudges between us and others to first make sure we reconcile our differences before bringing our offerings before God. If we just think lustful thoughts we are committing adultery. Jesus said we must deny those parts of ourselves that cause us to sin and we must cast them away from us. Jesus asked us not to swear on any object to make an oath, as only "Yes" must suffice as our "Yes" and "No" must be our "No". 

Jesus was the ultimate example of a martyr, and we have only to think of His crucifixion to know this. He believed we should not resist evil, and if we are slapped on one side of the face to offer the other side too, if we are sued and an article of clothing is taken we are to give something else, to go two miles with someone who asks us to go one, and to give to anyone who asks to borrow from us. Jesus used extreme examples. I believe Jesus was trying to change the way the world worked, to move to new paradigms in peace, to change perception. How can there be an argument when someone does not argue back?!

Jesus asked us to love our enemies: to love anyone who curses us, hates us, uses us or persecutes us. Isn't this an amazing concept! Jesus said that just as God allows the sun to beat down on everyone and it rains on both the just and the unjust, so we  must love all people. All people have the potential to change for the better, and it is better to overcome evil with good, for if we do something bad in return for a bad deed we are doing exactly the same as those we may criticise.

Jesus' Sermon On The Mount As Taken From Matthew Chapter 5, KJV 1

The Beatitudes: Blessed Are They

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Salt And Light

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Fulfilling The Law And The Prophets

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (worthless), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 

Love And Bless Your Enemies

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." 

In Conclusion

Jesus, called the Son of God by Christians, was a person who walked the earth more than 2000 years ago. One may believe in God or one may not, however I do believe that Jesus once lived here on earth and was the ultimate peacemaker. He asked us all to be peacemakers, to bless our enemies, to turn the other cheek, to love and accept everyone. I believe Jesus' words hold the key to lasting peace.

Link to related blog articles:

• Perception Of Christian Values

1. Bible verses are used in their entirety from The King James Version Bible (KJV), Matthew Chapter 5