Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unt 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.
These verses are a part of the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is probably the most powerful talk given in the history of the world. It took place at the beginning of Christ's ministry.
After he was baptized, Christ spent his 40 days fasting in the wilderness. He was tempted by the devil, and refuted him 3 times. He started preaching repentance at that time. He gathered his disciples and invited them to be fishers of men. They then went about Galilee, and people began hearing about him and formed great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond Jordan.
Seeing the great multitudes, he went up into the mountain and gave this profound speech that we call the Sermon on the Mount.
The Sermon on the Mount includes the following:
- The Beatitudes: "Blessed are....for they shall...."
- Ye are the salt of the earth...Ye are the light of the world....
- Come to fulfill the law
- A set of higher laws:
- Not just that thou shalt not kill, but also not to be angry; Reconcile with your brother/adversary
- Not just that thou shalt not commit adultery, but also not to lust; Avoid divorce
- No longer perform unto the Lord thine oaths, but to swear not at all; Let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay
- No longer an eye for an eye, but to turn the other cheek
(Insert this verse.)
- Not only love your neighbors, but also your enemies
- Be ye therefore perfect
- Do not serve or pray before men to receive their praise, but in secret
- The Lord's Prayer
- Forgive others and you will be forgiven
- Do not disfigure your faces when you fast
- Lay up treasures in heaven, not earthly treasures
- No man can serve two masters
- Consider the lilies
- Seek first the kingdom of God and these things shall be added unto you
- Judge not; beams and motes
- Give not that which is holy unto the dogs
- Ask and it shall be given, knock and it shall be opened unto you
- Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way
- Beware of false prophets
- By their fruits ye shall know them
- Not everyone that calls Lord, lord shall enter into the kingdom, but he that does the will of the Father
- A wise man builds on a firm foundation
And when he concluded, the people "were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Matthew 7:28-29)
No comments:
Post a Comment