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Jesus of Nazareth was a Jewish carpenter that was born about 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, which is now a Palestinian city located in the central West Bank about 10 kilometers south of Jerusalem. Over the course of a very short period of time (about a year) Jesus developed a large following as a miracle worker and religious teacher. He was publicly executed by crucifixion around the year 35, and many millions believe the historical narrative that he was raised from the dead after three days in a tomb, and later ascended into the heavens.
Below is an English translation of one of Jesus' very famous outdoor lectures, which was widely shared by his disciples that were present, and eventually written down circa 70-90.
If you take 5-10 minutes to read this sermon, then you will know what being a Christian is actually supposed to mean.
I like to read this first thing in the morning, immediately followed by a few minutes of meditation where I sit quietly listening. I would not expect everything in the reading to speak to you, but I believe something will, as is always the case for me.
Excerpted the Gospel of Matthew - Chapters 5-7
The Beatitudes
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The Law and the Prophets
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Concerning Anger
“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Concerning Adultery
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
Concerning Divorce
“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Concerning Oaths
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Concerning Retaliation
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Concerning Almsgiving
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Concerning Prayer
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Concerning Fasting
“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Concerning Treasures
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Sound Eye
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Serving Two Masters
“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Do Not Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Judging Others
“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
Profaning the Holy
“Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.
Ask, Search, Knock
“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
The Golden Rule
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
The Narrow Gate
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Concerning Self-Deception
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’
Hearers and Doers
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”
Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
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C.S. Lewis addresses this in (of all places) "The Last Battle," of the Chronicles of Narnia series. In the story, there is a war between the followers of Tash, which is an unmistakable reference to Allah of Islam, and the followers of Aslan the Lion, who is the allegorical Christ. There is a Captain of one of Tash's troops who is an honest, noble warrior, who genuinely believes he is fighting for the forces of righteousness.
After the battle, and after passing through the gate to the next world, this Captain sees the hideous Tash for its true self, going around gobbling up all his former servants. As Tash comes for this Captain, Aslan steps in and says words to the effect of, "Be gone beast, you have your rightful prey."
Aslan then walks and talks with this Captain, who is stunned to have been saved - indeed well received - by his former enemy. Aslan's response is something to the effect of, "While you did not know me, I knew you. Your honorable service was a reflection of me, not of Tash. Therefore though you thought you were serving Tash, you were actually serving me."
This is a pretty good explanation of how one can believe that Christianity is the one true religion and still not beleive that everyone else gets to go to Dante's Inferno. All other religions lead to Christ, whether their practitioners know it or not.
Interesting to note, thanks. I believe that actually this would refer to the non believer who rails against Christ, to almost the end. Say someone hated the idea all your life then converted. Think "Dave Mustaine" of Metal band Megadeth. Witch to Christian. "Head" of Korn. Both made some anti "Christian" music, then converted.
He still goes on tour with Slayer...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Araya
I fucking hate religion. Truly.
We heard you the first time.
I figure if Christians can blather endlessly, so can I.
The difference is: you came here for the sole purpose of stirring up trouble by running your mouth with repetitive obscene hate-filled bile that contributes nothing to the discussion.
Ah, "isn't it pretty to think so."
It sounds nice. It sounds reasonable. It sounds like it is the only merciful possibility for God toward His children.
"I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. NO ONE comes to the Father but through ME." I grant that Christ may have meant this figuratively--which could allow for the Captain and others like him to find his way to Christ.
I cannot agree with your final premise. It seems to me that nearly all other religions lead away from Christ, teaching horrific doctrine that would reject Christ, at least implicitly. But there, too, I suppose you can argue that "the Lord works in mysterious ways," and that somehow, out of such false teaching, God can save His children.
Watauga,
Allow me to revise my final conclusion (it was not a premise) for clarity.
An honest investigation of any other world religion by its practitioner will lead him to ask questions that will lead him to Christ.
"No one comes to the Father but through Me." does NOT suggest that we Christians can claim to know the mind of God, ie. to know HOW each person may come to the Father through Christ. One absolutely can say, "The Lord works in mysterious ways," and "God can save his children." And if you think this is false teaching, then you have read without understanding.
As someone wise just said to me, this would have been a helluva lot easier if god just came down and told us all the earth was round and revolves around the sun and here is how you get electricity and take the giants sunday and give the points.
I like the humility that I hear in the voice of headless... No reason to consider my opinion informed here
"Why the need to follow (and more likely create) figures from so long ago that have had so many people killed in their names?"
I can't think that Galileans or Jews created a religion for the purpose of creating a military empire or to kill people... My understanding is that Buddhism was created in response to the Corruption in the Hindu Temples... I like the idea of a religion build simply on the idea of choosing good or evil and that the world only contains good & evil (Love or Fear).
Control, Greed, Envy, Politics, Power, Community Purpose... can corrupt anything.
I'm more of a Louis C.K guy
I can't sit quietly you should know that by now.
You should try
Too funny...
No, QD. "The whole thing makes sense" even if you're an atheist. The sense of it all - one that speaks to each human heart, whether he would listen or not - is part of the beauty of Chrisitianity that separates it from the world's other (false) religions.
Christian faith is not "devoid of reason." There are rational apologetics for belief in the Christian God. This is not news. Start with C.S. Lewis, then read Augustine, Dostoyevsky, and Aquinas.
And the juxtaposition of Christian belief onto "blind faith" in "the current global ponze financial-economic system" is just bizarre, especially given Jesus' rather harsh treatment of the moneychangers of his day.
"the world's other (false) religions."
You don't get it, do you?
Was that a question or a statement?
second that. there is no need for neither (blind) faith nor a proof for the existance of the divine, nor even a divine in order to read the Sermon of the Mount
as such, it's a very human message. Christianity has a lot to do with Jesus being a human, too. plenty of shisms about how much, or how, and yet still with all agreeing that there is a human component in Jesus's message, one that does not forget the cripple, the sick, the prisoner, the slave, the oppressed, the meek, the peaceful
and reminding us of the evil of being a mistreater of other humans, and the good of treating them as you would like to be treated yourself
in short, you can be atheist and still read the Sermon, and still be touched by it
"In short, you can be atheist and still read the Sermon, and still be touched by it"... because....
Gen 1: 27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
....the image is defaced not erased.
I fucking hate religion. Truly. And if you are a woman, doomed to a life of one mate for life and none after he divorces or dies, you should too.
Not true.
1 Cor 7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
or if the wifey talked to the grand sheske, and the muzzy was skrewin around, she could get their contract revoked.
You wouldn't be so glib about scripture if Samuel L. Jackson was quoting it to you.
I like that. But seriously, the Sermon on the Mount, the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the account of the Woman Taken in Adultery pretty much sum up all that is good, decent and real about Christianity. The rest of it is claptrap, ho-hum, and hogwash. I try to live by the the SotM's precepts, and it goes a long way towards helping my equanimity in the face of life's chaos. Good job Hedgeless!
McCormick No. 9
+ 1
Bravo h_h!
Excellent commentary on the Sermon on the Mount can be found in Emmet Fox's book of the same name. A work way ahead of its time.
I usually enjoy your articles, but what why is this kind of stuff getting posted on what was supposed to be an Austrian economics and financial news type website? How so many otherwise intelligent people still believe in this kind of stuff remains a mystery to me.
Greenskeeper, I too am baffled.
Just a little reminder that the greater mis-direction is indeed a mis-direction. For those who may be inspired to look elsewhere. I guess the message will be lost on the majority. But it was there for all to see, so you can never say it wasn't.
I fucking hate religion. Truly.
Just so, but the account of the woman taken in adultery is an obvious fraud. It does not appear in any text until the Middle Ages.
Source: Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus
I fucking hate religion. Truly.
Maybe you hate religion because most religions are inspired by the devil for the purpose of confusing us and keeping us away from the Creator, who wants to care for us in the smallest details of our lives. He has the hairs on your head counted (if there are any). That's how closely He is paying attention to you. Have you ever considered the possibility that the counterfeit religions are keeping you away from the One who designed your body and enabled you to experience pleasure and pain? Can you choose to do the right thing, even when it's not easy? Jesus just wants your whole life, just like a young man wants the whole life of a young woman he is going to marry.
Good. 'Cause to follow Jesus, you should hate religion, as Jesus did.
We are in the "Bible belt" and every once in a while I get somebody trying to "save" me. It almost seems like a sport that they want to brag about.
The funny thing is, I have been letting them talk lately and then asking them questions that they can never seem to answer. Even if you aren't aware that these things are allegedly written in this sermon, but believe in and follow them all on your own, it's not good enough. There is no kingdom for you. Doing unto others is not good enough.
Yet, if you commit every heinous crime under the sun, all one has to do is be "saved" by joining them and you're good to go. Which I assume to mean pay them money. Then you do get to go to the kingdom, right after you die that is.
And what's this about "casting out demons"? The demons seem to be running the whole show these days and a lot of them, incidentally, are apparently "God's chosen people".
I'd like to believe, mainly because it seems a small percentage of humans cause so much grief for so many, and always get away with it. It would be great to know they'd be punished in the after life but there are so many things that don't make any sense.
There is a line you can cross beyond which there is no forgiveness--there are at least 2 places in the Bible that talk about this. Is that a terrifying thing, to reach the point that you cannot be saved? Is it a trivial thing? Where will you be for the next billion years after you die and how do you know for sure? Remember, that's just the first part of the beginning of the introduction to the prelude of what's coming after that... I, for one, want to be 100% sure about where I'm going the moment after I die. You won't make it in if there is not holiness in your life. ((Hebrews 12:14) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.)
Are you the best judge about what is "forgivable" and what is not? Or is the Creator a better judge of that?
What is your definition of unforgivable sins, and are you sure that you would not do some of those same things if you had grown up with those parents and in that environment? And what will happen if your "small" sins are not forgiven?
By the way, there are A LOT of people in the Bible belt that won't make it in if they don't change their ways. Talking the talk does not get you in. You have to walk the walk. Genuine hypocrites won't make it in. Unfortunately, many will be surprised. I'm afraid that a lot of those people that are asking for money won't make it in. And yes, demons are running many of the shows. They and you will all be punished if you don't follow God's law. He doesn't show partiality. He is the most just Judge in the Universe, and therefore He cannot let any unforgiven sin go unpunished, not even little ones.
Oh, there's more good than that. Just for starters, what about Jesus's "Woe to you Pharisees" speech?
This should be included:
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Hows about, "Sell everything you have and give the money to the poor. And then follow me." How many of us have the balls to follow through on that one? Every time I think of those words I see an accusation against myself.
Many of the "sayings of Jesus" were in fact lifted from contemporary Pharisaic themes. They were the Jewish social reformers of the age.
A few others were lifted from the Greek Cynic tradition, notably the "turn the other cheek" stoicism.
At least half of the "sayings" predict the end of the world, within the lifespan of some in the audience.
They were the Jewish social reformers of the age.
Most of the people of Israel hated the Pharisees, not sure where you get your information. Their hi-handed religiosity and self-righteousness was despised by most. The Pharisees went out of their way to find a way out of following the law. They claimed Jesus's miracles were Satanic.
sschu
Your devotion to a man who has made a living and gained fame is nothing if not slavish.
Jesus was an anti-Semetic Jew - just ask the modern-day Pharisees. That's why his followers are not allowed to head any powerful U.S. government agencies.
That must be sarcasm, right? If it is, then I agree. :-)
Here's the story I heard: Jesus was an anti-Pharisee Jew. The Pharisees had a racket going. The Jews were required by their faith to make sacrifices - sheep and such - to the Lord. In the Temple. The Pharisees ran the Temple. The Pharisees told the Jews, "we have to make the sacrifices for you, and furthermore, we will not sacrifice your sheep, but will sacrifice on your behalf our sheep, which you must buy from us, and for which we will only accept payment in this one Greek coin which is not used much in the Roman Empire, and which therefore we have been able to corner-the-market on, and which we will trade to you, charging you much more than its intrinsice (silver) value. I imagine that Jesus reflected the view of many Jews (Semetics), but the Pharisees, of course, were clever, and were bribing the government, the Roman Governor, and had Jesus killed immediately after he overturned their money-changing tables in the Temple.
Furthermore, since they were clever, the Pharisees didn't kill Jesus themselves, but had the Governor have him crucified, which was the punishment for inciting rebellion against Rome, but of course Jesus was not inciting rebellion against Rome; Jesus was inciting rebellion against the Pharisees. (The Jews told the Governor, "we have no law to put a man to death", which was, of course, not true, because there were still stonings, such as the one in the story in which Jesus tells the mob "let him who is without sin cast the first stone".)
Whether or not this story is true, I think it is a great story. Pretty much all of the elements of the current Central Banking racket are present. If I were a modern-day Pharisee trying to apply the strategy used by the Jesus-day Pharisees to today's technology, I think today's Central Banking system would be perfect.
I don't equate anti-Phariseeism with anti-Semetism. Surely there must be many modern-day Semetics who are not modern-day Pharisees. And one thing I like about Semetics is that they seem to believe in Science, which I think is of utmost importance. Some other non-Semetic groups speak as if they think Science is evil. What baloney: if they really think Science is evil, then they should stop driving their cars, using their electric lights, radios, TVs, and telephones, and give away their dog, unless their dog is a wolf, and quit using antibiotics and all other medicines, and don't have any operations, and on and on and on and....
All is good! But.. who will be the one to overturn the banksters' tables? Would he/she not be committing suicide?
..um, yes.
f.) all of the above
but seriously..
http://bluesbrothersofficialsite.com/gi-161217-jake-you-get-wise-you-get...
“if Samuel L. Jackson was quoting it to you”
..I’m still trying to figure out how they could tuck a large frame into the waistband of sweatpants.
Tarantino must be some kind of magician.
Blessed are the cheese makers....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slbMe-aTY1A
The Gospel According to Government - Larken Rose
"Blessed are the bankers, for they shall embezzlethe Earth."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTJ7ihNz2Go