Matthew 5:1-12
The Sermon on the Mount
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Luke 6:17-26
The Sermon on the Plain
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
24 "But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
Let us say that you have two choices when you were growing up and get older, and they are outlined below...Which would you choose?...
You were born poor, and in a small home or a small place...Your parents loved you, but they did not have much to give, when it came to material things...Your mother took care of you and the family, while your father worked...You had several brothers and sisters, so food was your family's major expense...And you didn't always get enough food, but you did not complain...Since you were poor when you got to go to school, you wore your older brother's things that he had worn and they were a little worn and you knew you needed to do that...And that did not make you the most popular student...And as you looked around and seen the other kid your age, you often wondered, that might be nice to have and try...Money, it seemed as you went to school, make the world go round as you grew up...So when you got older you started working in your early teens so you could have some money -and school wasn't the happiest of times, anyway...Because your parents really did not have any money to give you or your brothers and sisters, you were always looking for work after school...You did not get to go to college, your parents could not afford it, and you needed to get to work, so you founded a job -the best that one could get and went to work...You had to work long hours to get the things you have, but you did not make any extra money to save for retirement...
Imagine if you can that things could be a little different...Let us say, your parents were wealthy and they raised you right and you had this wonderful childhood...Your family has a history of good health, and longevity...When you were seven you went to school and everyone liked you...And as you advanced in school you made more and more new friends...School was easy for you, and you made straight A's...When you became dating age, girls just wanted to date you, so you had many different and exciting times dating different gals...And now it was time for college and the Ivy League School that you always wanted to go to has given you a full ride scholarship... You meet the girl of your dreams there and you marry her after you graduate...You also land this dream job after graduation and have a wonderful job and now a family...Your workers treat you with respect, and all have spoken well of you...You work thirty years and retire early with three homes...You have provided for your family and have been able to live comfortably for years...Children and grandchildren are fine, with no issues...You have a wonderful retirement...At age 120 out of the blue you die, and with no pains whatsoever...You really have had a wonderful life...
Now I read have Jesus' two great sermons, the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain several times...To me, it seems like Jesus is blessing the first life...