The Sermon On The Mount
(Part I)
1. Iesus seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain: and when he was seated, the twelve came unto him, and he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said:
2. Blessed in spirit are the poor, 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 who do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
3. 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 God).
4. Yea, blessed are ye, when men shall hate you’ and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name [as] evil, for the Son (of man’s) sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in Heaven; for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
The woes
5. Woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received in this life your consolation.
Woe unto you that are full! For ye shall hunger.
Woe unto you that laugh now! For ye shall mourn and weep.
Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you’ for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
The salt
6. Ye are the salt (of the earth) for every sacrifice must be salted with salt, but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot.
The Light
7. Ye are the light (of the world). A city that is built on a 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 Parent (who is in Heaven).
The Higher Law
8. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the law or the prophets till all be fulfilled. But behold One greater than Moses is here. and he will give you the Higher Law (even the perfect Law) and this Law shall ye obey.
9. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these commandments (which he shall give) and shall teach men so, they shall be called The least in the Kingdom; but whosoever shall do, and teach them, the same shall be called Great in the Kingdom (of Heaven).
10. Verily they who believe and obey shall save their souls, and they who obey not shall lose them. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall, exceed the righteousness (of the scribes and Pharisees) ye shall not enter the Kingdom (of Heaven).
The Gift
11. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught 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.
The adversary
12. Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time thy 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.
The Enemy
13. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.
Them that curse
14. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you[1]. That ye may be the children of your Parent Who maketh the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the Just and on the unjust.
15. For if ye love them which love you what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them (which do good to you) what thank have ye? For sinners even do the same. And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even so the taxgatherers?
16. And if a desire be unto thee as thy life, and it turn thee from the truth, cast it out from thee, for it is better to enter life possessing truth, than losing it, to be cast into outer darkness.
17. And if that seem desirable to thee which costs another pain or sorrow, cast it out of thine heart; so shalt thou attain to peace. Better it is to endure sorrow, than to inflict it, on those who are weaker.
18. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Parent Who is in Heaven is perfect.[1]
LECTION 25. 2. -It is remarkable how persistent has been the false rendering of these words in the received Gospels. It is too evident to need any comment. It is not poverty of spirit that Christ commended, but the spiritual effects of literal poverty (not pauperism), which are more frequent than those of abundant riches.
v. 6-7. -Suggestive is this passage of the custom of the Christian Church in building their monasteries and convents generally on high places, the bands of holy men and women therein being truly, in the Dark Ages, the salt of the earth, the light on a hill, without which society would have rotted to the core, and been universally corrupt. The occasional abuses argue nothing against their more blessed influences. Without them our Scriptures would not have been preserved, even in their present condition, and civilization would have been extinct. To the monks of S. Basil and S. Benedict are due the remains of Christianity that have been handed down to us, and by such institutions rationally conducted will Christianity be revived in a higher and purer form, and the Scriptures restored to their original purity, as well as the ancient worship of God. The laxity of some modern monasteries is to be regretted in the matter of flesh-eating, under the plea of health, there being really no such necessity with the abundance of food from the vegetable world as well as animal products. The Carthusian and other monasteries stand as a noble testimony to the healthfulness of the rule when observed in strictness and unabated rigour.
note: this is the same Iesus who just said he come to bring the sword, remember tha;t one? But at the same time wanted us to love our enemy with the sword he just brought. Secondly, did he just stop the animal cruelty? But to the disciple it is okay for their enemies to be cruel to them? Think!