The Sermon On The Mount
(Part II)
Alms
1. TAKE heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Parent (who is in Heaven). Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory (of men). Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
2. But when thou givest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, and take heed that thine alms may be in secret; and the Secret One (which seest in secret) shall approve then openly.
The Prayer
3. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners (of the streets) that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
4. But thou, when thou prayest enter into thy chamber and when thou hast shut thy door pray to thy Father-Mother (who is in secret); and the secret One (that seeth in secret) shall approve thee openly.
5. And when ye pray in common, use not vain petitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your heavenly Parent knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask After this manner therefore pray ye, when ye are gathered together:
6. Our Parent Who art in Heaven:
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done; in earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us day by day our daily bread, and the fruit of the living Vine.
As Thou forgivest us our trespasses, so may we forgive the trespasses of others.
Leave us not in temptation.
Deliver us from evil.
Amun.
7. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Parent will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Parent (in Heaven) forgive you your trespasses.
Fast
8. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
9. And I say unto you, Except ye fast from the world and its evil ways, ye shall in no wise find the Kingdom; and except ye keep the Sabbath and cease your haste to gather riches, ye shall not see the Father-Mother in Heaven. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast, and the Holy One (who seeth in secret) will approve thee openly.
Mouning of the dead
10. Likewise also do ye, when ye mourn for the dead and are sad, for your loss in their gain. Be not as those who mourn before men and make loud lamentation and rend their garments, that they may be seen of men to mourn. For all souls are in the hands of God, and they who have done good, do rest with your ancestors in the bosom of the Eternal.
11. Pray ye rather for their rest and advancement, and consider that they are in the land of rest (which the Eternal hath prepared for them) and have the just reward of their deeds, and murmur not as those without hope.
Treasures
12. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth not rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The Lamps
13. The lamps (of the body) are the eyes: if therefore thy sight be clear, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eyes be dim or lacking, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light (that is in thee) be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Two Masters
14. No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
15. Therefore I say unto you, Be not over anxious for your life what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment? And what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his life ?
16. Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Parent feedeth them. Are ye not much better cared for than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why spend all your thought for raiment ? Consider the lilies (of the field) how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
17. Wherefore shall not God who clothes the grass (of the field) which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
18. Therefore be not over anxious, saying, What shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be clothed? (all Which things do the Gentiles seek). For your Heavenly Parent knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom (of God) and its righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Meet not in advance the evils (of the morrow); sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
LECTION 26. 9. -Meaning; that if the vision be set on one single object and no other, great is the clearness of vision; while, if the eyes be set on number of other objects, the clearness will be diminished with regard to that one.