The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5-7
Throughout my study of the 4 canonical gospels, many things which flowed
from the lips of Jesus Christ have now become engraved upon my heart.
However, if I would have to cite one section in particular, it would definitely
have to be the Sermon on the Mount.
Upon the conclusion of this course, I have come to realize that the Sermon
on the Mount serves as the ideal summation of Christs message. In just 3
chapters, Jesus has succeeded in issuing a verbal deliverance which touches
on every spiritual aspect one can think of. In so much that this sermon has
the capacity to become a religion in and of itself. He stated that those who
follow these words are as one who has built his house upon the rock,
implying that the words which preceded this statement have the ability to
serve as a solid spiritual foundation for your life, which no opposing powers
will be able to overcome, if one would only adhere to them.
Through this sermon, I believe Christ has provided us with a spiritual phone
book. If one is looking for comfort in the midst of spiritual hardship and
persecution, he/she can dial 5:4 (Blessed are those who mourn) and 5:10-11
(blessed are you when men shell persecute you). If one is interested in
finding out his duty through the eyes of the divine source, he can dial: 5:13,
5:14-16, for as salt serves as improving the quality and flavor of food, we
through our actions and good works can and should improve the world and
bring out the best in everyone. Or as a light which is on a candlestick shines
on all people, we should be impartial concerning whom we are good to, and
not hide our good works as one who hides his light under a basket. Or if one
is wanting to know how to properly perform religious or spiritual practices,
the same can refer to 6:1-18, for our practices should be between us and the
divine source and not for our own glory or the admiration of others.
A few other things that I learnt throughout this sermon are the following:
1) Jesus is not concerned about which religion or religious sect one belongs
to. This is made evident in the beatitudes. Jesus did not say blessed are
the Christians, blessed are the Muslims or blessed are the Jews. Rather
he said blessed are the poor in spirit, the pure in heart and those who
hunger for righteousness. Every Christian can be poor in spirit, but not
everyone who is poor in spirit has to be a Christian. Every Muslim can be

hungering after righteousness, but not everyone who hungers for

righteousness has to be a Muslim. Every Jew may be pure in heart, but not
everyone who is pure in heart has to be Jewish. The blessed are not those
who belong to one particular religion or religious sect, but it is those who
possess the qualities found in the Christs beatitudes.
2) Jesus taught us that the sins of the spirit or mind are also wrong and
should not be neglected. For as a man thinks in his heart so is he. Physical
adultery is wrong, but even considering adultery within our heart is wrong
because it pollutes our consciousness and can eventually give birth to the
physical action, for no man commits adultery without first lusting for the
woman in his heart.
3) Jesus did not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them.
In Matthew chapter 7 Jesus stated that the law and the prophets is do
unto others, what you would have them do unto you. This gives us an
idea of which law Jesus was talking about: The moral law, the essence
taught in all religious and spiritual paths. The people in those days were
being taught the wrong things. This is why Jesus in this sermon stated
you have heard that it was said, but I say unto. The people heard these
false interpretations and misrepresentations from their religious rulers.
Jesus has taken the task to correct them and bring the people to
understanding.
This course has been an eye opener for me. The commentaries that came
along with the translation of the gospels has helped me immensely
throughout my reading of the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It has
provided me with an alternate view of what Jesus taught and the purpose of
this mission.

Thank you.