Photo taken at Mount of Beautitudes on the Sea of Galilee
May 12, 2010
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“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~ Lao Tzu
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The greatest sermon that has ever been preached is probably the Sermon on the Mount. The Master taught the Sermon on the Mount, but it is important to know that He was that Sermon. Every thing He taught.. He Is! The first part of this sermon is what we now affectionately call, “THE BEATITUDES”. The Latin word, “beatus” is the basis of the English “beatitude” meaning “to be fortunate.” or to be happy, or to be blessed.
We learn from Christ that the “fortunate ones” are the following:
- The “poor in spirit” = or the “humble in spirit” or “lacking in pride”
- Those that mourn..(the humble are usually those who have suffered.)
- The Meek = gentle, forgiving, or benevolent.
- Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.
- The Merciful
- The Pure in heart = (chastity, cleanliness, purity.)
- The Peacemakers.
- The Persecuted
- The Salt of the Earth
- The Lights of the World
In today’s world we would have a different list of who we think are the fortunate ones: ·
- The wealthy
- The beautiful
- The famous
- The talented/ athletically gifted and others who we idolize ·
- The powerful and influential.
The world’s view of their “fortunate list” deal mainly with the EXTERNAL.. while the Lord’s list of the fortunate describes what is contained in the INTERNAL. These two lists are extreme opposites.
Can you expound on this David? expressly on the sermon.
ReplyDelete“This sermon was addressed partly to a general audience and partly to the twelve disciples exclusively. We read that Jesus "went up into" the mountain, not up on it. I always thought that Christ gathered to a high place to speak to a large crowd. But I learned that He actually went there to find a secluded place, at first to possibly get away from the multitude, not to address them. He gave the sermon only to the Twelve to begin with, because they were the only disciples he had at that time. And the sermon was meant only for the ears of the believers. For one thing, the outsiders would find it too difficult to hear and possibly insulting if they understood it, since it would speak volumes of how far they were away from the exalting gospel of our Father. Most of the sermon contains instructions meant only for His disciples, and the Saints who has "entered the gate," who had experienced a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and had been spiritually reborn.”
ReplyDeletefrom The Sermon on the Mount Is Indicative of the Path a Converted Saint Should Follow path.
I could expand every part of the sermon, but I will leave that up to all of you to read on your own. We learn important eternal principles. The bar is set high for us. It is important when studying this, that you also study the other accounts, found in 3 Nephi and also in Joseph Smith’s inspired translation of Matthew. There are HUGE differences, important differences. The following passage illustrates one of these situations.
King James Version
• Matt. 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Joseph Smith Inspired Version of Matthew:
• Matt. 7:2 Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged; but judge righteous judgment