The Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount remains the manifesto of Jesus’ religion, and carries in spirit. His own irresistible charm—the freshness of new revelation. “Blessed,” said Jesus, opening His mouth with intention, and no one could have guessed what would follow. The world had its own idea of blessedness. Blessed is the man who is always right. Blessed is the man who is satisfied with himself. Blessed is the man who is strong. Blessed is the man who rules. Blessed is the man who is rich. Blessed is the man who is popular. Blessed is the man who enjoys life. These are the beatitudes of sight and this present world.
It comes as a shock and opens a new realm of thought, that not one of these men entered Jesus’ mind when he treated of blessedness. “Blessed,” said Jesus, “is the man who thinks lowly of himself; who has passed through great trials; who gives in and endures; who longs for perfection; who carries a tender heart; who has a passion for holiness; who sweetens human life; who dares to be true to conscience.” What a conception of character! Blessed are the humble, the penitents, the victims, the mystics, the philanthropists, the saints, the mediators, the confessors. For the first time a halo rests on gentleness, patience, kindness, and sanctity, and the eight men of the beatitudes divide the kingdom of God.
Jesus was an absolute and unreserved believer in character, and was never weary of insisting that a man’s soul was more than his environment, and must be judged not by what he held and had, but by what he was and did. Jesus’ demand was to do the “will of my Father which is in heaven,” and all of this kind made one family. He only has founded a kingdom on the basis of character; He only has dared to believe that character will be omnipotent. No weapon in Jesus’ view would be so winsome, so irresistible, as the beatitudes in action. His disciples were to use no kind of force, neither tradition, nor miracles, nor the sword, nor money. They were to live as He lived, and influence would conquer the world. Jesus elected twelve men—one was a failure—and trained them till they thought with Him, and saw with Him. Each disciple became a center himself, and so the Kingdom grew by multiplying and widening circles of influence.
—John Watson.
Have you doubted your immortality? have you been asking where Heaven is? Then go and live the Sermon on the Mount in your home and you will find the answer to both questions.
Alternate Reading: Acts 24:1-22.