The Sermon on the Mount

Let's just drop all religious notions and all non-religious notions for the moment. We are seated in the grass listening to a 30-something man preach. His words are both encouraging and at times stinging as he breaks down what the commandments really mean. He tells us things that go against our human nature, and says we should do them. Now, what reaction are we to have to this message, strictly from the standpoint of human view, not being influenced by religion or total cynics?

I am trying to start a good discussion of such things as the Beatitudes, the way Christ added things to some of the Ten Commandments, and His statement to “be ye therefore perfect”. Let us try without much arguing or name calling.

God Bless

Pen

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Originally Posted by Pendragon

Let's just drop all religious notions and all non-religious notions for the moment. We are seated in the grass listening to a 30-something man preach. His words are both encouraging and at times stinging as he breaks down what the commandments really mean. He tells us things that go against our human nature, and says we should do them. Now, what reaction are we to have to this message, strictly from the standpoint of human view, not being influenced by religion or total cynics?

I am trying to start a good discussion of such things as the Beatitudes, the way Christ added things to some of the Ten Commandments, and His statement to “be ye therefore perfect”. Let us try without much arguing or name calling.

God Bless

Pen

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Sermont on the Mountain - yes brilliant piece of work spirituality :thumbs_up

It's always a pleasure to read them. Not only for the spirituality but for the poetry. Here's a bit from Matthew chpt 6:
22 The light of the body is the eye; if therefore thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 but if thy eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

The Sermon on the Mount is most startling for its movement from external to internal: in it, Christ upped the ante by telling us that rightness with God and neighbor consisted not only of outward behavior, but inner attitude as well. Now, corruption of the heart outweighed "correctness" of the external action.

Great idea Pen


It's been awhile since I've read it. I wish I had more time to reread it now, but from what I remember I did really like most of the content.

Virgil and Red have hit two of the best things about The Sernon of the Mount.
As Virgil states, it centers the point on a point within us--do we pay attention to our point of view, where we are going, (the eye), making sure it is always where we can see (full of light), but just wander aimlessly ( as if ind darkness) Then we are going to end up in even deeper darkness.

Red says now we move from externaliziing sin to internalizing sin. We are being shown how things can be our own fault and no one else's. When Christ goes down the comantment's and adds to them, he makes it clear that this stuff is of personal problem, no where you can lay the blasme on anyone else. The commantment of "thou shalt not commit adultry." now expanded to "That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." You have to get closer to the line either way.

God Bless

Pen

Great idea, Pen! I've actually been planning to start a thread on this for a few months. Do you mind if I put up an NIV version translation in the thread for a point of reference? I'll give some thoughts on the work itself later. :)

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Originally Posted by Dark Star

Great idea, Pen! I've actually been planning to start a thread on this for a few months. Do you mind if I put up an NIV version translation in the thread for a point of reference? I'll give some thoughts on the work itself later. :)

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Make it so, Mon ami. Anything that might help the discussion is welcome.

What we need, esp. in politics, is "Blessed are the meek!"

Though I am not a Christians not even a theist I like the Bible and in that Sermons on the mounts are my favorites.

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Originally Posted by blazeofglory

Though I am not a Christians not even a theist I like the Bible and in that Sermons on the mounts are my favorites.

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I'm not a Christian either, but the Bible is great mythology.

Not supposed to call anyone a fool - a big "no no" -- hellfire, right?

I once knew a wise person who characterized a person they thought acted stupidly or unkindly as "God's perfect idiot." That is a bit of a paradox, but it can soften one's perception of a nasty.

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Originally Posted by NickAdams

I'm not a Christian either, but the Bible is great mythology.

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And a beautiful one that snares us.

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Originally Posted by Pendragon

...He tells us things that go against our human nature, and says we should do them. Now, what reaction are we to have to this message, strictly from the standpoint of human view...

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The short answer is I felt challenged, and something like exhilaration. Later, after a long time of falling short, I felt discouraged and unfit.

EV

The Beatitudes:

"Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

This is my favourite line in the Bible. Why? It outlines the most important (in my opinion) belief in Christianity. Those who are persecuted for justice' sake are those who are honest and faithful to what their heart tells them. They do not sacrifice their morality for convenience' sake.