Read the sermon on the mount, read the sermon on the mount for free, read the sermon on the mount online. Orthodox Faith - Sermon on the Mount The Sermon is called the Sermon on the Mount because
Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount summarizes the entire teaching of Christianity. If a person does not have time to read the entire Bible or even one New Testament, or even one Gospel (good news), he can read the Sermon on the Mount. A person will find in it a capacious, complete understanding of Christianity, which he can constantly deepen.
We hope that this book will benefit both those who are just interested in spiritual life and those who are already quite developed in this regard.
The Sermon on the Mount is so named because it was proclaimed from the mountain. Most of the problems of mankind come from spiritual hunger and by hearing about the Supreme Lord, the creator of all things, one can satisfy this basic need of life.
Jesus spoke to the people from a mountain near Capernaum, but He could have spoken from any other mountain. Today, those who have well grasped the ideas of spiritual life can speak from such “mountains” as Internet sites, radio, television, newspapers and so on.
The Sermon on the Mount is contained in its entirety only by the Evangelist Matthew (Levi), who was the first to write down His teaching. Parts of the Sermon on the Mount are also found in Luke. After writing down the Gospel, Matthew preached for a long time in Palestine among the Jews, and then spread the spiritual message in other countries, and was killed in Ethiopia.
Unfortunately, the material world is inhabited by living beings who strive to forget about God in order to build their own separate personal happiness. Therefore, the inhabitants of this world never particularly like to hear that there is someone greater and more powerful than them. Like other preachers in history, Jesus and many of his disciples were persecuted and executed.
However, the main thing for which Jesus Himself came—His message—remains. And even after two thousand years, everyone can get the same benefit from it as if they had spoken to Jesus face to face.
Chapter 1 (5)
1-2
“When He saw the people, He went up the mountain; and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
To obtain any knowledge, you need to go to an experienced person who is already knowledgeable in it. In the same way, spiritual life can be learned from a spiritual teacher who has, to some extent, or ideally, fully, mastered the principles of eternal life. Spiritual education is similar to ordinary education. The teacher explains to those who want to about God, and the listeners try to understand, and if something is not entirely clear to them, they ask questions. An experienced spiritual teacher sees what specific people can and cannot understand and teaches them according to their abilities.
3-4
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Blessed (happy) - because they will receive a reward. Poor in spirit means humble, patient, that is, worthy to accept a gift, to gain. The general meaning is that if a person desires spiritual life, God helps him.
5-6
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”
Those who wish, receive. The world is real because its source is also real and knowable. Although God cannot be known completely, since His Greatness is limitless, it is possible to understand Him in principle. And since the Supreme Lord is the Greatest, talking about Him, knowing Him is the most important thing in life. There is nothing more important than this.
7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.”
What goes around comes around, this is the law of justice. Those who are merciful (merciful) to others in material terms receive material rewards. And those who are spiritually merciful, that is, talk about God, receive all types of rewards: both spiritual and material.
8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
The Supreme Lord can be seen through spiritual vision. There are statements in the scriptures that it is impossible to see God - for materialistic people who long to see Him with material eyes. Newcomers to spiritual life need to understand that God is immaterial, and when they understand that there is a spirit, a spiritual form, the same people are told that it is possible to see God.
9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
The Almighty Lord has many sons, as is mentioned many times in the Bible. God is the eternal Father of all living beings, and by extension, all His sons. However, when a person consciously seeks to understand God, He Himself helps him by acknowledging him in this way.
10
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
In the material world everything is more or less relative, however, spiritual values or spiritual truth are absolute. The Kingdom of Heaven or the spiritual world is not an allegory, it exists, and those who think about it achieve it by the grace of the Lord.
11-12
“Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all sorts of unrighteous things against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven: so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The material kingdom is all more or less under the purview of the devil, or godlessness. No matter what country or point in time a preacher appears, the majority of people consider him an obstacle to their plans. You shouldn't be surprised by this, it's natural.
13
“You are the salt of the earth. If the salt loses its strength, then what will you use to make it salty? It’s no longer good for anything except throwing it out there for people to trample underfoot.”
Preaching is the most difficult but most important part of spiritual life. To some extent possible, every person should learn to listen about God and preach.
14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city standing on top of a mountain cannot hide. And having lit a candle, they do not put it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. So let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
There is no one greater than God or equal to Him in anything, therefore knowledge of Him is the best of all acquisitions. It is compared to light, or, for example, to a beautiful fruit that must be distributed to others.
17
“Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
The spirit is one and spiritual knowledge is one. Fundamentally, all the prophets and saints talk about the same thing - that God exists and we must strive to know and love Him. However, narrow-minded people, impressed by the difference in some phrases, believe that the prophets are talking about different things, or even the opposite. Such people are wrong.
18
“For verily I say unto you, Until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law, until all is fulfilled.”
It will pass, that is, it will end. Holy Scripture describes the world objectively, in contrast to experimental human knowledge, which is erroneous to one degree or another. However, arrogant people, taking relative “scientific” data as truth, believe that they are right, and the Bible, for example, or other sacred scripture, is full of errors.
19
“So whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches people so, he will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; and whoever does and teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The truth and the criterion of truth are with God, or in the Kingdom of Heaven, and not with people. For this reason, spiritually advanced individuals are concerned about conforming to the assessments of the Holy Scriptures, and are not particularly concerned about the assessments of people with worldly interests.
20
“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
The scribes were formally educated scribes, and the Pharisees were a direction in religion that especially emphasized moral character and “impeccability.” Placing relative worldly education or even morality above God are fairly common misconceptions that are still observed today. Although both education and morality are quite important at a certain stage of personal development, the Absolute Truth cannot be understood with their help even in theory. The Lord is the source of everything and does not depend on anything. You can understand Him only by listening to Him Himself.
21-22
“You have heard what was said to the ancients: do not kill; whoever kills will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be subject to judgment; whoever says to his brother: “worthless” is subject to the Supreme Court; and whoever says, “You are a fool,” is subject to fiery Gehenna (hell).”
God is just and created just laws. Justice means measure for measure. As much as a person takes away, that is what he must return. Thus, in a just state, a murderer must be executed, and any undeserved action against another is punished according to the damage.
23-24
“So if you are bringing your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go first and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Each creature has its own individuality, its own relationship with God and the surrounding world. Therefore, you should be careful not to unnecessarily oppress someone. If this happens, you need to make amends to a specific person. You should not think that you can deliberately sin against others and then receive forgiveness from God. The Lord can forgive for actions towards himself, but not for actions towards others.
25-26
“Make peace with your adversary quickly, while you are still on the way with him, lest your adversary hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the servant, and they throw you into prison; Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid back every coin (small coin).”
Reconciliation with others is good even for an ordinary quiet life. God is just, so His children, ordinary people, also have this desire for justice. They are trying to catch and expose the one who is doing bad things. The life of the righteous is filled with happiness, while the life of sinners is full of anxiety.
27-28
“You have heard that it was said to the ancients: You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Both purity and pollution come from the mind. If a person, for example, looks at a woman without lust, then he is purer than the one who looks with lust, or even the one who is away from women and does not look, but thinks about them with lust. Chastity is more a state of mind than of body.
29-30
“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you, for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you, for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell.”
Very logical. One's mind, eyes, hands, feet and everything else must be used to understand the Supreme Lord, the source of all things. Thus our mind, hands, feet and the rest become detached from selfish preoccupation with ourselves, or seduction, and our life is purified.
31-32
“It is also said that if anyone divorces his wife, he should give her a divorce decree. But I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for the guilt of adultery, gives her a reason to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
If a wife is not faithful to a man and does not want to improve, he can leave her. But if she is faithful to him, or at least tries, but the man is simply looking for a more comfortable life somewhere else and leaves his wife, he is doing wrong.
33-36
“Again you have heard what was said to the ancients: Do not break your oath, but fulfill your oaths before the Lord. But I say to you: do not swear at all: neither by heaven, because it
throne of God; nor the earth, because it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King; Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.”
In more ancient times, people were more powerful and wiser, so they made oaths that they could fulfill. Over time, due to the increase in godlessness, they significantly lost their intelligence and good qualities, and, accordingly, the ability to keep their word. When a person is weak, it is better for him not to swear at all.
37
“But let your word be: yes, yes; no no; and anything beyond this is from the evil one (Satan).”
If a person is asked what he can or cannot do, it is better to answer briefly and clearly, for example - yes, no.
38-39
“You have heard that it was said: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you: do not resist evil. But whoever hits you on your right cheek, turn the other to him too”;
The ability to forgive can be seen as a manifestation of strength. A weak or materially interested person cannot truly forgive, whereas for a sufficiently elevated person this is possible. The uncivilized man is elevated by the principle of justice, or “measure for measure,” and when he becomes civilized, he can then understand an even more elevated principle—forgiveness. These principles continue one another.
40-42
“And whoever wants to sue you and take your shirt, give him your outer garment too; and whoever forces you to go one mile with him, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks from you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
If a person strives for more and more material gains, he is recommended to donate at least part of his property to others. Helping those in need is noble, plus a person gains the experience that happiness comes from within, from the soul, and not from the amount of property.
43-44
“You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you: love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.”
From the spiritual level, a person sees that all living beings are sons of one Supreme Father, so he generally treats everyone well.
45
“May you be sons of your Father in heaven, for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.”
The Lord looks impartially at material wealth and does not envy anyone. His servants acquire the same qualities.
46-48
“For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Isn’t that what tax collectors (tax collectors) do? And if you greet only your brothers, what special thing are you doing? Don't the pagans do the same? Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
The Supreme Lord is perfectly wise, magnanimous and independent; there is no one higher or equal to Him in perfection.
All channelings that you read are a personal refraction of the truth, which is inevitable to one degree or another. Therefore, listen, first of all, to yourself - how the information responds in YOUR HEART. My job is to pose questions that you might think about. And everyone will find the answers themselves.
Hello Jesus. I wanted to talk about the teaching that you conveyed to people, which is called the Sermon on the Mount.
Hello my dear soul. It was a long time ago and recently. They listened, but did not hear. Because you can only listen with your heart, not your mind. They listened and were amazed at what this prophet was saying. But sometimes I saw a spark of recollection in their eyes when their souls awakened. But then it went out. Like a man trying to start a fire on damp logs, I tried hard to kindle their hearts. But they did not hear, for their hearts were deaf. I knew that my path would not be long and I wanted to leave them the covenant of our father - to tell them how to love the Heavenly Father, who is everything.
Is all that people now know about the Sermon on the Mount your testaments and your words?
Please explain some of the commandments that are in the Sermon on the Mount. For example, the Beatitudes.
3. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
What does this mean? What does poor in spirit mean?
What do you mean by beggar? The one who has nothing of his own. And if he is poor in spirit, it means that the Spirit is in him, the spirit of his father, and he does not have his own spirit. But only the spirit of the Father. And if he is poor, then he is not afraid of losing anything, because he owns nothing. He threw away all the treasures of the world and became the pure spirit of his father, who leads him to the kingdom of heaven. For only through the Spirit of the father can one enter the kingdom of heaven. But it is said incorrectly. Blessed are the poor in spirit.
What is goodness? What does it mean to be blessed?
This means to be pure in spirit, it means to be united with the spirit of our father and to abide in him.
Then why?: 4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
If you cry, then your soul cries. When does a person cry? If he is in physical pain, he growls. And if his soul hurts, then he cries. This is the Holy Spirit, the spirit of the father is tormented in him, as in prison. Therefore, if a person cries, then he hears his soul. And if he cries, it means that his call to the heavenly father for help, for love is heard in him. If a person is close to the spirit of his father. Then his path is joyful, and he does not cry, because he is united with the spirit. Therefore, those who cry will be comforted, for the father will hear everyone and respond to everyone, and help everyone, and will abide in everyone. And then bliss will come to all those who cry. And if a person does not cry, then he rejoices. But if it’s neither one nor the other, then it means he has gone astray, has closed himself off from the spirit of our father, and does not hear it within himself. For the Soul can only rejoice and remain in bliss. That there is union with the spirit of our father, I truly say.
5. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
It is not the warrior, but the lamb who will inherit the earth. There is no need to fight with anyone, your father gives you everything. Extend your arms to each other for a hug. Embrace your brother and sister, for you are all one in spirit. What does the meek do? He agrees, he doesn't demand. He doesn't fight. He does not exalt himself above others. For no one will rise above another, for in all is the spirit of our father. And this spirit is the same in everyone and is one. Blessed are those who see in their brother a brother in spirit, and in their sister a sister in spirit. And they do not differentiate, for everything is one.
6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Those who are full of bodily food do not always seek spiritual food. But if you are satisfied with bodily food and begin to seek spiritual food, then you go to the kingdom of heaven. Many dangers await along this path. For truth is the spirit itself, AND NOTHING MORE. AND ONE WHO THIRSTS TO KNOW THE SPIRIT, AND TO UNITE WITH THE SPIRIT, AND ABIDE IN THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS TRUTH, will be spiritually satisfied and come to our Father, and will become blessed, for he will abide forever in the spirit. 7. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. God's mercy is always with you. For mercy is the giving of oneself. And our Father gives himself to you, you are his children and you were created by him, and he created you as his mercy. And having received this grace, shouldn’t you pass it on to each other? Be merciful to one another, and you will act as your father did, giving something of yourself to another. For everything that you have is from our father and does not belong to you, but belongs to everyone. For in everything there is our Father. And how merciful you will be to others. So they too will be merciful to you. For God's mercy will increase.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
The Spirit of God enters you through your heart. And if your heart is pure, if it is a channel of connection with the spirit, then the spirit will abide in you, and you will see it. But not with the eyes. And with your heart. And if your heart is closed, then how will the spirit enter you, how will it be able to fill your precious vessel, your body. What is simply a vessel for the spirit? The Spirit of God is always in you, but in many it breaks through your barriers and your unbelief, through your anger and malice. How can a pure spirit dwell in a vessel overflowing with impurities? Empty your vessel and let the spirit into it and see God in your heart.
9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
This is a difficult commandment. And I said it, but you didn’t hear, And now many more are not ready to hear. The sons of God create worlds, and you can become creators of worlds, and you will be called the sons of God. But in those days they could not hear it. But blessed is he who creates in the spirit, who has allowed the spirit of our father into himself and works in goodness. But you heard: blessed is he who brings peace and tranquility and is the son of God. You are all sons and daughters of God. But those who discover in themselves the strength of our father’s spirit will become his assistant, just as every son and daughter becomes his father’s assistant. And he will create worlds together with his father.
10. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Yes, because there is only one truth - this is the spirit of God, and everything is in it. And let those who are persecuted for this truth not grieve. For the Lord hears every movement of their soul, and every voice, and every request. And if the truth is in them. Then they will remain in it forever and inherit the kingdom of heaven.
11. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unjustly because of Me. 12. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven: even so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
If someone reviles and persecutes you because the spirit is in you, do not be sad. And have fun. For the heavenly reward is a union with your father, a return home after separation. And your joy will be great. But greater will be the joy of our father. And your reward will be his love, which will remain with you forever.
13. You are the salt of the earth. If the salt loses its strength, then what will you use to make it salty?
It is no longer good for anything except throwing it out there for people to trample underfoot. What is salt? That's the point. This is something without which meaning is lost. Just as without salt your food will be tasteless, so without you the earth will be deserted. For our father populated the earth with his sons and daughters. So that they become the essence of it. So that they can fill it with their spirit, so that the earth becomes new, so that it blossoms and is filled with the spirit of God.
14. You are the light of the world. A city standing on top of a mountain cannot hide. 15. And having lit a candle, they do not put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16. Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
You are the light of the world. The light of God who brought himself as a gift to the world. The light of the Spirit, illuminating the world, and all the cities, and all the houses through you. And what's outside the house. The earth is your home. And you light it up. Without you it will be empty and the light of peace will not find. You are her meaning, you are her light. And at the same time you are the light of the whole world, for all worlds are contained in you. And bring these worlds to the earth. And bring the light of God that is concentrated in you to your land, your home, and illuminate it. Just as a zealous owner illuminates his house so that everything in it shines clearly, so that there is no dirt and uncleanness in his house, so you bring the light of the world into your house and illuminate it. For without you the house is empty and unlit. For this is your task: to bring the light of your Boah into your home.
17. Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18. For verily I say unto you, Until heaven and earth pass, not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law, until all is fulfilled.
How could they understand this then? But I had to say it. Because it will happen and is happening. Until the earth becomes heaven, it is impossible to transgress the laws of the old world. Until the earth changes and begins to live according to the laws of heaven, the laws of the earth will remain on it. But when the earth ascends to heaven, new laws will come. The laws of heaven until all the laws of earth are fulfilled. But how could they understand this?
19. So whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches people so, he will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven; and whoever does and teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20. For, I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Greatness and smallness are distinguishable only in the spirit of the father. If great things remain in you, then the heavenly spirit is great in you, then your precious vessel is filled. And then he is great in the kingdom of heaven, for he will already be there and united with it. But the smallness of the one who has not allowed the spirit into himself, who does not allow his vessel to be filled, will be heavy, and will not rise to the kingdom of heaven, for first he must empty the weight of his vessel. To rise. And being in the spirit of his father, he will not violate the commandments that the father himself created. But by violating, he fills his precious vessel with that. Which is not the spirit of the father. And a small lamp burns in it, instead of shining the heavenly light with all its power. No one is small or great, all the same before the father. But he who finds it in his heart will become his face.
21. You have heard what was said by the ancients: do not kill; whoever kills will be subject to judgment. 22. But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be subject to judgment; whoever says to his brother: “raqa” is subject to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, “You fool,” is subject to fiery hell. 23. So, if you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24. Leave your gift there before the altar, and go, first be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25. Make peace with your opponent quickly while you are still on the way with him, lest your opponent hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the servant, and they throw you into prison; 26. Truly I tell you: you will not come out of there until you have paid the last coin.
I didn't say that. BUT the scribes denigrated and added a lot. I did NOT speak about the fiery hyena, for great is the mercy of our Father and the fiery hyena lives in your world, in your deeds with which you crucify each other. I did not speak about the Sanhedrin, and about your courts, for God’s court is only there. But I said, do not kill your brother, but give yourself to him. For sacrifice is a gift. Which you convey to him is from God. For everything that is in you and you is only from God, and therefore does not belong to you. And give it to someone else. If he needs it. And if you kill, then you take what does not belong to you. And I said, don’t be angry, because anger is what separates you from God. Who are you angry at? To his brother, in whom is God our Father. How can you be angry with the Father who gave you life? Bow down to your brother, for there is God in him and you will see him if you open your heart. And you will recognize your brother as a heavenly brother. I said: make peace with your opponent. While you're still on your way. For when you part, he too will go to the kingdom of heaven. In whom can you see your God? For when you return to your heavenly father from your journey, what will you tell him? Won't you be ashamed? Why did you not recognize the spirit of your father in your brother? What are you competing for? Why do you put yourself above your brother? Before the Father, all children are equal, and no one can rise above. If everyone is high and abide in the spirit of heaven.
27. You have heard that it was said to the ancients: You shall not commit adultery. 28. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you, for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. 30. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you, for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. 31. It is also said that if anyone divorces his wife, he should give her a divorce decree. 32. But I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for the guilt of adultery, gives her reason to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
And I didn't say that. And I told you about love. I did not demand that your eyes be plucked out and your hands cut off. But I said: love one another. For by loving one another you love your Father in heaven. Both women and men are one. Like sons and daughters of a father. And no laws. Which would not allow loving hearts to unite. But you have locked your women in your houses and in your hearts. And you don't give them freedom. And you forbid them to love. But what could be more natural than love burning in your hearts. What divorces can prohibit a person from loving? And I said: only the Lord unites hearts when the light of the spirit of his son unites with the light of the spirit of his daughter. Both rituals and worldly laws have no power over this. Such is the power of the spirit and the power of heavenly love, and not earthly love. And if you are pure in heart, then your love is pure. And this is not adultery. And if your heart is unclean, then your love is not purified, and this is adultery. THAT is not an act of love. And another thing.
33. Again you have heard what was said to the ancients: Do not break your oath, but fulfill your oaths before the Lord. 34. But I say to you: do not swear at all: not by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35. Neither by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King; 36. Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37. But let your word be: yes, yes; no no; and anything beyond this is from the evil one.
Didn't say that, but close. For the oath is sealed in the fiery world as a vow. And until you fulfill it, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. For the contract, spoken and sealed, must be fulfilled. And many such oaths weigh you down. And you cannot transgress the palace of God, because your debts drag you to earth, where they must be repaid. Therefore, do not swear to anyone. If you want to be free from the shackles of oaths. Keep it pure and simple. Because when there are a lot of words, they can be interpreted in different ways. And when: yes - yes, no - no, then you know exactly what they said and what they promised to whom.
38. You have heard that it was said: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39. But I say to you: do not resist evil. But whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him; 40. And whoever wants to sue you and take your shirt, give him your outer garment too; 41. And whoever forces you to go one mile with him, go with him two miles. 42. Give to the one who asks from you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
The one who hit you suffers, not you. For he suffers because he is separated from God, from the Heavenly Father. Therefore, it is better to be the one who is hit than the one who hits. And seeing his suffering. When he hits you, don't resist him. And don’t turn your cheek, but open your heart. And look into his heart, and see in him the light of God dimly flowing. May he kindle into a fiery flame and burn everything that separates him from God. And be close to him, for he suffers because he is separated from his Father. And don't save anything. For all this is perishable. And give it to someone who needs it, and give it your last shirt. Because the most precious thing is always with you, the spirit of God is always with you. And what could be higher and more beautiful than him? Give everything, because you have everything and always will and always will. For our Father is merciful and grants to everyone what he asks. And if someone asks you, then it is your father who directs you to him so that his mercy can be fulfilled. And do not resist the father’s mercy coming through you, be worthy of this mercy. For the father will give you many more gifts, and will be merciful to you. For you do not resist his mercy. Coming through you. And he will give you a lot more clothes and everything. What is needed, so don't let it worry you. For you will not be left without clothes and without food if you are always in the spirit. In means also in the mercy of the Father.
43. You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44. But I say to you: love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who use you and persecute you. the righteous and the unrighteous. 46. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don't tax collectors do the same? 47. And if you greet only your brothers, what special thing do you do? Don't the pagans do the same? 48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
This is true. Love everyone, for the Lord will abide in everyone, and he loves everyone and illuminates everyone. And how can you hate someone if God loves him? Are you higher than your father and know your enemy better than your father? And since the Heavenly Father knows each of you and forgives each one, although he knows his thoughts. How can you not forgive your errant brother if your father has forgiven him? How can you not love him. If the father abides in him and loves him. It means you don't love your father. If you do not love your brother, in whom this father will remain. And the heavenly father does not differentiate between his children. And he loves everyone equally, and only he can judge by different measures, but he does not judge, but you judge. Pray for your enemies and those who offend you, for they suffer, for they are separated from their father. And open your hearts to them, so that they can see the face of our father in you, and respond with the same face, and their suffering will be eased, and they will return to their father in the heavenly family. Pray for them, for when you pray for them, you send them the light of the father contained in you, and this light will reach them, and illuminate them, and ease their suffering. All the righteous prayed for human sins. For they understood this and sent the light of their father to help others find their way home. Like the light of a lighthouse showing the way to the shore. The path to my father's house. Truly I tell you.
The Sermon on the Mount of Jesus Christ - the full text and interpretation of the instructions of the Son of the Lord can be found in this article!
P. Basin. Sermon on the Mount.
Sermon on the Mount of Jesus Christ (Matthew 5-7)
(4:25 And large crowds followed Him from Galilee, and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and the regions beyond the Jordan. 5:1) / And He, seeing these crowds, ascended the mountain;
2 And when He sat down, His disciples came to Him./And He opened His mouth and began to teach them thus:
3 “Blessed are the poor at the commandment of the Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will take the earth as an inheritance.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 Blessed are those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when reproach and persecution are raised against you, and every evil word is spoken against you falsely, 12 because of Me./ Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven! So they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become unleavened, how can you salt it? It's not good for anything; unless you throw it out for people to trample underfoot.
14 You are the light of the world. A city standing high on a mountain cannot hide.
15 And the lamp is lit, not to be placed under a bushel, but on a lampstand, so that it may give light to everyone in the house.
16 Let your light shine before men, so that they may see good works from you and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to complete.
18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will pass from the Law, until everything is fulfilled.
19 Therefore, if anyone breaks the very last of these commandments and teaches others to do the same, he will be named last in the Kingdom of Heaven; and whoever does and teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20 For I say to you, unless your righteousness is greater than the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients: “You shall not kill,” but if anyone kills, he will answer before the court.
22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother will answer before the court; and if someone says to his brother: “Cancer!” – will give an answer before the Sanhedrin; and if anyone says to his brother, “You fool!”, he will give an answer in the fire of Gehenna.
23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there you remember that your brother has a grudge against you,
24 Leave your gift there before the altar, and first go and make peace with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 Know how to please the plaintiff while you are still on the way to court, so that the plaintiff does not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the jailer, and so that you are not thrown into prison:
26 Truly I tell you, you will not leave there until you pay the last coin.
27 You heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.”
28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 So if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away; for it is better for you that part of your body should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into Gehenna.
30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; for it is better for you that part of your body should perish, and not that your whole body should go to Gehenna.
31 It was said: whoever divorces his wife is obligated to give her a certificate of divorce.
32 But I tell you that whoever divorces his wife except because of her unfaithfulness causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 You have also heard that it was said to the ancients: “Do not swear a false oath, but fulfill your oaths to the Lord.”
34 But I say to you, do not swear at all, not even by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35 neither by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the City of the great King;
36 And do not swear with your head, for it is not in your power to make a single hair white or black.
37 But let your word be: “yes, yes,” “no, no”; and what is beyond this is from the Evil One.
38 You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”
39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person, but if someone hits you on your right cheek, offer him the other.
40 And if anyone wants to sue you for your shirt, give him your cloak too,
41 And if someone imposes on you the duty of accompanying him a mile, go with him for two.
42 Give to anyone who asks from you, and do not turn away from anyone who wants to borrow from you.
43 You have heard that it was said: “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”
44. But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 That you may become children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun appear on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what merit will you have? Don't publicans do the same?
47 And if you are only friendly with your own people, what's the big deal? Don't the pagans do the same?
48 But you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
6:1 And take heed to yourselves, that you do not perform righteous works for show, for spectators; Otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
2 So, if you do a good deed, do not make a noise, as the actors do in the synagogues and in the streets, seeking praise from people. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
3 But when you do a good deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your good deed may be hidden; and your Father, who sees the unseen, will reward you.
5 And when you pray, do not be like the actors who love to stand at prayer in the synagogues or at the crossroads so that people can see them. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
6 But when you pray, go to your room, closing the door behind you, and pray to your Hidden Father; and your Father, who sees the unseen, will reward you.
7 But when you pray, do not mumble, as the heathen do; because they think that if there are many words, they will be heard.
8 So do not be like them; For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 Therefore you pray like this: Our Father who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy Name,
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven;
11 Give us today our daily bread,
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
14 For if you forgive people what they have done wrong, your Father in heaven will also forgive you;
15 But if you do not forgive people, your Heavenly Father will not forgive you what you have done wrong.
16 And when you fast, do not put on yourselves, like actors, a gloomy appearance; after all, they make sad faces for themselves to show people how they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 not to show people how you fast, but to your Hidden Father; and your Father, who sees the unseen, will reward you.
19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust eat away and thieves break in and carry away;
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break in and carry away;
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The lamp of the body is the eye. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;
23 But if your eye is unclean, your whole body will be filled with darkness. But if the light that is in you is darkness, how dark is the darkness itself!
24 No one can serve two masters; either he will reject one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the first, but negligent for the second. You cannot serve both God and wealth.
25 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat and drink, nor about your body, what you will wear; Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor store up storehouses, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them; and you, aren’t you much more valuable than them?
27 And who among you can add even one cubit to his life by his troubles?
28 And why are you bothering about clothes? Look how the flowers grow in the field - they don’t work, they don’t spin;
29 But I tell you that Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like any of these./
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more so than you, O you of little faith?
31 So, do not bother saying, “What shall we eat?”, or, “What shall we drink?”, or, “What shall we wear?”
32 Such concerns occupy the Gentiles; but your Heavenly Father knows that you need all this.
33 Take care first of all about the kingdom and its righteousness, and all this will be given to you in addition.
34 So, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself; Every day has enough of its burdens.
7:1, Do not judge, lest you be judged:
2 For with the judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not notice the beam in your own eye?
4 Or how will you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You actor, first remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not scatter your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and attack you and tear you to pieces.
7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and whoever seeks finds, and whoever knocks, the door will be opened to him.
9 Is there a man among you whose son asks for bread, and he gives him a stone?
10 Or will he ask for a fish, and he will give him a snake?
11 So if you, evil people, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?
12 Therefore, in everything, do to people as you would have them do to you: this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
13 Enter through the narrow gate; For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it.
14 But narrow is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 By their fruits you will recognize them. Do they gather grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 So every noble tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears evil fruit.
18 A noble tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So by their fruits you will recognize them.
21 Not everyone who says to Me: “Lord! God!" - will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who dwells in heaven./
22 Many will say to Me on that Day: “Lord! God! Didn’t we prophesy in Your name, didn’t we cast out demons in Your name, didn’t we perform many miracles in Your name?”
23 And then I will declare to them: “I never knew you; Away from Me, you workers of iniquity!”
24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock;
25 And the rain came, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not collapse, for its foundation was on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a fool who built his house on the sand;
27 And the rain came, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and its destruction was great.”
Notes on verses of the Sermon on the Mount
The preaching of Jesus Christ, in its external features, is close to the very ancient biblical tradition of prophetic speech. This speech was rhythmic and used many consonances; both rhythms and consonances (especially noticeable in attempts to reverse translate the sayings of Christ into Aramaic) had, among other things, a utilitarian mnemotechnical function, helping the rhythmic-syntactic segment to linger in the listener’s memory. The ancient sermon has a special intonation, which is decidedly different, for example, from the almost rally-oratory intonation that is so characteristic of Pasolini’s famous film “The Gospel of Matthew.” It is better for our imagination to be guided by a slightly recitative pronunciation, so inevitable for the sphere of teaching in the Eastern style; this light chant in no way interferes with either explosions of expression (as the melodies of folk lamentations teach us) or extreme simplicity, however, it gives both a special context.
Many words have a special concentrated meaning, extreme weight, terminology, possible only after centuries of intense eschatological expectation. We tried to highlight such words regularly. That is why the reader will encounter so many nouns with a capital letter. Therefore, the word “Kingdom”, this term of terms of New Testament theology, was returned to its Slavic form. Let us refer to the authority of Russian poetry, which thematized the opposition of this-worldly kingdoms and the eternal Kingdom. The translation of the Old Testament commandments, quoted in 5:21 and 27, cost us a lot of thought. What to do - “thou shalt not kill” has entered into Russian language usage, but “thou shalt not kill” has not entered the Synodal translation and does not want to enter! (Very inappropriate here and in the prohibition of adultery is the form of the imperfect form, as if Scripture prohibited not an act, but an occupation). Moreover, in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, this is precisely a quotation, which naturally sounds different from the text as a whole.
(5:3) ff. harmonious, Greek makarioi - since the time of the Septuagint, the normal transmission of Hebrew. >ashrej (always only in the form of status constructus pluralis, i.e. the plural of the Semitic grammatical construction of the “conjugate state”; see, for example, in a number of psalms, starting with 1:1). An ancient expression with an unclear etymology has a distinct formulaic character. Moreover, in the lexical system of the New Testament Greek language, this is a marked biblicalism, quotation-colored, referring to both Semitic vocabulary and the Septuagint. Therefore, we considered it appropriate to preserve the traditional translation as a sign of the formulaic nature of the expression.
Beggar, Greek ptochos is a traditional rendering of the very rich connotations of the Hebrew ebjon “bent, oppressed, wretched.” In Old Testament contexts it means one for whom there is no other help than the help of God, but who is precisely therefore under the immediate protection of God more than anyone else (Deut. 24:14). This is the name, for example, for an Israeli who preserves his faith in the conditions of Babylonian captivity (Isa. 25:4, etc.). In the conditions of “this age,” every righteous person who refuses unjust advantages and prefers to be a victim, but not a source of aggression, can be designated by this word; It is characteristic that it became the self-name of the Judeo-Christian group (the so-called Ebionites).
At the behest of the spirit, this translation of the Greek. pneumati is based on some Qumran parallels; a similar understanding is also known in patristic exegesis (for example, in the Short Rule of St. Basil the Great, 205, see Migne, Patrologia Graeca 31, 1217); Wed also Exodus 35:21, where the idea of voluntary and voluntary giving is expressed as follows: “And all who were willing came and brought offerings to the Lord for the building of the Tabernacle.” In the semantics of the word ebjon just described, the idea of voluntariness is already implicitly present, and therefore no one should be confused by the fact that in a parallel passage in Luke (Luke 6:20) the word “poor” is given without any explanation, and the Gospel of Matthew, on the contrary, reveals the implication. The interpretation from which our translation proceeds does not contradict either the emphasis on the theme of humility that comes to the fore in St. John Chrysostom, Gregory the Great and some other Fathers (for to voluntarily choose the fate of ebjon is undoubtedly an act of humility), nor with the understanding of “spirit” as the Spirit of God, found, for example, in Bl. Jerome (for the human spirit, from a Christian point of view, in its good actions receives inspiration from the Holy Spirit). Ancient texts, as is known, did not know how to spell a word with an uppercase or lowercase letter. The reader is invited to hear both options at the same time: “in the spirit” and “in the Spirit.”
(5:4) Mourners – Greek. penthountes, a word whose semantics is associated with mourning and mourning, i.e. with such grief, which is not just an emotion, but also a duty, and refusal of it is betrayal. A person cannot seriously seek the Kingdom of God and the truth of God without experiencing very real pain from the improper state of the world and himself; only the final coming of the Kingdom brings an end to this mourning. According to Isaiah 61:2, messianic consolation is sent to “those who mourn in Zion.” St. John Chrysostom, in his interpretation of this passage, emphasizes the intense, strong-willed, active-ascetic nature of this grief, which is very different from passive grief and sadness. The cognate word penthos (in traditional translation “crying”) has become the most important term of Orthodox asceticism.
(5:5) Wed. Psalm 36:11.
(5:15) Under a vessel - in old houses of the Middle East it was customary to extinguish a lamp, always covering it with a vessel, so that the smoke from the smoldering wick would not fill the poorly ventilated room.
(5:17) Greek plerosai means both “to fulfill” and “to replenish.” In this context, the second meaning is especially important: the messianic time reveals the full meaning of the preliminary Revelation.
(5:22) He is angry with his brother - a number of manuscripts add “in vain.” Raka is an Aramaic swear word (“empty man”). Madman is an extremely harsh curse in the Jewish environment, meaning not only and not so much intellectual deficiency as wickedness and corruption (cf. Ps 13:1: “The fool said in his heart: “There is no God”).
Gehenna was originally the name of the valley (Heb. Hinnom or BenHinnom) south of Jerusalem. What gave this valley its bad reputation was that it was the site of pagan rites during which children were sacrificed (Jeremiah 7:31). After these rites were stopped, the place was cursed and turned into a dumping ground for garbage and unburied corpses; there the fires were constantly burning and smoldering, destroying the rot. Already in the Old Testament, this incessant work of worms and fire became a symbol of the final destruction of sinners: “...And they will see the corpses of the people who have departed from Me; For their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched; and they shall be an abomination to all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24). Hence the metaphorical use of this toponym in the Gospels.
(5:26) Codrant (Latin quadrans “quarter”) is a very small Roman quarter-asse value coin.
(5:31) Wed. Deuteronomy 24:1.
(5:37) “Yes, yes,” “no, no”: perhaps the double repetition of affirmation and negation was used as a formula of assurance instead of the forbidden oath. From the Evil One - or “from the evil one,” i.e. “from evil.”
(5:39) gives you on the right cheek - a ritual blow with the back of the hand on the right cheek in the tradition of the Middle Eastern peoples - one of the most terrible insults, incomparably more serious than a slap in the face.
(5:47) With your own - literally “with your brothers”; This means any, even a very wide, but closed circle - relatives, brothers-in-law, friends, fellow tribesmen, etc.
(6:2) Actors – Greek. hypocritai, a word that normally meant actors. The traditional translation is “hypocrites.” However, the word “hypocrite” has become somewhat coarser in its meaning; Let's say, the hero of Moliere's comedy “Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite” is a trivial scoundrel who begins to behave like cattle as soon as his patron turns away for a minute. That behaving like this is bad, any Jew and any pagan knew even without the Sermon on the Mount; and the Pharisees of the Lord’s time, seriously concerned about the punctual and scrupulous fulfillment of the letter of the Law, much like our Old Believers, hardly deserve the same name as Tartuffe. But this is precisely the spiritual radicalism of the Sermon on the Mount, that it rejects all behavior “in public,” all performance of a social role (even “conscientious”) and all acting, even before oneself and before God, as the Pharisee plays in the parable in Gospel of Luke (Luke 18:10-14).
(6:6) Some manuscripts add, “explicitly.”
(6:7) Don’t mumble – in the original there is also an onomatopoeic verb battologein.
(6:9) Hallow the Name - a common Jewish expression that meant that a believer behaves impeccably and thereby encourages unbelievers to praise his faith and his God.
(6:11) Daily – Greek. the word epiousios caused difficulties already in antiquity. It can mean a) “necessary”, b) “for this day” and c) “for the coming day”.
(6:12) Forgave - in later manuscripts we forgive.
(6:13) See note. by 5:37.
(6:24) To wealth – in the original Aramaicism “mammon”.
(6:25) Don’t bother – Greek. the verb merimnao emphasizes the emotional moment of anxiety and tension more strongly than the Russian “I care.” It is not the rational thought about tomorrow that is condemned, but the investment in the care of one’s heart, which must be completely given to God and His Kingdom.
(6:27) the duration of his life - the original allows for another understanding: “to his growth.”
(6:28) The flowers in the field are actually anemones (in the traditional translation - “lilies”).
(7:12) The so-called Golden Rule. A similar but negative formulation of it - what you don’t want for yourself, don’t do to someone else - is attributed to some Talmudic authorities (Hillel Sab. 31a; Rabbi Akiba Ab. R. Nachm. xxvi, f. 27 a). The Gospel teaching is characterized by a positive formulation - not just abstinence from evil, but active good.
(7:22) On that Day is a terminological designation for the Last Judgment.
The translation is based on the publication: Novum Testamentum Graece post E. Nestle denuo edid. K. Aland, M. Black, C. M. Martini, B. M. Metzger et A. Wikgren, 26. Aufl., 10. Druck, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart 1979.
Translation and notes by S. Averintsev
Archpriest Seraphim Slobodskoy
God's Law
New Testament
Sermon on the Mount
After the election of the apostles, Jesus Christ came down with them from the top of the mountain and stood on level ground. Here His many disciples and a great multitude of people who had gathered from all over the Jewish land and from the places neighboring it were waiting for Him. They came to listen to Him and receive healing from their illnesses. Everyone tried to touch the Savior, because power emanated from Him and healed everyone.
Seeing a multitude of people in front of Him, Jesus Christ, surrounded by disciples, ascended to a high place near the mountain and sat down to teach the people.
First, the Lord indicated what His disciples, that is, all Christians, should be like. How they must fulfill the law of God in order to receive blessed (that is, extremely joyful, happy), eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. For this He gave nine beatitudes. Then the Lord gave teachings about the Providence of God, about non-judgment of others, about the power of prayer, about almsgiving and much more. This sermon of Jesus Christ is called upland.
So, in the middle of a clear spring day, with a quiet breeze of coolness from Lake Galilee, on the slopes of a mountain covered with greenery and flowers, the Savior gives people the New Testament law of love.
In the Old Testament, the Lord gave the Law in the barren desert, on Mount Sinai. Then a menacing, dark cloud covered the top of the mountain, thunder roared, lightning flashed and a trumpet sound was heard. No one dared to approach the mountain except the prophet Moses, to whom the Lord entrusted the Ten Commandments of the Law.
Now the Lord is surrounded by a close crowd of people. Everyone tries to come closer to Him and touch at least the hem of His garment in order to receive grace-filled power from Him. And no one leaves Him without consolation.
The Old Testament law is the law of strict truth, and the New Testament law of Christ is the law of Divine love and grace, which gives people the power to fulfill God's Law. Jesus Christ Himself said: “I came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it” (Matt. 5 , 17).
THE HAPPINESS COMMANDMENTS
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, as a loving Father, shows us the ways or deeds through which people can enter the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God. To all who will fulfill His instructions or commandments, Christ promises, as the King of heaven and earth, eternal bliss(great joy, highest happiness) in the future, eternal life. That's why He calls such people blessed, i.e. the happiest.
Poor in spirit- these are people who feel and recognize their sins and spiritual shortcomings. They remember that without God’s help they themselves cannot do anything good, and therefore they do not boast or be proud of anything, either before God or before people. These are humble people.
Crying- people who grieve and cry about their sins and spiritual shortcomings. The Lord will forgive their sins. He gives them consolation here on earth, and eternal joy in heaven.
The meek- people who patiently endure all sorts of misfortunes, without being upset (without grumbling) at God, and humbly endure all sorts of troubles and insults from people, without getting angry with anyone. They will receive possession of a heavenly dwelling, that is, a new (renewed) earth in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Hungering and thirsting for truth- people who diligently desire truth, like the hungry (hungry) - bread and the thirsty - water, ask God to cleanse them from sins and help them live righteously (they want to be justified before God). The desire of such people will be fulfilled, they will be satisfied, that is, they will be justified.
Gracious- people who have a kind heart - merciful, compassionate towards everyone, always ready to help those in need in any way they can. Such people themselves will be pardoned by God, they will be shown the special mercy of God .
Pure at heart- people who not only guard against bad deeds, but also try to make their soul pure, that is, they keep it from bad thoughts and desires. Here too they are close to God (they always feel Him in their souls), and in the future life, in the Kingdom of Heaven, they will forever be with God and see Him.
Peacekeepers- people who do not like any quarrels. They themselves try to live peacefully and amicably with everyone and to reconcile others with each other. They are likened to the Son of God, Who came to earth to reconcile sinners with the justice of God. Such people will be called sons, that is, children of God, and will be especially close to God.
Banished for the Truth- people who so love to live according to the truth, that is, according to God's law, according to justice, that they endure and endure all sorts of persecutions, deprivations and disasters for this truth, but do not betray it in any way. For this they will receive the Kingdom of Heaven.
Here the Lord says: if they revile you (mock you, scold you, dishonor you), use you and falsely say bad things about you (slander, unfairly accuse you), and you endure all this for your faith in Me, then do not be sad, but rejoice and be glad, because a great, greatest reward in heaven awaits you, that is, a particularly high degree of eternal bliss.
ABOUT GOD'S PROVIDENCE
Jesus Christ taught that God provides, that is, cares for all creatures, but especially provides for people. The Lord takes care of us more and better than the kindest and most reasonable father takes care of his children. He provides us with His help in everything that is necessary in our life and that serves for our true benefit.
“Do not worry (overly) about what you will eat or what you will drink or what you will wear,” said the Savior. “Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into a barn, and your heavenly Father feeds them; and are you not much better than them? Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. But I tell you that Solomon in all his glory did not dress like any of them. But if God clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, then how much more do you, O God the Father, of little faith! your Heavenly One, knows that you need all this. Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all this will be added to you.”
ABOUT NON-JUDGEMENT OF YOUR NEIGHBOR
Jesus Christ did not say to judge other people. He said this: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Because with the same judgment you judge, you will also be judged (i.e., if you are lenient towards the actions of other people, then God’s the judgment will be merciful to you). : Why do you like to notice even minor sins and shortcomings in others, but don’t want to see big sins and vices in yourself?) Or, as you say to your brother: let me take the speck out of your eye, but there is a beam in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye (try first of all to correct yourself), and then you will see how to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (then you will be able to correct the sin in another without insulting or humiliating him).
ABOUT FORGIVING YOUR NEIGHBOR
“Forgive and you will be forgiven,” said Jesus Christ. “For if you forgive people their sins, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive people their sins, then your Father will not forgive you your sins.”
ABOUT LOVE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR
Jesus Christ commanded us to love not only our loved ones, but all people, even those who offended us and caused us harm, that is, our enemies. He said: “You have heard what was said (by your teachers - the scribes and Pharisees): love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you: love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. "That you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
If you love only those who love you; or will you do good only to those who do it to you, and will you lend only to those from whom you hope to receive it back? Why should God reward you? Don't lawless people do the same thing? Don't the pagans do the same?
Be ye therefore merciful, even as your Father is merciful, be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect?
GENERAL RULE FOR TREATING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
How should we always treat our neighbors, in any case, Jesus Christ gave us this rule: “in everything, as you want people to do to you (and we, of course, want all people to love us” do to us kindness and forgave us), do the same to them." (Do not do to others what you do not want for yourself).
ABOUT THE POWER OF PRAYER
If we earnestly pray to God and ask for His help, then God will do everything that will serve for our true benefit. Jesus Christ said this about it: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you; for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Is there a man among you who, when his son If he asks him for bread, would he give him a stone? And when he asks for a fish, would he give him a snake? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.”
ABOUT ALMS
We must do every good deed not out of boasting to people, not to show off to others, not for the sake of human reward, but for the sake of love for God and neighbor. Jesus Christ said: “See that you do not do your alms in front of people so that they will see you; otherwise you will have no reward from your Heavenly Father. So, when you do alms, do not sound a trumpet (that is, do not publicize) before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that people may glorify them. Truly, I say to you, they already receive their reward from you, when you do alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (that is, before yourself). do not boast about the good that you have done, forget about it), so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret (that is, everything that is in your soul and for the sake of which you do all this), will reward you openly" - if not now, then at His last judgment.
ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF GOOD DEEDS
So that people know that to enter the Kingdom of God, good feelings and desires alone are not enough, but good deeds are necessary, Jesus Christ said: “Not everyone who says to Me: Lord! Lord! will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will (commandments) of My Heavenly Father,” that is, it is not enough to just be a believer and a pious person, but we must also do those good deeds that the Lord requires of us.
When Jesus Christ finished His preaching, the people marveled at His teaching, because He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes and Pharisees taught. When He came down from the mountain, many people followed Him, and He, in His mercy, performed great miracles.
NOTE: See in the Gospel of Matthew chapters - 5, 6 and 7th, from Luke, ch. 6, 12-41.
Sermon on the Mount
Thank you for downloading the book from the free electronic library http://filosoff.org/ Enjoy reading! Sermon on the Mount. Gospel of Matthew. After the election of the apostles, Jesus Christ came down with them from the top of the mountain and stood on level ground. Here His many disciples and a great multitude of people who had gathered from all over the Jewish land and from the places neighboring it were waiting for Him. They came to listen to Him and receive healing from their illnesses. Everyone tried to touch the Savior, because power emanated from Him and healed everyone. Seeing a multitude of people in front of Him, Jesus Christ, surrounded by disciples, ascended to a high place near the mountain and sat down to teach the people. First, the Lord indicated what His disciples, that is, all Christians, should be like. How they must fulfill the law of God in order to receive blessed (that is, extremely joyful, happy), eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. For this purpose He gave the nine beatitudes. Then the Lord gave teachings about the Providence of God, about non-judgment of others, about the power of prayer, about almsgiving and much more. This sermon of Jesus Christ is called the sermon on the mount. So, in the middle of a clear spring day, with a quiet breeze of coolness from Lake Galilee, on the slopes of a mountain covered with greenery and flowers, the Savior gives people the New Testament law of love. In the Old Testament, the Lord gave the Law in the barren desert, on Mount Sinai. Then a menacing, dark cloud covered the top of the mountain, thunder roared, lightning flashed and a trumpet sound was heard. No one dared to approach the mountain except the prophet Moses, to whom the Lord entrusted the Ten Commandments of the Law. Now the Lord is surrounded by a close crowd of people. Everyone tries to come closer to Him and touch at least the hem of His garment in order to receive grace-filled power from Him. And no one leaves Him without consolation. The Old Testament law is the law of strict truth, and the New Testament law of Christ is the law of Divine love and grace, which gives people the power to fulfill God's Law. Jesus Christ himself said: “I came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17). THE HAPPINESS Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, as a loving Father, shows us the ways or deeds through which people can enter the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God. To all who will fulfill His instructions or commandments, Christ promises, as the King of heaven and earth, eternal bliss (great joy, highest happiness) in the future, eternal life. That is why He calls such people blessed, that is, the happiest. 1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "(Matt. 5:3) The poor in spirit (humble) are people who feel and recognize their sins and spiritual shortcomings. They remember that without God’s help they themselves cannot do anything good, and therefore they do not boast or be proud of anything , neither before God, nor before people. These are humble people. With these words, Christ announced to humanity a completely new truth. To enter the Kingdom of Heaven, it is necessary to realize that in this world a person has nothing of his own. Health, strength, abilities - everything is a gift from God. Spiritual poverty is called humility. Without humility, turning to God is impossible, no Christian virtue is possible. Only it opens a person’s heart to the perception of Divine grace. Physical poverty can also serve spiritual perfection, if a person chooses it. voluntarily, for God’s sake. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself spoke about this in the Gospel to one rich young man: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your property and give it to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven..." The young man did not find the strength to follow Christ, because he could not part with earthly wealth. Rich people can also be poor in spirit. If a person understands that earthly wealth is perishable and fleeting, then his heart will not depend on earthly treasures. And then nothing will prevent the rich from striving to acquire spiritual blessings, to acquire virtues and perfection. The Lord promises a great reward to the poor in spirit - the Kingdom of Heaven. 2. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” :4) Those who mourn (about their sins) are people who grieve and cry about their sins and spiritual shortcomings. The Lord will forgive them their sins here on earth, and in heaven, Christ speaks of eternal joy. meant repentant tears and sorrow of the heart for the sins a person has committed. It is known that if a person suffers and cries because of pride, passions or pride, then such suffering brings torment to the soul and does not provide any benefit. But if a person endures suffering, it is like a test sent. God, his tears cleanse his soul, and after suffering the Lord will certainly send him joy and consolation. But if a person refuses to repent and suffer in the name of the Lord and does not mourn his sins, but is only ready to rejoice and have fun, then such a person will not receive God’s support and protection during his life, and will not enter the Kingdom of God. About such people the Lord said: “Woe to you who laugh now! for you will mourn and lament” (Luke 6:25). The Lord will comfort those who cry about their sins and grant them grace-filled peace. Their sorrow will be replaced by eternal joy, eternal bliss. “I will change their sorrow into joy and will comfort them and make them glad after their tribulation” (Jer. 31:13). 3. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matt. 5:5) The meek are people who patiently endure all kinds of misfortunes, without being upset (without grumbling) with God, and humbly endure all kinds of troubles and insults from people, without getting angry with anyone. Meek people are devoid of selfishness, pride, arrogance and envy, boasting and conceit, and vanity. They do not strive to obtain for themselves a better position or a higher place in society, do not seek power over other people, do not crave fame and wealth, since the best and highest place for them is not earthly illusory goods and imaginary pleasures, but to be with Christ, imitating Him . They will receive possession of a heavenly dwelling, that is, a new (renewed) earth in the Kingdom of Heaven. A meek person never grumbles either against God or people. He always regrets the hardness of heart of those who offended him and prays for their correction. The greatest example of meekness and humility was shown to the world by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, when, crucified on the Cross, He prayed for His enemies. According to the teachings of Jesus Christ, that person who is capable of repentance for his sins and awareness of his shortcomings, who sincerely cried and grieved for sin with Christ and endured the torment of suffering with dignity, such a person will most likely learn meekness from his Divine Teacher. As we see, such properties of the human soul (which are indicated in the first two Beatitudes) as the ability to repent, like sincere tears about sin, contribute to the emergence and are inextricably linked with such a quality of human character as meekness, which is spoken of in the third commandment. 4. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matt. 5:6) Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are people who diligently desire righteousness, just as the hungry (hungry) ask for bread and the thirsty for water, asking God to cleanse them from their sins and help them live righteously (they want to be justified before God ). The desire of such people will be fulfilled, they will be satisfied, that is, they will be justified. 5. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.” (Matt. 5:7) The merciful are people who have a good heart - merciful, compassionate towards everyone, always ready to help those in need in any way they can. Such people themselves will be pardoned by God, and God’s special mercy will be shown to them. 6. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matt. 5:8) Pure in heart are people who not only avoid evil deeds, but also try to make their soul pure, i.e. That is, they keep her from bad thoughts and desires. Here too they are close to God (they always feel Him in their souls), and in the future life, in the Kingdom of Heaven, they will forever be with God and see Him. 7. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9) Peacemakers are people who do not like any quarrels. They themselves try to live peacefully and amicably with everyone and to reconcile others with each other. They are likened to the Son of God, Who came to earth to reconcile sinners with the justice of God. Such people will be called sons, that is, children of God, and will be especially close to God. 8. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:10) Those persecuted for the sake of truth are people who so love to live according to the truth, that is, according to God’s law, according to justice, that they endure and endure all sorts of persecutions, deprivations and disasters for this truth, but do not change anything to her. For this they will receive the Kingdom of Heaven. 9. “Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unjustly because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven: so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:11-12) If a person is subjected to persecution, reproach, slander and abuse for the faith of Christ, for a righteous life in Christ, and if a person endures all this patiently, then such a person will receive a great, highest reward in heaven (that is, a very high degree of eternal bliss). After Jesus Christ proclaimed the nine Beatitudes, He continued to expound His Teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus Christ was surrounded by a crowd of people, consisting mainly of Jews who dreamed of the restoration of the Israeli state, who craved earthly goods and pleasures in this kingdom. With disappointment, the Jews, scribes and Pharisees, heard that the Kingdom of God awaits not them, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, but the poor in spirit, those who weep, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, peacemakers, those expelled for the truth, those who are persecuted and slandered for the name of Christ. ABOUT GOD'S PROVIDENCE (Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-31) Jesus Christ taught that God provides, that is, cares for all creatures, but especially provides for people. The Lord takes care of us more and better than the kindest and most reasonable father takes care of his children. He provides us with His help in everything that is necessary in our life and that serves for our true benefit. “Do not worry (overly) about what you will eat or what you will drink or what you will wear,” said the Savior. “Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and your Father in heaven feeds them; and are you not much better than them? Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. But I tell you that Solomon in all his glory did not dress like any of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, then how much more so, O you of little faith! God, your Heavenly Father, knows that you need all this. Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew quotes the words of Jesus Christ as follows: 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? 6:33 Seek ye then.