THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT



And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee,

and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from

beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a

mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him.



And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying: Blessed are the

poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are

they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the

meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do

hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.



Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed

are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the

peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.



Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and

shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in

heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.



Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his

savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for

nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.



Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a

bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that

are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they

may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.



Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I

am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto

you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in

no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.



Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,

and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the

kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the

same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say

unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the

righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case

enter into the kingdom of heaven.



Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt

not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the

judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his

brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment....

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there

rememberest that thy brother bath aught against thee; leave there

thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to

thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift....



And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from

thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members

should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into

hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it

from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members

should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell....



Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time,

Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord

thine oaths: but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by

heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is his

footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great

King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst

not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be,

Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.



Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a

tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:

but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him

the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take

away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall

compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that

asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.



Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy

neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your

enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate

you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute

you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in

heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the

good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.



For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not

even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only,

what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye

therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.



--Matthew, Chapter V.



DEFINITIONS:

Revile, reproach, abuse.

Tittle, the smallest part.

Scribes, those among the Jews who read and explained the law to the people.

Pharisees, a Jewish sect noted for its strict observance of the law.



EXERCISE:

Point out on the map, Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea, Jordan, Capernaum.

The mountain referred to in the first paragraph was near Capernaum. Which paragraphs in this extract are called "The Beatitudes"? Why?

Look in the dictionary for the meaning of the word "beatitude."

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