Jesus Sermon on the Mount

Jesus exemplifies moral perfection by proclaiming and living by the Seremon on the Mount.

Even Mahatma Gandhi, the famous Hindu, was deeply impressed with the life of Jesus and particlarly his Sermon on the Mount. In it and elsewhere Jesus teaches many of the great moral principles known to humankind.


The Golden Rule


Jesus says, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you"(Matt.7:12). He views this as a summary of the Ten Commandments, which he also affirms, as he does the entire Old Testament (Matt.5:17). Even outside of Christianity, the Golden Rule is a widely recognized moral principle.


Do Not Judge Others


Jesus says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matt.7:1-2).

Although it is not always understood in it's original context, surveys show that this is now the most widely known verse in America. One thing is universal: few people want to be judged by others, particuly if the judgement is not fair. Jesus is not saying that we should never judge the beliefs and actions of others. Nor is he promoting the new tolerance that affirms that all ideas and beliefs are equally valid and true and no one should criticize another person's beliefs. Jesus does judge actions and beliefs of others (Matt.6:5,16; 11:20-24), but here he is saying that we should not judge falsely or hypocritically (Matt.7:3-5).


Love Your Enemies


Although Jesus traces this principle from the Old Testament, many Jews of his day (Matt.5:43-47), along with many Muslims and others, clearly are not practicing this valuable moral principle. In contrast, the Quran exhorts Muslims, "Take not Jews and Christians for friends. They are friends of one another. He among you who takes them for friends is (one) of them"(Sura 5:51). Indeed, the Quran urges Muslims to kill non-Muslims, declaring: "Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. so fight the minions of the devil"(Sura 4:76).


Do Not Retaliate


In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."(Matt. 5:38-39). Here is a exemplary moral principle that is widely admired but rarely practiced. Nonetheless, Jesus both teaches and practices it (Isa.50:6).


Don't be a Hypocrite


Jesus spends a lot of time rebuking them (Matt.23). He declares, You hypocrite, first take the plank in your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye (Matt.7:5). The fact is that virtually no one likes a hypocrite, and most people at least give lip service to this standard set forth by Jesus.


Don't Lust or Hate in your Heart


In this principle Jesus takes the generally understood moral principles to another level. Most persons have not murdered, but most have hated others in their heart. Not everyone has commited an act of adultery, but who is there who has not lusted? By elevating the understanding to include the intent behind even commonly understood moral laws (Matt.5:22,28), Jesus takes morality to a much higher level.


Be Merciful


All the Beatitudes are part of Jesus's ethic, but blessed are the merciful" (Matt.5:7) is a blessing on a group of people who meet a high and hard standard. As anyone who has tried knows, it is not easy to be merciful to an enemy or undeserving person. Indeed, popular atheist Ayn Rand teaches exactly the opposite: "To help a man who has no virtues, to help him on the ground of his suffering as such, to accept his fault, his need, as a claim-is to accept the mortgage of a zero on your values (Ayn Rand, For the New Intellectual,180).





To be continued...