{"id":5989,"date":"2022-03-24T12:41:57","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T12:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/?p=5989"},"modified":"2022-03-28T05:07:50","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T05:07:50","slug":"the-sermon-on-the-mount","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/the-sermon-on-the-mount\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sermon on the Mount"},"content":{"rendered":"

Th<\/strong>e Sermon on the Mount<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pope Shenouda III<\/strong><\/p>\n

March 24, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some people say that the insights of the \u201cSermon on the Mount\u201d are the statutes and the regulations of Christianity. We append their highest instructions ever known to man. With these wisdoms, Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke to all people proving that perfection can be offered to all human beings and our natural ability in inmost soul, the readiness to listen to these valuable instructions and highest principles, to love and be fully content in them, whatever obstacles meet in our own will of listening.<\/p>\n

It was fitting that these heavenly words should be delivered from the top of a high mountain in order that the audience, during their ascent, might elevate their souls up to the standard of the ability to understand such instructions. Undoubtedly, he who sits on a mountain sees the things on earth as very small and tiny. We must not forget that the laws of \u2018The Old Testament\u2019 had \u00a0been \u00a0given \u00a0from \u00a0a \u00a0mountain \u00a0top \u00a0where \u00a0the \u00a0people<\/p>\n

could perceive the Most High in the Heavens, His greatness and His dignity.<\/p>\n

It was therefore appropriate for Lord Jesus Christ to offer New Testament law to the people from a mountain top to remind them of Mount Sinai.<\/p>\n

In his epistle to the Hebrews, Saint Paul the apostle, made a comparison between the two mountains.\u00a0\u00a0 He said \u201cFor You have not come to a mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire; and to blackness and darkness and tempest , and the sound \u00a0of \u00a0trumpet and the \u00a0voice words \u00a0so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them,But you have come to Mount Zion, and to city of the living God, \u00a0the heavenly Jerusalem and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant.\u201d (Hebrew 12 :18- 24)<\/p>\n

Contrary to the New Testament, the laws of the Old Testament were given in a way which filled a person with fear, such that Moses the prophet, said \u201cI am trembling with fear.\u201d (Hebrew 12:21)<\/p>\n

Lord Jesus Christ used to speak gently. \u00a0In the beginning of His blessings He was praising meekness. \u00a0The people neither feared fire, fog nor earthquakes. \u00a0They did not need a mediator like Moses to convey God’s word to them.\u00a0\u00a0 The Lord was among His sons, speaking to them as a loving father. \u00a0He said “The people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:29)<\/p>\n

It was good that the Lord spoke to them from the top of a mountain where nothing could disturb their senses. Being the cause for their concentration on the words of Lord Jesus.<\/p>\n

He spoke to them where there were no obstacles, away from the town with its brilliance, amusement, enjoyment, anxiety and crowds.\u00a0 No worries or entertainment, whether at home or at work, was of a disturbance. But only God alone filled their thoughts. Nothing could destruct their attention or keep their senses\u00a0 and thoughts\u00a0 away. Mar Isaac was correct when he said, \u201cA mere look at the wilderness can mortify all worldly desires in man’s heart.\u201d This is why Lord Jesus used to take the people to remote and deserted places. (Luke 9:10) Sometimes He took them to the sea-shore or around a lake. The\u00a0\u00a0 most\u00a0\u00a0 important\u00a0\u00a0 thing\u00a0\u00a0 was\u00a0\u00a0 to\u00a0\u00a0 keep\u00a0\u00a0 them\u00a0\u00a0 far\u00a0\u00a0 from materialism and worldly affairs, so for them to devote themselves to Him, as the Lord had told Abram to leave his country, his people and his father’s household. (Genesis 12: 1)<\/p>\n

Lord Jesus Christ\u2019s Grace, His instructions, the testimony of John the Baptist, the consultation of His disciples and His miracles attracted the people. His reputation as \u201cThe man of the multitudes\u201d remained with Him till the time of His crucifixion. He was continually followed\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0by\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0thousands\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0surrounded\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0with\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0crowds everywhere.<\/p>\n

The elders spoke of Him and said \u201cLook how the whole world has gone after Him!\u201d (John 12:19) It was also said about Him \u201cAll the people were very attentive to hear Him.\u201d (Luke 19:48).<\/em> He took them to the mountain as He had with Moses in the past.<\/p>\n

In the past, Elijah had lived his life on a mountain Karmal Mountain Even Elisha and the sons of the prophets lived there. John the Baptist lived his life in the wilderness as Elijah. The mountain became an influence in the life of Lord Jesus<\/p>\n

Himself. \u00a0It \u00a0was\u00a0 said\u00a0 about\u00a0 Him\u00a0 in\u00a0 \u201cSong\u00a0 of\u00a0 Songs\u201d\u00a0 \u201cBehold! \u00a0He comes, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon\u00a0\u00a0 the hills.\u201d (Song 2:8).<\/em> After His baptism, Lord Jesus spent forty days praying on a mountain.<\/p>\n

On wards Holy Spirit descended like a dove and enlightened Lord Jesus before He began His service; there was a time in which He lived in retreat and seclusion. During that period He laid down the fundamental principles of the program of His service. These principles seemed clear when Lord Jesus was face to face with the devil on this mountain which was afterwards called \u201cThe Mount of Temptation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fro<\/strong>m \u00a0the \u00a0Mount \u00a0of \u00a0Temptation \u00a0to \u00a0the \u00a0Mount \u00a0of \u00a0the <\/strong>Sermon, then to the Mount of Olives.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Mount of Olives was one of the places pleasing to Lord Jesus and loved by Him. \u00a0It was the place of His retreats which He continually visited, spending His time in contemplation and prayers and enjoying the best relationship with, \u201cThe Father.\u201d How beautiful were the words of John were when he wrote, \u201cAnd everyone\u00a0\u00a0 went to his own house. But Lord Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.\u201d (John 7:53, 8:1).<\/em><\/p>\n

Th<\/strong>e Mount of Olives (one of His glorious mountains) is said to be the place from which Jesus was taken up into Heaven. (Acts 1:9,12)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since Lord Jesus was fond of life on\u00a0 mountains,\u00a0 it\u00a0 was\u00a0 not strange for Him to deliver this famous sermon at the top of a mountain. Even Matthew, the evangelist said about Him \u201cAnd seeing the multitude, He went up on a mountain,\u00a0\u00a0 then He opened His mouth and taught \u00a0them saying …\u201d (Matthew 5:1,2)<\/p>\n

While on the mountain, the people could not see anything above them but the sky and the endless horizon. \u00a0There was no material interference.<\/strong> In such beautiful surroundings, under an endless sky, being away from materialism, they listened to the Lord when He opened His mouth and spoke to them.<\/p>\n

H<\/strong>e Opened His Mouth:<\/strong> Perhaps some may ask, \u201cWhat does the phrase \u2018He opened His mouth\u2019 mean?”<\/p>\n

Saint Augustine said, \u201cOn this occasion, Lord Jesus opened His own mouth because, on past occasions He used to open the mouths of the prophets in order that they might speak to the people…\u201d<\/p>\n

Saint Paul the Apostle said, \u201cGod , who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets… has \u00a0in these last days spoken to us by His Son.\u201d (Hebrew 1:1,2)<\/p>\n

It means that Lord Jesus, on giving His sermon on the mount and on delivering other sermons, did not teach us through the prophets but opened His own mouth and spoke to us.<\/p>\n

Saint John Chrysostom says, \u201cLord Jesus opened His mouth and spoke to the people because in the past years, He used to talk with\u00a0 them\u00a0 and\u00a0 teach\u00a0 them\u00a0 by\u00a0 giving\u00a0 instructive\u00a0 examples without opening His mouth.<\/p>\n

Observations On The Contents Of The Sermon<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 1. The sermon gives a comprehensive answer to those who teach that faith alone is sufficient saying \u201cOnly, Have \u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The whole sermon comprises of spiritual behavior. \u00a0No word was said about faith. It is a discourse about the great virtues, purity of the heart, models of good manners, treatment of people, prayers, fasting, and the proper understanding of the Old Testament Commandments.<\/p>\n

    It ends with spiritual benefits (works and the verses): \u201cYou will know them by their fruits. \u201cTherefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.\u201d (Matthew 7:16,24)<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. 2. <\/strong>The Lord spoke about practical life. He mentioned nothing about rituals or practices and habits which the teachers of the Law used to discuss with the Jews. Thus His words affected the depths of people’s<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. He spoke \u00a0about \u00a0perfection\u00a0\u00a0 and \u00a0conversed \u00a0with \u00a0all persons equally. He talked with men, women, the elderly; people of different spiritual standards and ages. He would lay before them what must be done.\u00a0\u00a0 He helped them to ascend to the highest levels of glory. He let each person act according to their own capabilities and gifts. He did not let them stop at a certain point on their spiritual journey and said to them, \u201cTherefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.\u201d (Matthew 5:48)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. On delivering the \u201cSermon on the Mount,\u201d Lord Jesus presented God as a heavenly Father. He repeated the phrase \u201cYour heavenly Father\u201d and its synonyms about eleven times. He also taught \u00a0the \u00a0people \u00a0to \u00a0pray \u00a0saying, \u00a0\u201cOur \u00a0Father \u00a0in<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Heaven…\u201dThis assures the mutual understanding of love between God and man.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Many times, He also repeated the words \u201cThe Kingdom<\/em>\u201d and \u201cThe Heavens<\/em>.\u201d This is how He was able to change their passion for having earthly possessions, into that for a\u00a0 heavenly\u00a0 kingdom,\u00a0 high above the standard of the world and its materialism.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
              \n
            1. He did not address the subject of people\u2019s emotions or their paranoia. He did not talk as one who wished to save them from Roman slavery, but preached saying, \u201cIf anyone wants to sue you and take away \u00a0your \u00a0tunic, \u00a0let \u00a0him \u00a0have \u00a0your \u00a0cloak \u00a0also;\u00a0 and whoever compels\u00a0 \u00a0you to go one mile, go with him two miles and not to resist an evil person.\u201d (Matthew 5:39-41)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              He wished them to be adorned with inner purity and not with outer haughtiness.<\/p>\n

              O’ my Lord!\u00a0 \u00a0Who would find it easy to be devoted to You when You say, \u201c<\/em>Blessed are the poor” or “whoever slaps You on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” or when You say “Do not resist an evil person?”<\/p>\n

              Perhaps He would respond \u201cI did not come in order that someone might have devotion towards Me; I came to cleanse these hearts even if they would crucify Me. \u00a0This is why there is no \u00a0hesitation \u00a0to \u00a0begin \u00a0My \u00a0speech \u00a0to \u00a0them \u00a0with \u00a0this \u00a0verse \u2018Blessed \u00a0are \u00a0the \u00a0poor \u00a0in \u00a0spirit \u00a0for \u00a0theirs \u00a0is \u00a0the \u00a0kingdom \u00a0of heaven.<\/p>\n

              The Sermon on the mount about Judgment Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

              The disciples eager to know the second coming of Lord Jesus asked about judgment day. Lord Jesus then taught them about ever signs to ensue on earth.\u00a0\u00a0 Inc scripted as in the Bible the following are the Signs. (Matthew 3-24:36)<\/p>\n

              The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives,\u00a0the disciples came to Him privately, saying,\u00a0\u201cTell us, when will these things be? And what\u00a0will be<\/em>\u00a0the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?\u201dAnd Jesus answered and said to them:\u00a0\u201cTake heed that no one deceives you.\u00a0For\u00a0many will come in My name, saying, \u2018I am the Christ,\u2019\u00a0and will deceive many.\u00a0And you will hear of\u00a0wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all\u00a0these things\u00a0must come to pass, but the end is not yet.\u00a0For\u00a0nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be\u00a0famines,\u00a0pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>All these\u00a0are<\/em>\u00a0the beginning of sorrows.\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cThen they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name\u2019s sake.\u00a0And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.\u00a0Then\u00a0many false prophets will rise up and\u00a0deceive many.\u00a0And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow\u00a0cold.\u00a0But he who endures to the end shall be saved.\u00a0And this\u00a0gospel of the kingdom\u00a0will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.<\/p>\n

              The Great Tribulation<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cTherefore when you see the\u00a0\u2018abomination of desolation,\u2019 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place\u201d\u00a0(whoever reads, let him understand),\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cthen let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.\u00a0Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.\u00a0And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>But\u00a0woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!\u00a0And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.\u00a021\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>For\u00a0then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.\u00a022\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;\u00a0but for the\u00a0elect\u2019s sake those days will be shortened.<\/p>\n

              \u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cThen if anyone says to you, \u2018Look, here\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0the Christ!\u2019 or \u2018There!\u2019 do not believe\u00a0it.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>For\u00a0false Christ\u2019s and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive,\u00a0if possible, even the elect.\u00a0See, I have told you beforehand. \u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cTherefore if they say to you, \u2018Look, He is in the desert!\u2019 do not go out;\u00a0or<\/em>\u00a0\u2018Look,\u00a0He is<\/em>\u00a0in the inner rooms!\u2019 do not believe\u00a0it.<\/em>\u00a027\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.<\/p>\n

              The Coming of the Son of Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \u201cImmediately after the tribulation of those days\u00a0the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven,\u00a0and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.\u00a0And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His\u00a0elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.<\/p>\n

              The Parable of the Fig Tree<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cNow learn\u00a0this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0near.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>So you also, when you see all these things, know\u00a0that it is near\u2014at the doors!\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>Assuredly, I say to you,\u00a0this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.\u00a0Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.<\/p>\n

              No One Knows the Day or Hour<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Lord Jesus finally said,\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cBut of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of\u00a0heaven,\u00a0but My Father only.\u201d<\/p>\n

              So Dear Brethren, as none of us know judgment and the forth coming of tomorrow, we shall always be ready by engaging with good endeavors and work of God.<\/p>\n

              May God have mercy on all of us, Amen!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives,\u00a0the disciples came to Him privately, saying,\u00a0\u201cTell us, when will these things be? And what\u00a0will be\u00a0the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?\u201dAnd Jesus answered…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5992,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75,45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fasts","category-sermon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5989"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5989"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5989\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5994,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5989\/revisions\/5994"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}