Sermon on the Mount

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, the truly humble, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, who acknowledge the suffering in the world, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and justice, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are those who love him, who live in him, who are true and faithful in him.
Blessed are those who receive the peace of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers who spread goodwill in this world, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness and truth, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely accuse you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in the eternal truth.

You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl; instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine in this world so that people may see goodness and love and thus glorify the light and truth.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished.

Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these laws and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these truths will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

If you are offering a gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them, forgive them, then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary.

You have heard it said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of heaven. The unconditional love of God is the only thing that can make you happy. It causes the sun to rise on the good and the evil and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

You have also heard it said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do to be honored by others. Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be pure and in secret.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have already received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to the God who is unseen. Then the one who sees what is done in secret will bring its reward. Amen.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in the eternal, unconditional truth, which nothing can destroy.

I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body and what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet the divine life feeds them. Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Seek first the kingdom of wisdom and truth within, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened. For the one who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and truth, and only a few find it.

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority and who had known truth directly.

Heaven and earth will indeed pass away, but the eternal truth will not pass away. It is always the same. It is as it is, never changing.