Matthew 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.
Oh Friends, have you ever noticed that what’s termed Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, takes up three chapters, 5-7 of Matthew? It’s really an overwhelming speech, an enormous outpouring of Jesus’ heart and soul. It is in actual fact, the greatest philosophical treatise ever laid down. It’s so overpowering in its overall majesty, yet so simple in the specifics, that even if you don’t believe in Jesus as the fleshly incarnation of God, just reading His words and studying His philosophy, one that’s so bold, interactive and innovative yet very humane, your heart will indeed be touched. There’s just no better philosophy of life, no better way for humans or any living organism to live than that espoused by our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Listen to the numerous subjects on which our Leader spoke on that one day, that one momentous occasion nuh. He began with the Beatitudes; those humanitarian attributes and actions for which we’ll be eventually blessed if we faithfully pursue them. Then He talks about the salt of the earth and the light of the world before touching on religious law, anger, adultery, divorce, oaths and LOVE for enemies. Wow! And Friends, that’s only in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6, Jesus holds forth on almsgiving, on prayer, on fasting, on treasures in heaven, the light of the body, and trusting one master. Oh mih people, you’d think He’d be done by then. But no, our wonderful Leader was just getting warmed up. In Chapter 7, He then gives us that great philosophical moment on judging: ‘Judge (condemn) not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement (condemnation) ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete (use), it shall be measured to you again.’ (Mat.7:1-2) And Friends, there’s more to come; in particular the GOLDEN RULE; the one rule that encapsulates every thing, the one rule by which if all mankind lived, war and strife would cease to exist. And for those of us who don’t know it, or haven’t heard it in a long while, here it is to refresh our memories. ‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. ‘ (Mat.7:12) Oh mih people, all yuh remember that simple but exceedingly great guideline that we were all raised on: do unto others as you’d like them to do to you? I guess it’s such a simple rule that we in our highfalutin expectations consider it too simple to be true or useful. But Friends, it is the ONE, major, basic rule for any successful gathering of more than one living organism. All the lesser animals live it to a much greater extent than we the highest of the high. Instead we think more about the survival of the fittest, and all power to the strong, which unfortunately only engender unnecessary strife in our lives. Come to think of it mih people, that’s the very basis, the heart of Jesus’ philosophy; treat each other the way we’d like to be treated. If we’d all concentrate on that point alone…Oh mih breddren, what a beautiful place our world would be! Truly a wonderful world, as Satchmo (Louis Armstrong) sung of it! Just that simple idea can cause so much change in our selfish, me first world, that it’ll be mind boggling, to say the least. Oh people, I’m sorry…NO, I’M NOT! I was about to apologize for going off on a tangent, but I now realize that it was a very necessary digression, since I too had not consciously considered the GOLDEN RULE for a while, because I live it automatically. However, coming upon it so unexpectedly, just got my blood passionate and boiling about the stupid, nonsensical way we’re living today, when there’s that simple but awesome rule put forth by our Leader Jesus which would make so much more sense to live by. Ah mih Friends, I really don’t know what to say about us nuh. We treat each other like garbage, but then expect to be treated like royalty. Ah brother! I’d better get back to Jesus’ overall sermon yes, because this topic about treating others decently is another aspect of ingratitude, which is a real sore point with me, and which I can write on whole day. (smile) Then after giving us that beautiful rule for living, Jesus spoke about the two gates and paths, one set broad and leading to destruction, the other narrow, leading to eternal life. Next came His famous take on false prophets and the future rejection of claims by those who pretended to know Him, then wrapping it all up with the two foundations on which we can build our lives; the weak, sandy evil of Lucifer, or on His strong, rock-like foundation of LOVE. Oh Friends, how long do you think it took Jesus to preach that sermon eh? I don’t know, but it’s so chocked full, so crammed with life giving and life living essentials that no wonder the crowd was astonished and amazed. ‘And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.’ Oh my brethren, we would also have been astonished at His wonderful, encouraging, enervating teaching. And can you imagine Him just laying it down in such a calm and reasoned, but yet passionate manner, gesticulating to make His point, while all His listeners hung spellbound on His every word! Wow! That’s all that can be said! Oh my people, this teaching of Jesus is undoubtedly the most moving and inspirational message ever delivered by a living, breathing soul. It’s also a comprehensive guide to how we humans should live. Please, let’s make it a habit to review this sermon every so often nuh, especially when our lives seem to be going off the rails. Oh, if we could only bottle it and sell it! Sorry, not sell it, but give it away. What a worldwide change would occur! And yuh know Friends, I just realized that in the Sermon on the Mount we have a true, readymade constitution, the basic foundation on which our LOVE Revolution should be based. So please, let’s read and inwardly digest it, then go out and spread it to all the world, thus enabling that longed for and most desperately needed LOVE Revolution to come to fruition. More tomorrow, God willing. Till then, Much LOVE!…the most enlightening and important body of words ever spoken…Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount…
Oh Friends, have you ever noticed that what’s termed Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, takes up three chapters, 5-7 of Matthew? It’s really an overwhelming speech, an enormous outpouring of Jesus’ heart and soul. It is in actual fact, the greatest philosophical treatise ever laid down. It’s so overpowering in its overall majesty, yet so simple in the specifics, that even if you don’t believe in Jesus as the fleshly incarnation of God, just reading His words and studying His philosophy, one that’s so bold, interactive and innovative yet very humane, your heart will indeed be touched. There’s just no better philosophy of life, no better way for humans or any living organism to live than that espoused by our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Listen to the numerous subjects on which our Leader spoke on that one day, that one momentous occasion nuh. He began with the Beatitudes; those humanitarian attributes and actions for which we’ll be eventually blessed if we faithfully pursue them. Then He talks about the salt of the earth and the light of the world before touching on religious law, anger, adultery, divorce, oaths and LOVE for enemies. Wow! And Friends, that’s only in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6, Jesus holds forth on almsgiving, on prayer, on fasting, on treasures in heaven, the light of the body, and trusting one master. Oh mih people, you’d think He’d be done by then. But no, our wonderful Leader was just getting warmed up. In Chapter 7, He then gives us that great philosophical moment on judging: ‘Judge (condemn) not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement (condemnation) ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete (use), it shall be measured to you again.’ (Mat.7:1-2) And Friends, there’s more to come; in particular the GOLDEN RULE; the one rule that encapsulates every thing, the one rule by which if all mankind lived, war and strife would cease to exist. And for those of us who don’t know it, or haven’t heard it in a long while, here it is to refresh our memories. ‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. ‘ (Mat.7:12) Oh mih people, all yuh remember that simple but exceedingly great guideline that we were all raised on: do unto others as you’d like them to do to you? I guess it’s such a simple rule that we in our highfalutin expectations consider it too simple to be true or useful. But Friends, it is the ONE, major, basic rule for any successful gathering of more than one living organism. All the lesser animals live it to a much greater extent than we the highest of the high. Instead we think more about the survival of the fittest, and all power to the strong, which unfortunately only engender unnecessary strife in our lives. Come to think of it mih people, that’s the very basis, the heart of Jesus’ philosophy; treat each other the way we’d like to be treated. If we’d all concentrate on that point alone…Oh mih breddren, what a beautiful place our world would be! Truly a wonderful world, as Satchmo (Louis Armstrong) sung of it! Just that simple idea can cause so much change in our selfish, me first world, that it’ll be mind boggling, to say the least. Oh people, I’m sorry…NO, I’M NOT! I was about to apologize for going off on a tangent, but I now realize that it was a very necessary digression, since I too had not consciously considered the GOLDEN RULE for a while, because I live it automatically. However, coming upon it so unexpectedly, just got my blood passionate and boiling about the stupid, nonsensical way we’re living today, when there’s that simple but awesome rule put forth by our Leader Jesus which would make so much more sense to live by. Ah mih Friends, I really don’t know what to say about us nuh. We treat each other like garbage, but then expect to be treated like royalty. Ah brother! I’d better get back to Jesus’ overall sermon yes, because this topic about treating others decently is another aspect of ingratitude, which is a real sore point with me, and which I can write on whole day. (smile) Then after giving us that beautiful rule for living, Jesus spoke about the two gates and paths, one set broad and leading to destruction, the other narrow, leading to eternal life. Next came His famous take on false prophets and the future rejection of claims by those who pretended to know Him, then wrapping it all up with the two foundations on which we can build our lives; the weak, sandy evil of Lucifer, or on His strong, rock-like foundation of LOVE. Oh Friends, how long do you think it took Jesus to preach that sermon eh? I don’t know, but it’s so chocked full, so crammed with life giving and life living essentials that no wonder the crowd was astonished and amazed. ‘And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.’ Oh my brethren, we would also have been astonished at His wonderful, encouraging, enervating teaching. And can you imagine Him just laying it down in such a calm and reasoned, but yet passionate manner, gesticulating to make His point, while all His listeners hung spellbound on His every word! Wow! That’s all that can be said! Oh my people, this teaching of Jesus is undoubtedly the most moving and inspirational message ever delivered by a living, breathing soul. It’s also a comprehensive guide to how we humans should live. Please, let’s make it a habit to review this sermon every so often nuh, especially when our lives seem to be going off the rails. Oh, if we could only bottle it and sell it! Sorry, not sell it, but give it away. What a worldwide change would occur! And yuh know Friends, I just realized that in the Sermon on the Mount we have a true, readymade constitution, the basic foundation on which our LOVE Revolution should be based. So please, let’s read and inwardly digest it, then go out and spread it to all the world, thus enabling that longed for and most desperately needed LOVE Revolution to come to fruition. More tomorrow, God willing. Till then, Much LOVE!…the most enlightening and important body of words ever spoken…Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount…
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