Sermon on the Mount, Matthew Chapter 5:1-16

This sermon is Christ's greatest teaching. He repeated it when he went to the Americas. It was a set of instructions for those who were sincere enough to follow him around. Many of the things he taught the Jews were very basic doctrines only. But here we have those things that he expressed that through following we could become perfect.

These points pose a lot of questions. Such questions as what it means to be "poor in spirit?"
Our Scriptural sense would suggest that it means that we should feel humble inside. We are promised the kingdom of heaven by qualifying. Which presents that without the humility we won't be heirs to that kingdom.

Then we are told that we will be blessed by mourning. I can say that I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ feel great remorse for the many things that mankind do that bring misery to themselves and/or others. Yet it goes on to say that they shall be comforted. This I have experienced in the love I have felt for a person I mourned for because of her apostasy. Yet my heart felt so uplifted by the love that the upliftment was the greater.

Then we come to the meek being blessed. Meek seems to be being strong in person, yet not assertive unless it is important to do so. Such are promised the earth. This seems to imply inheriting the Celestialised earth after its resurrection.

We then come to hungering and thirsting after righteousness. This is referring to a powerful drawing toward everything good. The promise is that we shall be filled with the Holy Ghost (3 Nep 12:6). This I have also felt many times. As we hunger inside for good things and ponder upon the things of righteousness the Holy Ghost fills us more and we have that greater communication.

Then we are informed that we are blessed if we have mercy. If we have such to others then we shall have such to ourselves and be able to accept the forgiveness of God. Whereas if we condemn others and don't accept the idea of forgiveness then neither will we accept to forgive ourselves, and will lack the faith to accept the atonement of Christ in its fullness.

Next we are told that we should be pure in heart; and that by doing so we shall see God. If you have that pure desire for all good things then you will come to walk and talk with the Father and the Savior. It is a wonderful blessing to feel the love of both as you learn and discuss things with them. Being in their presence is truly being in heaven.

Then he mentions the peacemakers. These he calls the children of God. This makes sense as God has peace in him and desires it for all. So if we copy our God in our hearts, then we are his children from a religious aspect also. I like that thought.

Then we are told that we are blessed when we are persecuted because of our righteous lifestyle. This is something I find amazing in my life. My religious beliefs get me into trouble and then out of it. Generally it is because God sends someone or several to help me in spite of it. We learn from the struggle and finally come out the other side.

Then we are told that we are blessed when people revile and persecute us by false accusation, for the sake of the truth Christ taught. This generally takes form in claims against us as church members. Christ said that we should regard this positively because it happened to prophetic servants of God in the past.

He then relates us to salt, to say that we should keep our flavor. To me this means to keep focused on the Lord's work.

Next he talks of us having that light and that we should keep showing it to others.

These verses cover some amazing things. They appeal to us to think in a way opposite from that of the world. They teach us to oppose the ego. They teach us to ignore self and focus on service to others. They teach us how to be Godlike.

I will write further on this sermon later.