I’m going to do something a little different for a holiday open thread.
Christmas, of course, has a complicated history, and a sometimes-complicated role in our society. For many it is a religious holiday, for many others in is a cultural/secular holiday, and for still others it lies somewhere in between. It’s history is also a bit convoluted, as the celebration of Jesus’s birth was timed in such a way to easily absorb seasonal pagan celebrations and rituals.
But Christianity still walks side-by-side with Christmas. I myself am not a religious person, and regular readers don’t have to be told that this is hardly a religious blog. Still, for whatever reason this year, I’m feeling moved to commemorate the day with a sacred text.
Christ’s Sermon on the Mount is, in many ways, the very heart and soul of the Christian religions. Sure there’re things in there that make me wince, a couple others that might make me wince or might make me want to cheer, depending on how I choose to read them – but also a whole truckload of really, really good things that seem every bit as meaningful today – if not moreso – as they were at the time.
So after the flip, join me for the words of the big J himself. If you’re a Christian sort, you can read it religiously. If not, you can join me in a secular appreciation…
<< Matthew 5 >>
New American Standard Bible
The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes1When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
3″Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4″Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5″Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6″Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7″Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8″Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9″Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10″Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11″Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12″Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Disciples and the World
13″You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14″You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16″Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17″Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18″For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19″Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20″For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Personal Relationships
21″You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22″But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23″Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25″Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26″Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.
27″You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; 28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29″If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30″If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
31″It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; 32but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33″Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ 34″But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. 36″Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37″But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.
38″You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ 39″But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40″If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41″Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42″Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
43″You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44″But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46″For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47″If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48″Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
While Matthew’s Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount get the lion’s share of attention, Luke’s Sermon on the Plain is equally instructive and contains many elements that progressives, even those who are not “religious”, can appreciate.
Matthew was speaking largely to a more prosperous crowd; Luke, by contrast, had a different, less affluent audience. Therefore, in Matthew you get “blessed are the poor in spirit” while in Luke you get “blessed are the poor” — not a qualification that softens the message about the attachment to wealth.
Luke also contains the Magnificat (Luke 1: 46-55). It echoes a major emphasis of Luke’s Gospel: the Great Reversal. The New Collegeville Bible Commentary explains the significance of the Magnificat’s reversal theme thusly: “Those who would oppress now will be overthrown, and the lowly will be exalted; those who are hungry now will have their fill, but those who are satiated now will be sent away.”
So, thanks for raising these theological themes and for trying to see their application to modern life. Scriptural interpretation is never easy, but when you plunge into its many layers, the Bible and the life of Jesus reveal a great emphasis on peace, justice, charity, and love. Unfortunately, for too many who use the Bible to keep the mighty on their thrones, they would much prefer to ignore “the inconvenient truths” revealed in sacred scripture.
This whole sense of reversal does not seen to get much attention in contemporary society. One of my theology profs once asked: “Have your ever heard a sermon based on Luke’s Beatitudes?” Largely, the answer is no.
Unfortunately, there is a great reversal occurring in America today, and in my view, it is a trend toward injustice and violence, certainly not what Luke or Matthew would have wanted for the communities they addressed.
I thought this would be a snarky joke style version like ‘the meek shall inherit nothing’, ‘the meek shall inherit what’s left’ or some such thing, dang.
Very nice, nonetheless.
that the most radical text ever written is at the heart of our dominant religious faith. you wouldn’t always know it from the results, of course; still, a deep deep legacy to draw on.