The Beatitudes Page 8
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The hearts of the listening people were now uplifted. In their minds eye they could behold a new order, the order of God, the reign of righteousness which centuries ago had been heralded by the prophets of Israel. The words of Jesus fell into their hearts as the late spring rain falls on new grass. Jesus was addressing the people of the Jewish race who had been trained in the way of God and who were earnestly praying and patiently waiting for his rule of righteousness. Such a clear and daring message had not been heard since the days of the prophets. For fifteen hundred years no one had dared to point a finger at the Mosaic law and its ordinances. No one had dared to question the priests, the sons of Aaron. And no one had the courage to speak against the elders and the Holy temple.
Jesus paused again while the people were discussing what he had said. This enabled Jesus to compose himself. Then he started to speak as though eager to finish his sermon before the day was over.
Jesus stretched out his hands to the people as a father who opens his arms to embrace his children. The merciful were another group in the large crowd that had gathered around him. They were some of the loyal Jews whom the prophets called 'the small remnant' -- those who continually prayed for the coming of the Messianic kingdom.
Mercy and kindness inspire confidence. Mercy and kindness demonstrate God's justice and abundance and manifest His infinite love toward His children. Mercy and charity are the fruits of our faith in God, who never fails to supply our daily needs. Only through Christian acts of charity and mercy can we let our light shine so that others may know that we are the children of our Father, who is in heaven.
Jesus, during his lengthy discourse, had studied every face in the multitude and had searched the hearts of those who sat watching him and eagerly listened to every word he spoke. Many of the men and women who had come to hear him speak possessed good qualities. They had come because they were eager to find the way to return to God. There were the gentle (the meek,) the mourners for justice, the merciful, the pure in heart, and others who had been preparing themselves and praying for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus, in this historic talk, searched their hearts and touched on their good qualities. He overlooked their evils and condemned no one. He delivered a message full of hope and blessing to all who gathered around him. Most of the people had been praying eagerly for something extraordinary to happen. They were looking for God's reign and the salvation of Israel. Also on the Mount there were the doubtful -- those who had lost their faith in God. There were others, who, because of their resentment of foreign rule, sometimes wondered if there was a God ruling over this world. These men and women, because of hatred toward their enemies, could not see God. Their hearts were clouded with doubts and their minds poisoned with hatred so that they could not see anything but evil and a dark and hopeless future.
His face alight and his hands lifted toward heaven, Jesus appeared to be thanking God that there were so many pious men and women in the large crowd, and that the hearts of some men were so pure that they could see God.
Because pure in heart means pure in mind. The mind is the mirror of the body. When the mind is clouded with evil thoughts, revenge and hatred cause the mind to become like muddy water that cannot be used for drinking or washing. Any impurity in the heart is sin, and sin cuts off man from his Creator. When Jesus healed the sick and the sufferers he said, "Sin no more." Disease and in-harmony are the products of an evil mind. When the mind is clear the whole body is well, but when a man's mind is obscured by hatred, not only can he not see well, but others cannot see him as he is. This is why people often misunderstand one another and are mis-led by one another's behavior. Instead of seeing the real man they observe evil and short comings. This is because the light of God, which is in the soul, is cut off and darkness prevails. Just as the eye is the lamp of the body, so is the mind the light of the soul.
On the other hand, the mind is the reflector of the spirit of God; therefore, God cannot be seen or perceived by means of the flesh. There is nothing in the flesh that elevates the spirit. The flesh, being earthly, is always weak. This is why Jesus said in Gethsemane, "The spirit indeed is ready, but the body is weak." The spirit always yearns to join with God.
God is spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and in truth. In spirit one can see that which human eyes cannot behold. This is because spirit is essence, the only true reality of life. Therefore, man can see his Creator in a spiritual way only by means of prayer, devotion and inner concentration.
Jesus paused again while the people were discussing what he had said. This enabled Jesus to compose himself. Then he started to speak as though eager to finish his sermon before the day was over.
Jesus stretched out his hands to the people as a father who opens his arms to embrace his children. The merciful were another group in the large crowd that had gathered around him. They were some of the loyal Jews whom the prophets called 'the small remnant' -- those who continually prayed for the coming of the Messianic kingdom.
Mercy and kindness inspire confidence. Mercy and kindness demonstrate God's justice and abundance and manifest His infinite love toward His children. Mercy and charity are the fruits of our faith in God, who never fails to supply our daily needs. Only through Christian acts of charity and mercy can we let our light shine so that others may know that we are the children of our Father, who is in heaven.
Jesus, during his lengthy discourse, had studied every face in the multitude and had searched the hearts of those who sat watching him and eagerly listened to every word he spoke. Many of the men and women who had come to hear him speak possessed good qualities. They had come because they were eager to find the way to return to God. There were the gentle (the meek,) the mourners for justice, the merciful, the pure in heart, and others who had been preparing themselves and praying for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus, in this historic talk, searched their hearts and touched on their good qualities. He overlooked their evils and condemned no one. He delivered a message full of hope and blessing to all who gathered around him. Most of the people had been praying eagerly for something extraordinary to happen. They were looking for God's reign and the salvation of Israel. Also on the Mount there were the doubtful -- those who had lost their faith in God. There were others, who, because of their resentment of foreign rule, sometimes wondered if there was a God ruling over this world. These men and women, because of hatred toward their enemies, could not see God. Their hearts were clouded with doubts and their minds poisoned with hatred so that they could not see anything but evil and a dark and hopeless future.
His face alight and his hands lifted toward heaven, Jesus appeared to be thanking God that there were so many pious men and women in the large crowd, and that the hearts of some men were so pure that they could see God.
Because pure in heart means pure in mind. The mind is the mirror of the body. When the mind is clouded with evil thoughts, revenge and hatred cause the mind to become like muddy water that cannot be used for drinking or washing. Any impurity in the heart is sin, and sin cuts off man from his Creator. When Jesus healed the sick and the sufferers he said, "Sin no more." Disease and in-harmony are the products of an evil mind. When the mind is clear the whole body is well, but when a man's mind is obscured by hatred, not only can he not see well, but others cannot see him as he is. This is why people often misunderstand one another and are mis-led by one another's behavior. Instead of seeing the real man they observe evil and short comings. This is because the light of God, which is in the soul, is cut off and darkness prevails. Just as the eye is the lamp of the body, so is the mind the light of the soul.
On the other hand, the mind is the reflector of the spirit of God; therefore, God cannot be seen or perceived by means of the flesh. There is nothing in the flesh that elevates the spirit. The flesh, being earthly, is always weak. This is why Jesus said in Gethsemane, "The spirit indeed is ready, but the body is weak." The spirit always yearns to join with God.
God is spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and in truth. In spirit one can see that which human eyes cannot behold. This is because spirit is essence, the only true reality of life. Therefore, man can see his Creator in a spiritual way only by means of prayer, devotion and inner concentration.