Saturday, June 18, 2011

Blended Gospels: Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside, Intention of the Law

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go.

First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'

"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'

"But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'

"But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil."

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

"But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil.

"But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

"And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

"Give to everyone, the one who begs from you, do not refuse the one who would borrow from you and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

"But I say to you, "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,(G) pray for those who abuse and persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

"For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

"For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

"And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.

"And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

[Blended Gospels, Matthew 5:21-48, Luke 6:27-35 ESV]

If this post got you to thinking, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "comments" below, and join the conversation

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for sharing your thoughts