Jesus’ Manifesto The
Sermon on the
Mount
JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Jesus’ Manifesto The bible records the teaching of Jesus in four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Matthew tells us about an amazing moment, called the “Sermon on the Mount” when Jesus talks about how he sees Christians living out their lives. Jesus asks Christians to have a radical lifestyle. 2000 years after Jesus spoke, his words still challenge those wanting to know more about the christian faith, exploring the christian faith and those who have been christians for some time. Read these words, think about them, how do you respond to them?
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JESUS’ MANIFESTO
You’re Blessed Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule. You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Then you can be embraced by the One most dear to you. You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. !3
JESUS’ MANIFESTO
You’re blessed when you get your inside world —your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
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Salt and Light You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavour, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before others; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
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JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Completing God’s Law Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfil. For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall by any means disappear from the law, until all things are accomplished. Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
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JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Murder You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgement.’ But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be in danger of the judgement; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Idiot!’ will be in danger of the court; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be on the brink of hellfire. “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother or sister has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to them, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the guard, and you be cast into prison. Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the fine.” !7
JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Adultery and Divorce You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery;’ but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better that one part of your body should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. If your right hand causes you to do wrong, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is better that one part of your body should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. It was also said, ‘Whoever shall dismiss his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce,’ but I tell you that whoever dismisses his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is dismissed commits adultery.
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JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Empty Promises Again you have heard that it was said to the people, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ but I tell you, don’t swear an oath at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’But I tell you, don’t resist an evil person but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to them the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your shirt, hand over your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with them two. Give to them who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. !9
JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Love Your Enemies You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the pagans do the same? Be perfect therefore, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Pray with Simplicity When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long. Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him. If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done.
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JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; so that you are not seen by others to be fasting, but only by your Father, who is unseen, and who will reward you openly. This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. !1 2
JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Giving to the Needy Be careful not to do good deeds in front of other people. Don’t do those deeds to be seen by others. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you. When you give to needy people, do not announce it by having trumpets blown. Do not be like those who only pretend to be holy. They announce what they do in the places of worship and on the streets. They want to be honoured by other people. What I’m about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward. When you give to needy people, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Then your giving will be done secretly. Your Father will reward you, because he sees what you do secretly.
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Treasures in Heaven Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! No one can serve two masters, for either you will hate the one and love the other; or else you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Wealth.
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JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Do not Worry Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they? Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin, yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? !1 5
JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ People who are ungodly run after all those things. Your Father who is in heaven knows that you need them. But put God’s kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all those things will also be given to you. So don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings
Ask Seek and Knock Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. For the one who knocks it will be opened. Is there anyone amongst you, who if your child asks for bread will give them a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a Snake? Bad as you are you know how to give good gifts to your children, so how much more will your !1 6
JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are greedy wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. !1 7
JESUS’ MANIFESTO
A Simple Guide for Behaviour Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck of sawdust that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the plank that is in your own eye? Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and behold, the plank is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the plank out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye. Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
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Being and Doing Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the point. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. Get away with you Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and obeys them, will be like a wise person, who built their house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. !1 9
JESUS’ MANIFESTO
Everyone who Contact Details hears these Revd Alun Price
words of mine, 01302 851974
and doesn’t put them into practice 07958 685395 will be like a wadwithlove@gmail.com foolish person, who built their house on sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowd was amazed at his teaching, It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.
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The text is based on the World Bible Translation which is in the public domain. Small sections have been taken from the following: the Message, Good News Translation and E100. !2 0