The Sermon on the MountThis book focuses on the Sermon on the Mount as the locus classicus of the teachings of Jesus. It argues that the Sermon is an expression of the divine perfection in which it is grounded. The center of the book is the injunction contained at the center of the sermon itself—"Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect." Perfection of this kind is a human response to a divne gift. Consequently, all the Beatitudes and obedience to all the ethical prescriptions in the sermon should be understood as expressions of divine perfection and as finite reflections of God's own work in the world. The Sermon on the Mount requires a transformation of the spirit before its message can become intelligible. |
Contents
| 3 | |
| 11 | |
III | 23 |
IV | 31 |
V | 39 |
VI | 51 |
VII | 62 |
VIII | 73 |
XI | 107 |
THE INNER ROOM AND THE LORDS PRAYER | 124 |
FASTING AS A CENTERED ACT | 135 |
BEYOND ANXIETY | 146 |
JUDGMENT AND CONDEMNATION | 155 |
PART IV | 165 |
NOTES | 201 |
INDEX | 213 |
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Common terms and phrases
accessible addressed already anxiety aorist tense attempt Beatitudes become begins Blessed bring calls our attention Chapter Five chapter of Matthew Christ claim command condemnation confront consciousness context crucial deeds degenerate Deuteronomy dimension disciples discussion disguise divine happiness divine perfection divorce earth embrace expressed fact fasting Father finally focus formulated fragmented gift give gospel Gospel of John Gospel of Matthew grace ground heart Hebrew human existence imperative mood implication infinite quest intended Jesus asks Jesus refers Jesus says Jesus suggests Jesus tells judgment kind kingdom of heaven larger world light Lord Lord's Prayer merciful Mount neighbor notice Old Testament passage pathway Paul peacemaking persecution Pharisees phrase possible pray prayer problem of adultery Prophets question radical real order reconciled reflection respond result righteousness seek Sermon simply soul speaks stand Stanley Jones teaching tense things tion tradition treasures turn verb verse word