Im curious about what people think of this. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

'Sermon on the Mount' is a very popular phrase among the
intellectuals, and they often use it as a shield from the outside
attacks on their ability to preach. We have seen the use of this even
in Ornet. While all of us like using it very few know what it really
is. I went back to the collection of my notes and found the following.
We like sermons especially when these are from our minds. The simple
resistance to accept anybody else's leads to the utterance or written
rebuke using identical phrases
After Jesus started preaching the messages from his Father, he
engaged himself in doing miracles. Large crowds followed him from
Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and trans-Jordan. When he saw
the crowds he went up a mountain (not named in the original Bible or it
was probably a mound), sat there and began addressing. Later, saint
Matthew (4-6 of the New Testament) collected and compiled these.

There are many articles on the Sermons and many popular writers like to
compare the sayings from other religions with these. Unfortunately,
such comparisons look meaningless to the Christians. The Book of
Mormons also contains these sermons in the book of Nephi (3 Nephi,
Chapters 12-14). The statements are identical because the Mormons
believe that Jesus taught the Nephites the same things he taught the
Jews. It is not possible to put all of these in Ornet but I would like
to post the following which I like the best. The numbers in the bracket
are the verses in the book according to Matthew.

(5:17) 'Do not suppose that I have come to abolish the law and the
prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to complete'.

(6:1-6:4) 'Be careful not to parade your religion before others; if you
do, no reward awaits you with your Father in heaven.
So when you give alms, do not announce it with a flourish of trumpets,
as the hypocrites do in synagogues and in the streets to win the praise
of others. Truly I tell you: they have their rewards already.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right
hand is doing; your good deed must be secret, and your Father who sees
what is done in secret will reward you'.

(6-24) 'No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the first
and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the
second'.

(7:6) 'Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls to the
pigs: they will only trample on them, and turn and tear you to pieces'.

(7:7) 'Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and
the door will be opened to you'.

(7:12) ' Always treat others, as you would like them to treat you: that
is the law and the prophets'.

(7:18) 'A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, or a poor tree sound fruit'.

The entire Sermon consists of 110 verses (including general
statements).

 

Its great. But I don't like the particular translation you quoted - esp. 7.6 - I prefer King James 'Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you'

Much more poetic, in my opinion.

 

Is the ignore the 'yes for an eye tooth for a tooth bit from the sermon on the mount to?

 

Jesus tells the crowds that an eye for an eye is not right. He says we should forgive others. If you want to know though, why not read it - it can be found in Mathew, chapters 5-7.

 

Thank but I have read it,
I was more concerned about some of the lines that deal with parading your religion to others, I know this relates to the giving of moeny, but could it not also relate too the pushing of your faith to others?

Or even this one,
(7:12) ' Always treat others, as you would like them to treat you: that
is the law and the prophets'.

Do I like it when people of other faiths try to convert me? Should I then do the same?

 

"I have said Ye are Gods, all of you are children of the most high."

 

Interesting point there. I think its ok to tell others about our faith or belief or religion or spirituality if they want to hear. To seek to impose our view would be wrong. So I agree, if there is a person seeking to convert others to a particular religious view by putting pressure on them, lets say, then that would go against the spirit of Christs teaching.
Of course, over the course of history, thats happened only too often, and in Jesus name.

 

Could you give me the source for that? Its a beautiful quote, entirely in keeping with the tenets of the highest philosophy of Hinduism.

 

1. Yes, now that you've mentioned it it does seem to relate to the pushing of your faith to others.

2. Read the verse again. It says, "Always treat others as you would like them to treat you". What you are suggesting in your question is the complete opposite of the verse:

"treat others the way others treat you"

So in answer to your question, whether or not you should try to convert other people depends on whether or not you like the same being done to you.

 

I think you totally misunderstood the statement. All he said amounted to "I would like people to respect my beliefs and not push their faiths onto me. Therefore, I should not push my faith onto others and I should show respect for their religions."

 

Oops, my bad.

 

A philosopher from the east and a philosopher from the west met somewhere in the middle east.

"The central tenet of western philosophy" the westerner said "Is this: Treat others as you would be treated yourself"

"Interesting" the easterner said "ours is: Do not treat others as you would not like to be treated"

Blessings

Sebbi

 

Sebbi, it is strange you should say that. Only last night I was listening to an intervioew with Swami Chidananda, head of the divine life society and he said the exact same thing. Do not treat others as tyou would not like to be treated in their place.