Teachings of Lord Jesus on Sermon on the Mount and Poem on Lord Jesus by S L Peeran

Reflections on Matthew Chapter 4, Verses 12-25

1) Matthew wrote that another prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus when he came to live in Capernaum. The prophet Isaiah predicted the specific region and area where people would be living and would one day see "a great light." This prophecy was about Jesus who would come to be among those people in that area and teach them about the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus spiritually opened their eyes to a truth which they would not have known before Jesus had visited them. Isaiah used a comparison of people walking in darkness, then having a great light shine upon them to describe Jesus’ teachings. The light was God’s truth that Jesus revealed to them. Here is what is written in the ancient Book of Isaiah, Chapter 9, Verses 1-2" "But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined."

2) Jesus began His Ministry in Galilee by preaching to the people to "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." This is exactly what John the Baptist had been preaching as well.

3) While walking by the sea of Galilee, Jesus met with 2 men named Andrew and Simon, and it is written that Jesus called Simon "Peter." "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." Jesus chose these men who had been raised by their families to be fisherman. Yet, when He called them, they changed their life paths without hesitation and followed Him.

4) It is written that Jesus taught in the people’s synagogues across all of Galilee about God’s Kingdom, and He cured multitudes of people who were brought to Him. As a result, it is recorded that many people followed Him.

The Sermon On The Mount

This Chapter of the Book of Matthew and the following Chapters 6 and 7, record a sermon that Jesus gave on a mountainside to His disciples and a multitude of people who had come to hear him speak. These teachings are primarily instructions for living according to God's will, and this event is commonly known as "The Sermon on the Mount."

 

The Beatitudes

The first twelve Verses of this sermon are referred to as the "Beatitudes." Since each of the "Beatitude" Verses provide a unique teaching, individual reflections have been provided after each one.

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 1-12 & reflections

1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

 2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

 In Psalms, Chapter 37, Verse 11, it is written; "But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" and in Verse 34 of the same Chapter, it is written "Wait for the Lord, and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land."

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be

filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

11 Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

The Sermon On The Mount

Salt and Light

The rest of Chapter 5 and the next two Chapters 6 and 7 of the Book of Matthew are the remainder of Jesus' sermon on the mount

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses, 13-20

13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.

14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.

15 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.

16 Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17 "Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.

18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

 19 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.

20 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.

 

The Sermon On The Mount

Commandments, Warnings and Advice

Part I

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 21-30

21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

 23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

 25 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 officer, and you be cast into prison.

26 Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’

28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

Part II

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 31-48

31 "It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,'

32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

33 "Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,'

34 but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. 37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

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

39 But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

 40 If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.

41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.

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

44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

45 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.

 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?

47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

 

The Sermon On the Mount

Charity, Mercy and Prayer

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 6, Verse 1-18

1 "Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

3 But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,

4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

5 "When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

7 In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.

8 Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.

9 Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

10 Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

13 Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.'

14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16 "Moreover when you fast, don't be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; 

18 so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

 

The Sermon On The Mount

Warnings and Advice

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 6, Verse 19-34

19 "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon.

 25 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?

 26 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?

27 "Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?

 28 Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,

29 yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.

30 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?

31 "Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?'

32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33 But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

 

The Sermon On the Mount

Judgment, Discipline and Reward

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 7

1 Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.

2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?

4 Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?

5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.

6 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.

7 Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.

8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.

 9 Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?

11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

12 Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.

14 How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.

 18 A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.

19 Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.

20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’

23 Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’

24 Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.

 25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.

27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell and great was its fall.

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, 

29 for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poem on Lord Jesus by S L Peeran

BIRTH OF JESUS

 

The Times was right for birth

Of the promised Messiah

To again redeem the Jews from Sins

Who were subjugated by Romans

 

Divided in tribes and sects

Deep in dialectic dry debates

Steeped in usury, deception

Fraud, crafty cunningness

 

Sans love and brotherhood, fairness

The sun had set on Israel

The chosen race had fallen to decay

An empty shall sans Kernel

 

The star of Bethlehem was sighted

The wise men of the East followed it

To witness the birth of the “Son of Man”

The “Roohull Allah” “The Massihullah”

 

Mary the virgin in severe pain

In total submission with tears flowing

Clinging fists, holding the branch

Of the flowering fragrant tree

 

The child had spoken from the womb

Testifying the innocence of Mary

Of her purity and saintliness

Of her virtuous, clean living

 

The child spoke from the cradle

Warned humanity to hold their tongues

For the heavenly god had blessed

Virgin Mary with Lord’s spirit

 

Blown into her by the Angels

Who had boded glad tidings

Mary in fright pleaded innocence

Of none of the man fold touching her

 

But the Angles spoke of God’s decree

Of a birth of Messiah miraculously

John baptized Jesus for attainment

Devil then led him into wilderness 

 

For forty days and nights, he fasted

To resist and repel all temptations

To drive away the accursed devil from his midst.

To put the Devil to shame and prove his innocence.

 

Jesus spoke Man does not live

On bread alone; he lives on

Every word that God utters

“You are not to put God to the test”

Jesus began to proclaim the message!

“Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is upon you”

 

What a fortune, what a Divine Grace!

That stuck those destitute

Lepers, blind, the deaf, the possessed,

Who were blessed with the

Touch of that Great Man, 

The Messiah, the succor

Who cured, revived, rejuvenate

In the name of the Lord;

The Merciful, the Beneficent, the Compassionate

 

Oh! What a pity, what a misery!

For the disbeliever, hypocrites

Who lost faith, the fragrance!

Who missed the message, perfume

Who joined the ranks of sinners

Who jumped into the fire of hell

Who were dead wood and stones

A boat sans sails and a rudder!

 

Oh! What a miracle! What a transformation

A simple man, dressed as a commoner

Eating with tax gathers and sinners

A doctor for the sick, Mercy from Heaven

 

Oh! What a delight and a spectacle!

Fulfilling the wishes of the disciples,

Praying for Heaven to transcend

And spread delicacies on the table

To eat, rejoice and make feast

To ever be thankful and joyous.

 

Oh! What perfect teachings

Training fishermen as fishers of men

To grace the poor with serene joys

To console the sorrowful

To greet the gentle spirit

With glad tidings of earthly possessions

To promise a land of milk and honey

For the hunger, naked and infirm

To cleanse the heart and mind.

To illumine with million lights

To bless the persecuted and peace makers

The sufferers and the way wards.

 

Ah!  The Truth personified,

In a glowing armor

Of heavenly light and shine

Gentle like dove pure in speech

Soft hearted with enlightened soul

 

To present to the humanity

A gift, a boon, a panacea for ills,

To rejoice and unburden grief

To enlighten the minds with purity

To behold beauty in shinning eyes

To turn hearts to gold and silver

With a new gait, sweet manners

To refine life, redefine living

To make you walk in straight paths

“To love your enemy and pray for persecutors”

To live and let live, forget and forgive

To cheerfully submit to the Master

To gather crumbs of joys in the begging bowl

Free your will, gather and fill

Your hearts with honeyed love

To be sheep among the wolves.

To be wary as serpents, innocent as doves.

Oh!What a pity what a tragedy !

For the heartless humanity

To disown, discard, disobey

To crucify on the stake

The messenger of peace and love

Who uttered “Forgive them for they know not”.

Lord, the Merciful, the Magnificent

Raised His beloved to the Heaven

Blessed the apostles, his followers

With Divine grace with bliss

To follow the teachings of the Messiah

By leaving the self behind

With purity of the mind and soul.

By being virtuous in character

By being obedient to the Master

“What God has joined together”

Man must not separate

Sell your possessions

And give to the poor

Then you will have riches

In the heavenly paradise

All who take to sword

Die by the sword, shunned,

You reap, what you sow

Always treat others as you like to be treated

Ask and you will receive

Seek and you will find

Knock and the door will be opened

He who seeks finds

A good tree always yield good fruit

And a poor tree, bad fruit

Show mercy, mercy will be shown

Love others, others will love you

Throw not the pearl before swines

For they know not its value

Judge not for you will be judged

Someone slaps on one right cheek,

Turn and offer the left.

 

So lofty teachings

So great ideals!

For humanity to yearn

And live in peace.

Bengaluru        S L Peeran