The Higher Laws: The Sermon on the Mount part 2 of 5

Close your eyes and bring your attention to your body. Let go of any tension you are holding in your face, jaw, head, neck, shoulders, upper arms, forearms, hands, fingers, chest, stomach, hips, seat, thighs, calves, feet, and toes. Lean your torso slightly from front to back and side to side until you rest into a comfortable posture where you feel centered, balanced, and relaxed. 

Now bring your attention to your breath. Inhale deeply, hold for two seconds, now breathe out all the tension, stress, or negativity you might be feeling. One more time. Breathe in deeply, hold, exhale slowly all the way.

As your breathing returns to normal, gently turn your thoughts to the Sermon on the Mount. This famous passage of scripture is, to our knowledge, the first sermon that Christ preached to his disciples. And He repeated it almost verbatim to the Nephites during his brief visit to the Americas. So we know these teachings are important.

After teaching the Sermon to the Nephites, Christ invited His listeners “go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand.”[1] This five part series of meditations on the Sermon on the Mount seeks to help you do just that. Take a moment before we start and say a prayer that as you spend time pondering Christ’s teachings, you will understand His words and be open to any revelation that may come to you through them.

Christ famously taught higher versions of some well-known commandments during this Sermon. He explained that his intent was not to destroy the commandments that were part of Law of Moses, but to fulfill the Law of Moses.[2]

As we work through these higher laws as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, use the minutes of silence that follow each concept to ponder the higher law, and apply Christ’s teachings in your own life. When and how have you been successful at living  the principles taught? When and how have you been unsuccessful? Why is the higher law valuable? Be gentle with yourself, but honest and firm. Remember that the goal is not to be perfect, it is to become perfect, eventually.[3]

Thou Shalt Not Kill

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [A word suggesting contempt or derision], shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: . . .And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”[4] 

I would also add a passage from D&C 121 verse 45: “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God.”[5]

Thou Shalt Not Forswear Thyself

“Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself [meaning break your oath, or perjure yourself], but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”[6]

An Eye For An Eye

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”[7]

Hate Thine Enemies

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? . . . And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?”[8]

“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”[9]

Alms, Praying, and Fasting

Next, alms, meaning righteousness or acts of religious devotion, praying, and fasting.

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites [or play actors or pretenders] do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

. . .

¶ Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”[10]

Golden Rule

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”[11]

 When you are ready, take a final deep breath and slowly turn your awareness back to your body. As you open your eyes and return to your surroundings, take a moment to jot down any thoughts, promptings, or questions that came to mind while you were pondering. And, if necessary, make a plan to act on those things.

___________

[1] 3 Nephi 17:3.

[2] Matthew 5:17.

[3] Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

[4] Matthew 5:27-30.

[5] D&C 121:45.

[6] Matthew 5:33-37.

[7] Matthew 5:38-42.

[8] Matthew 5:43-47.

[9] Luke 6:32-35.

[10] Matthew 6: 1-6; 16-18.

[11] Matthew 7:12; see also Luke 6:31.