In the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, only two include in this study the material comprising the first sermon that Jesus taught in a public way to the masses. One could say that outside of teaching here and there at the various synagogues in and around the region of Galilee and the few occasions at the Temple in Jerusalem, this is His first big outdoor ‘Tent Meeting,’ but only underneath the dome of the sky and not a tarpaulin.
According to Matthew 5: 1-2; 8: 1, this event took place on the ‘Mountaintop’ whereas Luke 6: 17, 20; 7: 1 says it was ‘on a level plain.’ Consider the fact that unlike modern times where one can read all the narrative sources in a single collection, the earliest followers and disciples may have had access to only a single source; whether orally or written down on a scroll. One’s behavior is determined by what you believe and any subsequent actions are greatly influenced by what a person is taught and the level of sacredness or specialness attributed to that source. If someone only had Matthew’s account of what Jesus taught, how would their faith practices, or more importantly, their theology and mentality, psychology, as well as social interactions mesh or conflict with those who only knew Luke’s?
“The Beatitudes”
Matthew 5: 3-12
(1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (2) Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (3) Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (4) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (5) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (6) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (7) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. (8) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God. (9) Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely (9a) for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
NOTE: Notice the use of ‘they’ and ‘you’ during Jesus’ discourse.
Luke 6: 20-23
(1) Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (4) Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. (2) Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (9) Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, (9a) for the Son of Man’s sake; Rejoice in that day and be leap for joy! For indeed; your reward is great in heaven for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
NOTE: Luke’s version omits #’s 3, 5-8 of Matthew’s account and the order is not sequential; but it does use ‘you/your’ exclusively.
“The Law of Love Your Enemies”
Matthew 5: 43-48
You have heard that it has been said; You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemies. But I say to you, (1) love your enemies and bless those who curse you; (2) do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven. For He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (3) For if you love those who love you, what rewards have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (4) And if you greet your brethren [‘friends’] only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors [‘Gentiles’??] do so? (5) Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Luke 6: 27-35
But I say to you who hear: (1) Love your enemies; (2) do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. [To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him, who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him, who takes away your goods, do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise]. (3) But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (4) And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. [And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive back as much.] (1) But love your enemies, do good and lend (??), hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For, He is kind to the unthankful and the evil. (5) Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful (??).
NOTE: There are several points here which are radically different from Matthew’s narrative, namely: ‘turning the other cheek’ {‘passive resistance’}, ‘giving away or allowing your goods to be plundered,’ and ‘lending without expectation of repayment’ or even to hold some sort of asset in the form of collateral/equity as security against the borrower.’ Also, instead of using ‘tax collector’ Luke uses ‘sinners,’ repeats #’s 1&2, and uses phrases in [ ]’s that are not in Matthew at all. Lastly, Matthew ends with being ‘perfect’ as your Father in heaven is perfect and Luke says, being ‘merciful’ as your Father is merciful.
“The Law of Do Not Judge”
Matthew 7: 1-6
(1)Judge not, that you be not judged. (2) For what judgment you judge, you will be judged; (3) and with what measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (4) And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank (‘beam’) in your own eye? (5) Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye; and look, a plank is in your own eye?” You hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. [(6) Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine {‘wild hogs/boars’??}, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces].
NOTE: The phrase of the last verse in the [ ] does not seem to reflect the theme of this section.
Luke 6: 37-38
(1) Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. [Give; and it will be given you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.] (2) For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
NOTE: Notwithstanding the comments on Matthew’s narrative, Luke is consistent with #’s 1&2 but he excludes Matthew's #'s 4-6; and although not part of the original (??) of Matthew; ‘condemning’ and ‘forgiving’ is consistent with the essence of Jesus’ teaching on this point. There is again, the part contained in the [ ] that just doesn’t seem to fit comfortably at this placing.
“A Tree is known by Its Fruit”
Matthew 7: 16-19
(1) You will know them by their fruits. (2) Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? (3) Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (4) A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.
NOTE: In this account, there is no pruning, replanting in different soil, or a determination made to see if the tree is taking up an adequate supply of nutrients (sunlight, water, nitrogen, etc.) and if ‘photosynthesis’ is taking place; It is just the end results that matter, not the process.
Luke 6: 43-45
(3) For a good tree does not bear bad fruit; nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. (1) For every tree is known by its own fruit. (2) For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. [ A good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks].
NOTE: The order is a little mixed up in Luke in comparison to Matthew and #4 is not included. Again, the words enclosed with the [ ] seem to be a little out of place here, too.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 7, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
