Sermon on the Mount - Coursework Example

Task Sermon on the Mount Introduction The sermon on the mount, the speech, which Jesus Christ, gave to the disciples and followers. It has been interpreted in many different ways by various critics. Some have viewed n the teachings as impossible since one cannot completely avoid evil, while some have viewed it as very encouraging and teaching to the people. Though it bears a lot of teachings, the main teaching from the beatitude is the virtue of love. Love has over time been regarded as the strongest of all virtues since with love one has the ability to conquer all trial and evil. Loving and caring for a neighbor is so essential since with it everyone lives at peace with everyone. ‘ To love is to will good for someone’ (Kraut, 3-20) Thus, it is sensible to do all we can to see a different person get and have a good life no matter how great ones life does not seem to be. The need to write on the topic on the sermon on the mount is to clarify various confusions cited by people each time on the relevance of the topic (Prabhavananda, 13). Using different theories of various philosophers is important to create a substantial evidence as well as to leave any unanswered questions answered fully. Some critics have paid tribute to it since it is the best benevolent teachings in time immemorial, and considering the fact that the teachings can be taken literally. They give an example of St Francis of Assisi the man who risked his life to assist other individuals in the society. He gave up everything and lived in abject poverty to see other humans live comfortably. Another example of one who gave up everything and whose actions can be compared to the teachings in the beatitudes is Padre Pio. He gave up everything and the only wealth he remained with were his priesthood veil, and a pair of sandals just to watch others have a better life. “How then can the focal point of the sermon on the mount be a sentence that says, ‘be perfect’? and be perfect ‘just as god is perfect’?” (Vaught, 4). This chapter involves proving the fact that the teachings from the sermon in the mount are substantial enough to prove the fact that justice over powers injustice, and that the just live a more fulfilling life than the unjust. From this confusion and argument, substantial evidence is needed to give the people the most suitable answer. Thesis Statement On the issue of whether justice or injustice is important, I take the side of justice being the best and choose to argue out the point in various perspective. Using various points and theories to prove the importance on the message about justice in the beatitudes is essential. Using theories like that of Plato, Aristotle, Nitsche and Jesus is essential. Argument 1 In Plato’s Reasoning theory, he supports the fact that justice is better compared to injustice. Plato defines justice as well as its characteristics. He further explains the point that when a city is just, its inhabitants will always live at peace with each other without much ado (Ashbaugh, 48). Plato uses this theory to challenge the sophophists as to why one has to live morally in this life. Comparing this to the teaching on the sermon on the mount, is clear that a just person is one ruled by reasoning. Reasoning is Plato explains that of the three human energies; reason, appetite and emotion, reason surpasses all the other two (Ashbaugh, 7). Plato said, “Morality is a necessary cause of happiness, one’s happiness is correlary to ones moral behavior.” “Therefore, an immoral person would be motivated to be moral if he wants to be happy. The happy person is the just person” (Taylor, 10-23). His is proof that the sermon on the mount’s teachings on living justly to be happy, and for the satisfaction and peace of soul is proof that a just person is happier than the unjust person (Wagner, 4). Argument 2 I quote Aristotle “The hearer is the one who determines the speech’s end and object.” (Kraut, 3-20) This may present the Sermon on the mount as a more that Jesus might have said the beatitudes with a certain view, but all in all it is the interpretation of the audience that matters. Jesus may have been seeking to promote justice through the beatitude or to praise just individuals and condemn unjust acts. The interpretation of the receiver of the word is what matters. Aristotle says, “In oral uses, what matters is reliant upon the character of the speaker, the frame of mind of the listeners, and the proof of words of the speech.” “Ethical studies may fairly be called political, and for this reason rhetoric masquerades as political science” (Kraut, 3-20). The beatitudes encourage people to be just so as to live happily. The problem that people find is the conditions needed for one to live a just; hence happy life. An example is where Jesus encourages that one be hungry for the sake of another to be satisfied. This is in fact, confusing to most people since they cannot understand how one can be happy when hungry; hence they end us resorting to acts which bring short term happiness (Felty, 8). An example is how one finds pleasure in drinking alcohol, yet the aftermath is lethal and death is eminent. The beatitudes promote justice and assure of forever happiness in another life though to gain that, one has to suffer at the moment. Jesus’ teachings portray the fact that everyone always seeks a way to be eternally happy, though we search for it in the incorrect areas to for everlasting happiness to exist, suffering of all kinds must exist in the foremost position. This is the reason why all beatitudes have a condition and a reward. The beatitudes say that the poor are blessed while the present man deems richness as being a blessing. Apart from the beatitudes, the sermon on the mount has teachings on how all humans are the salt of the earth. The work of salt is to season and add flavor, by this, it means that a person should add good to the lives of others each day he or she lives on earth. The problem comes where the people become soiled with sin and misdeeds hence cannot give good influence to others (Vaught, 23). When someone becomes unjust, and contaminated with sin, there is no good effect he or she will give the world the same way salt that looses is flavor its worthy of being trampled upon and left to waste. Humans are also considered to be the light of the world, and since light brings brightness everywhere, one should live a life fulfilling and for the neighbors. Since a lamp cannot be lit then hidden, one should not stop using the gifts for good of others. The teachings also condemn sexual sin. It says that adultery does not only mean getting into a sexual act with a woman not rightfully your wife, but also looking lustfully at a woman is considered adultery (Vaught, 23). The teachings encourage that whatever part of the body brings sin upon one, it should be removed and thrown away if that will be the remaining solution to living a just and Godly life. It also insinuates that entering the kingdom of God is not very easy, since an person has to sacrifice so much and be more righteous than the ancient scribes (Wagner, 23). Conclusion From all this teaching, theories and evaluation, it is evident that a fulfilling and happy life is that which is lived justly and for others. Blessed people are not those who feast by the day and night, but those who have known suffering and lived for the sake of a brother, that who has walked barefoot to watch a brother enjoy the pleasures of a sandal and that who has eaten nothing for a brother to have a meal. For their reward lies immense in the kingdom of the Lord. Works Cited Ashbaugh, A. F. Platos Theory of Explanation: A Study of the Cosmological Account in the Timaeus. Albany, N.Y: State University of New York Press, 1988. Print. Felty, David. Faith and Morals: Genesis, Deuteronomy, Micah. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1997. Print. Kraut, Richard. Aristotle: Political Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2002. Print. Prabhavananda, Swami. The Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1964. Print. Taylor, Alfred E. Plato: The Man and His Work. Mineola, N.Y: Dover, 2001. Print. Vaught, Carl G. The Sermon on the Mount: A Theological Investigation. Waco, Tex: Baylor University Press, 2001. Print. Wagner, Ellen. Essays on Platos Psychology. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, 2001. Print. Read More