185177ȱࠗ༡ᒣ⚄Ꮫ࠘44ྕ㸦2021ᖺ3᭶㸧pp.ȱ185Ȭ192.ȱ

࠙᭩ホࠚ
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Reviewȱof:ȱ ȱW.ȱC.ȱMattisonȱIII,ȱTheȱSermonȱonȱtheȱMountȱandȱMoralȱ
Theology:ȱAȱVirtueȱPerspective,ȱCambridgeȱUniversityȱPress:ȱ
Cambridge,ȱ2017,ȱpp.ȱxiii+279.ȱ ȱȱ
JakubȱRAJ+ÁNIȱ ȱȱTheȱoldȱyetȱnewȱtopicȱofȱ“happiness”ȱinȱtheȱrealmȱofȱmoralityȱhasȱbeenȱaȱpointȱ
ofȱinterestȱandȱdebateȱinȱvariousȱbranchesȱofȱethics,ȱChristianȱethicsȱincluded.ȱItȱ
sufficesȱtoȱthinkȱofȱtheȱDominicanȱfriarȱServaisȱPinckaersȱ(1925Ȭ2008)ȱwhoȱmadeȱ
itȱhisȱlifelongȱprojectȱtoȱreviewȱandȱreconstructȱtheȱChristianȱscienceȱofȱmoralsȱbasedȱonȱhisȱThomisticȱcritiqueȱofȱaȱlongȱperiodȱofȱscholarlyȱneglectȱofȱtheȱveryȱ
essenceȱ ofȱ everyȱ classicalȱ ethicsȱ –ȱ virtues,ȱ theȱ naturalȱ strivingȱ forȱ happiness,ȱ
graceȱetc.ȱInȱthatȱwayȱnotȱonlyȱdidȱheȱrestoreȱtheȱAristotelianȬThomisticȱbasisȱforȱ
moralȱ reasoning,ȱ parallelȱ toȱ whatȱ MacIntyreȱ aimedȱ atȱ achievingȱ inȱ moralȱ
philosophyȱ ofȱ theȱ sameȱ period,ȱ butȱ alsoȱ returnedȱ toȱ moralȱ theologyȱ itsȱattractivenessȱ andȱ vividness,ȱ whichȱ wasȱ notȱ alwaysȱ apparentȱ inȱ theȱ dryȱneoscholasticalȱ and/orȱ Kantianȱ reasoning.ȱ Yet,ȱ theȱ projectȱofȱ concentratingȱ onȱtheȱ positiveȱ sideȱ ofȱ humanȱ creaturelinessȱ andȱ limitednessȱ thatȱ yearnsȱ forȱperfection,ȱonȱendeavorsȱtoȱacquireȱvirtueȱratherȱthanȱavoidȱsinningȱ(understoodȱpredominantlyȱinȱtheȱsenseȱofȱbreakingȱsomeȱrules),ȱandȱonȱcooperatingȱwithȱ
God’sȱ helpingȱ andȱ indeedȱ deifyingȱ graceȱ isȱ stillȱ toȱ dateȱ farȱ fromȱ beingȱaccomplished.ȱItȱseemsȱthatȱJesus’ȱlawȱhasȱwithȱtimeȱbecomeȱjustȱanotherȱmoralȱlaw,ȱuniversalȱorȱjustȱoneȱthatȱisȱmoreȱperfect.ȱ ȱMattison’sȱ recentȱ bookȱ isȱ anȱ attemptȱ atȱ reȬdefiningȱ moralȱ theologyȱ inȱ theȱ

186178ȱfootprintsȱofȱAquinas,ȱPinckaersȱandȱothers,ȱwhichȱmakesȱitȱnotȱonlyȱaȱpurelyȱ
academicȱstudyȱforȱChristianȱbelieversȱbutȱalsoȱproposesȱinȱChristianȱtermsȱwhatȱmoralȱtheologyȱhasȱinȱcommonȱwithȱmostȱofȱtheȱotherȱformsȱofȱhumanȱmorality.ȱ
Thatȱisȱtoȱsay,ȱonȱtheȱbasisȱofȱChristianȱethicsȱthereȱisȱtheȱsameȱfoundationȱasȱinȱ
AristotelianȱorȱStoicȱsystemȱofȱmorality,ȱi.e.ȱtheȱlongingȱforȱhappiness,ȱwhichȱnoȱ
humanȱsystemȱofȱthoughtȱcanȱeasilyȱignore.ȱForȱtheȱancientȱpeopleȱthereȱwasn’tȱmuchȱ radicalȱ differenceȱ inȱ kindȱ betweenȱ hardlyȱ translatableȱ termsȱ suchȱ asȱ
beatitudoȱorȱfelicitas.ȱSecondly,ȱitȱcanȱbeȱclaimedȱthatȱinȱtheȱearsȱofȱeveryȱeducatedȱ
personȱinȱtheȱtimeȱofȱJesusȱtheȱopeningȱwordȱofȱhisȱSermonȱonȱtheȱMountȱ(Mtȱ5:1Ȭ7:29)ȱmustȱhaveȱsoundedȱlikeȱaȱbeginningȱofȱaȱtreatiseȱinȱethicalȱphilosophy.ȱ
Onȱtheȱotherȱhand,ȱneitherȱMattisonȱnorȱanyȱofȱhisȱspiritualȱmastersȱdoȱsuggestȱ
thatȱChrist’sȱSermonȱisȱjustȱanotherȱproposalȱforȱethicallyȱsoundȱandȱhumaneȱ
lifeȱ–ȱitȱisȱmore.ȱTheȱSermon,ȱwhichȱunleashedȱtheȱavalancheȱofȱcommentariesȱ
startingȱ withȱ Augustine,ȱ usedȱ toȱ beȱ andȱ stillȱ isȱ alsoȱ theȱ cornerstoneȱ ofȱ aȱ
particularlyȱChristianȱmorality.ȱ ȱTheȱauthor’sȱproposalȱisȱtoȱreadȱtheȱSermonȱonȱtheȱMountȱthroughȱtheȱlensesȱ
ofȱvirtueȱethics,ȱasȱtheȱtitleȱitselfȱsuggests.ȱMoreover,ȱheȱisȱtryingȱtoȱcombineȱaȱ
profoundȱ Biblicalȱ researchȱ andȱ patristicȱ commentariesȱ withȱ predominantlyȱ
Thomisticȱaccountȱofȱmoralityȱ(thusȱworkingȱwithȱconceptsȱsuchȱasȱgoal,ȱobject,ȱ
intention,ȱ intrinsicȱ evil).ȱ Further,ȱ hisȱ intuition,ȱ sharedȱ withȱ Augustineȱ orȱAquinas,ȱ isȱ thatȱ Christianȱ moralityȱ notȱ onlyȱ continuesȱ andȱ completesȱ theȱuniversalȱethicalȱthoughtȱofȱAntiquity,ȱbringingȱitȱfurther,ȱbutȱalsoȱbuildsȱupȱaȱwellȬorderedȱ andȱ unifiedȱ systemȱ inȱ itself,ȱ oneȱ thatȱ isȱ rationallyȱ organizedȱaroundȱtheȱnumberȱseven.ȱThatȱisȱwhyȱinȱtheȱpastȱmanyȱhaveȱattemptedȱtoȱalignȱ
setsȱ ofȱ thingsȱ withȱ otherȱ setsȱ ofȱ thingsȱ ofȱ theȱ sameȱ number.ȱ Forȱ example,ȱ
Augustineȱ hasȱ famouslyȱ triedȱ toȱ alignȱ theȱ Beatitudesȱ (theȱ programmaticȱstatementȱ ofȱ Jesus’ȱ publicȱ ministry)ȱ withȱ theȱ giftsȱ ofȱ theȱ Spiritȱ inȱ Isaiahȱ 11ȱ(althoughȱreversingȱtheirȱorder)ȱasȱwellȱasȱwithȱtheȱpetitionsȱofȱtheȱLord’sȱprayerȱ

187179ȱ(OurȱFather…),ȱandȱAquinasȱinȱhisȱturnȱhasȱdoneȱaȱsimilarȱthingȱwithȱpairingȱ
theologicalȱ andȱ moralȱ virtuesȱ withȱ theȱ giftsȱ ofȱ theȱ Holyȱ Spiritȱ andȱ beatitudesȱwithȱvirtues.ȱInȱthisȱfashionȱtheȱwholeȱsystemȱresemblesȱaȱpieceȱofȱartȱwithȱpartsȱ
fittingȱintoȱeachȱother.ȱHowever,ȱasȱMattisonȱaptlyȱpointsȱout,ȱtheȱnumberȱsevenȱ
isȱnotȱmagicalȱorȱmystical,ȱandȱoneȱhasȱtoȱbeȱwaryȱofȱconnectingȱdifferentȱthingsȱ
onlyȱ forȱ theȱ sakeȱ ofȱ connectingȱ them.ȱ Thereȱ doesȱ notȱ haveȱ toȱ beȱ aȱ beautifulȱorganizationȱ atȱ anyȱ cost.ȱ Fortunately,ȱ forȱ theȱ mostȱ part,ȱ theȱ complementarityȱ
betweenȱ virtues,ȱ gifts,ȱ beatitudes,ȱ fruitsȱ ofȱ theȱ Spiritȱ andȱ theȱ petitionsȱ ofȱ theȱLord’sȱprayerȱ(theȱcenterpieceȱofȱtheȱSermonȱonȱtheȱMount)ȱseemsȱtoȱworkȱfineȱ
alsoȱfromȱtheȱviewpointȱofȱcontent,ȱevenȱthoughȱsomeȱauthorsȱatȱtimesȱofferȱanȱ
alternativeȱnumberingȱorȱorderingȱofȱthoseȱsets.ȱ ȱWhatȱ isȱ thenȱ Mattison’sȱ contributionȱ toȱ thisȱ debate?ȱ Unlikeȱ traditionalȱinterpretations,ȱ heȱ notȱ onlyȱ treatsȱ theȱ Beatitudesȱ asȱ aȱ closedȱ setȱ ofȱ values,ȱ
comparableȱtoȱgiftsȱorȱvirtues,ȱbutȱasȱaȱprologueȱtoȱtheȱwholeȱSermon,ȱinȱwhichȱ
caseȱtheȱsameȱvaluesȱandȱ–ȱinȱhisȱcaseȱ–ȱtheȱsameȱvirtuesȱwillȱbeȱreflectedȱinȱtheȱ
laterȱpartsȱofȱthisȱMattheanȱSermon.ȱIndeed,ȱbasedȱonȱBiblicalȱresearchȱofȱnotȱ
onlyȱ Catholicȱ authors,ȱ Mattisonȱ strivesȱ toȱ interpretȱ theȱ Sermonȱ asȱ havingȱ theȱsameȱstructureȱasȱtheȱBeatitudes,ȱandȱatȱtheȱsameȱtimeȱhavingȱaȱsymmetricalȱandȱ
concentricȱstructure.ȱHisȱproposalȱisȱtoȱethicallyȱreadȱtheȱBeatitudesȱ(Mtȱ5:1Ȭ16)ȱ
asȱ theȱ perfectȱ actsȱ ofȱ someoneȱ whoȱ qualifiesȱ forȱ andȱ indeedȱ anticipatesȱ theȱhappinessȱofȱtheȱKingdomȱofȱheavenȱ(i.e.ȱunionȱwithȱGodȱinȱaȱlovingȱvision)ȱandȱ
asȱequivalentȱtoȱtheȱvirtuesȱofȱfaithȱ(Happyȱareȱtheȱpoorȱinȱspirit…),ȱtemperanceȱ
(Happyȱareȱthoseȱwhoȱmourn…),ȱfortitudeȱ(Happyȱareȱtheȱmeek…),ȱhopeȱ(Happyȱareȱthoseȱwhoȱhungerȱforȱrighteousness…),ȱjusticeȱ(Happyȱareȱtheȱmerciful…),ȱprudenceȱ
(Happyȱareȱtheȱcleanȱofȱheart…),ȱandȱcharityȱ(Happyȱareȱtheȱpeacemakers…)ȱ(p.ȱ47).ȱEvenȱ thoughȱ someȱ alignmentsȱ areȱ atȱ theȱ firstȱ sightȱ paradoxicalȱ andȱ notȱstraightforwardlyȱobvious,ȱwhichȱisȱnotȱtoȱsayȱtheyȱareȱforcedȱeither,ȱtheyȱcanȱ
beȱ veryȱ usefulȱ inȱ explainingȱ howȱ –ȱ forȱ exampleȱ –ȱ justiceȱ needsȱ toȱ beȱ

188180ȱcomplementedȱwithȱmercy.ȱTheȱnextȱstepȱisȱthenȱtoȱtryȱtoȱreadȱtheȱrestȱofȱtheȱ
Sermonȱ asȱ aȱ treatiseȱ onȱ aȱ virtuous,ȱ goodȱ andȱ happyȱ life,ȱ ratherȱ thanȱ lifeȱ inȱ
accordanceȱwithȱsomeȱnewȱandȱmoreȱperfectȱprecepts.ȱMattison’sȱwishȱisȱthatȱJesus’ȱmoralȱvisionȱandȱvirtueȱethicsȱmightȱbeȱreadȱinȱaȱmutuallyȱenlighteningȱ
way,ȱwhichȱbyȱnoȱmeansȱimpliesȱthatȱeitherȱofȱthemȱisȱincomprehensibleȱwithoutȱ
theȱotherȱone.ȱWithȱthisȱgeneralȱprojectȱinȱmind,ȱheȱreadsȱtheȱnextȱsectionȱofȱMtȱ
5:17Ȭ48ȱasȱaȱparaphraseȱonȱtheȱvirtuesȱofȱfortitudeȱandȱtemperanceȱ–ȱtheȱformerȱ
instantiatedȱ inȱ theȱ first,ȱ fifthȱ andȱ sixthȱ antithesisȱ andȱ theȱ latterȱ inȱ theȱ second,ȱ
thirdȱ andȱ fourthȱ antithesisȱ betweenȱ theȱ Oldȱ andȱ theȱ Newȱ Lawȱ inȱ Matthewȱ(chapterȱ2).ȱInȱchapterȱ3ȱwithȱtheȱexactȱsameȱstructureȱheȱexaminesȱMtȱ6:1Ȭ6.16Ȭ
18ȱconcentratingȱonȱtheȱnotionȱofȱintentionalityȱand,ȱskippingȱtheȱLord’sȱprayerȱ
forȱnow,ȱheȱtriesȱtoȱconnectȱitȱtoȱtheȱvirtueȱofȱcharity.ȱInȱchapterȱ4ȱwhileȱdealingȱ
withȱtheȱinterpretationȱofȱMtȱ6:19Ȭ7:12ȱcontainingȱtheȱinjunctionȱ“SeekȱfirstȱtheȱkingdomȱofȱGodȱandȱhisȱrighteousness!”ȱ(Mtȱ6:33),ȱwhichȱisȱsoȱtoȱsayȱtheȱveryȱ
peakȱofȱtheȱwholeȱSermon,ȱheȱreflectsȱonȱtheȱmeaningȱofȱtheȱvirtuesȱofȱprudenceȱ
(Mtȱ6:19Ȭ34)ȱandȱjusticeȱ(Mtȱ7:1Ȭ12).ȱChapterȱ5ȱisȱdedicatedȱtoȱMtȱ7:13Ȭ29ȱandȱreadȱ
inȱtheȱlightȱofȱtheȱvirtueȱofȱhope.ȱAlthoughȱtheȱvirtueȱofȱfaithȱisȱnotȱassignedȱanyȱ
particularȱparagraphȱorȱchapter,ȱitȱisȱtreatedȱneatlyȱwithȱthatȱofȱhopeȱandȱalsoȱitȱ
isȱtheȱpointȱofȱdepartureȱofȱtheȱwholeȱSermonȱandȱanȱunderlyingȱattitudeȱofȱitsȱ
addressees.ȱ Inȱ theȱ sixthȱ andȱ lastȱ chapterȱ theȱ authorȱ goesȱ backȱ toȱ theȱ Lord’sȱ
Prayerȱ (Mtȱ 6:7Ȭ15),ȱ whichȱ inȱ hisȱ viewȱ isȱ aȱ microcosmȱ thatȱ itselfȱ reflectsȱ theȱstructureȱofȱtheȱwholeȱSermonȱandȱasȱitsȱcenterpieceȱkeepsȱtheȱSermonȱunified.ȱ
Atȱtheȱsameȱtime,ȱitȱshowsȱthatȱwhatȱJesusȱisȱpreachingȱaboutȱisȱnotȱanȱacquiredȱ
virtuosityȱbutȱanȱinfusedȱlevelȱofȱvirtuesȱthatȱcannotȱbeȱachievedȱwithoutȱGod’sȱ
graceȱ askedȱ forȱ inȱ prayer.ȱ Anȱ obviousȱ conclusionȱ seemsȱtoȱ beȱ thatȱ theȱ Lord’sȱ
prayerȱitselfȱshouldȱhaveȱaȱstructureȱorȱcanȱbeȱreadȱasȱanȱexplanationȱofȱvirtues,ȱ
whichȱaccordingȱtoȱMattisonȱhasȱnotȱbeenȱemphasizedȱsufficientlyȱatȱallȱinȱtheȱ
pastȱresearch.ȱHence,ȱthisȱalignmentȱrepresentsȱhisȱownȱinsight.ȱInȱotherȱwords,ȱ189181ȱinȱ theȱ Ourȱ Fatherȱ theȱ disciplesȱ ofȱ theȱ Kingdomȱ areȱ taughtȱ toȱ prayȱ forȱ faithȱ(Hallowedȱ beȱ thyȱ name),ȱ hopeȱ (Thyȱ kingdomȱ come),ȱ charityȱ (Thyȱ willȱ beȱ done),ȱ
prudenceȱ (Giveȱ usȱ thisȱ dayȱ ourȱ dailyȱ bread),ȱ justiceȱ (Forgiveȱ usȱ ourȱ trespasses),ȱ
temperanceȱ (Leadȱ usȱ notȱ intoȱ temptation)ȱ andȱ fortitudeȱ (Deliverȱ usȱ fromȱ evil)ȱ
respectivelyȱ (p.ȱ 252).ȱ Orȱ better,ȱ theyȱ areȱ notȱ onlyȱ prayingȱ forȱ possessionȱ ofȱ
virtues,ȱbutȱvirtueȱisȱtheȱprerequisiteȱofȱtheȱoneȱwhoȱpraysȱand,ȱatȱtheȱsameȱtime,ȱtheȱprayerȱincreasesȱtheȱvirtuesȱalreadyȱownedȱasȱaȱresult.ȱAgain,ȱasȱwasȱtheȱcaseȱ
withȱ otherȱ alignments,ȱ thereȱ isȱ noȱ absoluteȱ necessityȱ hereȱ forȱ theȱ singularȱ
petitionsȱ ofȱ theȱ Lord’sȱ prayerȱ toȱ correspondȱ preciselyȱ toȱ theȱ classicalȱ listȱ ofȱvirtuesȱ inȱ theȱ exactȱ sameȱ orderȱ (inȱ fact,ȱ theȱ lastȱ twoȱ virtuesȱ areȱ invertedȱcomparedȱtoȱtheȱtraditionalȱorder,ȱevenȱthoughȱtheȱrestȱinterestinglyȱstickȱtoȱtheȱ
order).ȱ However,ȱ theȱ imageȱ evokedȱ byȱ aligningȱ theȱ twoȱ setsȱ isȱ moreȱ thanȱsuggestiveȱandȱpersuasive,ȱasȱforȱexampleȱweȱcanȱseeȱinȱtheȱcaseȱofȱperfectȱloveȱ(charity)ȱthatȱisȱprayedȱforȱandȱenkindledȱeverȱmoreȱbyȱtheȱpetitionȱ“Thyȱwillȱbeȱdone…”.ȱTheȱreasonȱforȱitȱisȱthatȱtheȱinfusedȱvirtueȱofȱcharityȱisȱtheȱpeakȱandȱ
perfectionȱofȱtheȱtriadȱfaith–hope–charityȱandȱtheȱprayerȱasksȱforȱtheȱrealizationȱ
ofȱtheȱwillȱofȱGodȱwhoȱisȱtoȱbeȱlovedȱaboveȱallȱthingsȱ(andȱtoȱloveȱmeansȱtoȱfulfillȱtheȱdesiresȱofȱtheȱbelovedȱone)ȱnotȱonlyȱonȱearthȱbutȱalsoȱinȱheaven,ȱexactlyȱinȱtheȱ
sameȱmannerȱasȱaboutȱcharityȱitȱisȱfittinglyȱsaidȱthatȱitȱaloneȱwillȱremainȱuntilȱ
theȱ lifeȱ toȱ comeȱ (cf.ȱ 1Corȱ 13:8).ȱ Inȱ thisȱ way,ȱseeingȱ virtuesȱinȱ connectionȱwithȱ
otherȱvirtuesȱandȱwithȱotherȱaspectsȱofȱtheȱmoralȱthoughtȱratherȱthanȱaȱrandomȱ
setȱofȱarbitraryȱdutiesȱcanȱbeȱindeedȱenlightening.ȱWhatȱremainsȱunclear,ȱonȱtheȱ
otherȱhand,ȱisȱwhyȱtheȱcomparisonȱbetweenȱBeatitudesȱandȱvirtues,ȱbetweenȱtheȱ
restȱofȱtheȱSermonȱ(asȱaȱmusicalȱvariationȱonȱtheȱthemeȱofȱtheȱBeatitudes)ȱandȱ
theȱvirtues,ȱandȱtheȱLord’sȱprayerȱandȱtheȱvirtuesȱresultȱallȱinȱaȱslightlyȱdifferentȱ
orderȱofȱtheȱsevenȱvirtuesȱ(allȱofȱwhichȱhaveȱcertainlyȱtheirȱadvantages).ȱThisȱ
factȱperhapsȱonlyȱshowsȱthatȱtheseȱkindsȱofȱdistinctionȱareȱnotȱsomeȱequivalentȱ
mechanicalȱstructuresȱorȱmathematicalȱequations.ȱAlthoughȱsuchȱrecapitulationȱ

190182ȱisȱmissingȱinȱtheȱbookȱitself,ȱtheȱmetaȬalignmentȱwouldȱlookȱlikeȱthis:ȱ ȱȱTheȱBeatitudesȱ

TheȱSermonȱonȱtheȱMountTheȱLord’sȱprayerȱ

faithȱ

temperanceȱ

faithȱ

temperanceȱ

fortitudeȱhopeȱ

fortitudeȱ

charityȱ

love/charityȱ

hopeȱ

prudenceȱ

prudenceȱ

justiceȱ

justiceȱ

justiceȱ

prudenceȱ

hopeȱ

temperanceȱ

charityȱ

faith?ȱ

fortitudeȱȱ
Theȱwordsȱinȱboldȱareȱcasesȱinȱwhichȱthereȱisȱaȱcoincidenceȱorȱoverlapȱbetweenȱ
theȱ threeȱ sets.ȱ Evenȱ thoughȱ itȱ isȱ notȱ addressedȱ inȱ Mattison’sȱ reflectionsȱ andȱconclusions,ȱitȱalmostȱseemsȱasȱifȱtheȱLord’sȱPrayerȱwereȱaskingȱforȱtheȱvariousȱ
virtuesȱinȱtheȱexactȱoppositeȱorderȱwhenȱcomparedȱtoȱthatȱofȱtheȱSermonȱandȱtoȱ
thatȱofȱtheȱBeatitudes,ȱitsȱprologue.ȱPerhapsȱfixingȱtheȱgazeȱonȱandȱprayingȱforȱ
theȱgoalȱfirstȱhelpsȱwithȱachievingȱandȱdealingȱwithȱtheȱmoreȱimmediateȱmatters.ȱ
Onȱtheȱotherȱhand,ȱtemperanceȱandȱfortitudeȱalwaysȱappearȱtogetherȱandȱinȱtheȱ
sameȱorder,ȱwhileȱjustice–prudence–charityȱofȱtheȱBeatitudes,ȱofȱwhichȱtheyȱareȱ
theȱpinnacle,ȱareȱencounteredȱinȱtheȱreversedȱorderȱinȱtheȱrestȱofȱtheȱSermonȱasȱ
wellȱasȱinȱtheȱOurȱFather.ȱ ȱTheȱ studyȱ isȱ wellȱ documentedȱ withȱ lotsȱ ofȱ quotationsȱ mostlyȱ fromȱ Biblicalȱ
scholarsȱasȱwellȱasȱfromȱPatristicȱliteratureȱandȱAquinas’ȱwritingsȱpertainingȱtoȱ
theȱSermonȱonȱtheȱMount,ȱwhichȱmakesȱitȱparticularlyȱworthȱreading.ȱItȱisȱhighlyȱ
illuminativeȱ forȱ theȱ renewedȱ moralȱ theology,ȱ whichȱ hasȱ notȱ yetȱ escapedȱ theȱcurseȱofȱrigidnessȱandȱlegality,ȱandȱinstructiveȱforȱtheologicalȱethicists,ȱofȱwhoseȱ

191183ȱyoungerȱgenerationȱMattisonȱhimselfȱisȱrepresentative.ȱReadingȱtheȱSermonȱonȱ
theȱ Mountȱ asȱ Christ’sȱ moralȱ instructionȱ andȱ nourishingȱ Christianȱ ethicalȱ
thoughtȱbyȱsuchȱscripturalȱmaterialȱisȱdoubtlesslyȱmutuallyȱenriching.ȱAfterȱall,ȱChristianȱlifeȱshouldȱbeȱalsoȱaboutȱvirtuesȱ(beȱtheyȱdifferent,ȱsimilarȱorȱtheȱsameȱasȱ secularȱ virtues),ȱ becauseȱ virtuesȱ areȱ aboutȱ aȱ happyȱ lifeȱ (mayȱ itȱ meanȱ aȱsuccessful,ȱ flourishing,ȱ good,ȱ meaningfulȱ orȱ blessedȱ life)ȱ andȱ Christians’ȱ
happinessȱconsistsȱinȱtheȱpromiseȱofȱGod’sȱfriendshipȱandȱitsȱfullȱenjoymentȱinȱ
theȱKingdomȱthatȱisȱatȱhand.ȱAsȱMattisonȱtakesȱpainsȱtoȱemphasizeȱthroughoutȱ
theȱwork,ȱJesus’ȱwordsȱareȱmoreȱthanȱrecommendationsȱorȱsuggestionsȱforȱsomeȱ
spiritualȱ elites,ȱ andȱ theȱ lifeȱ ofȱ poverty,ȱ meekness,ȱ mercyȱ etc.ȱ inȱ theirȱ variousȱformsȱenabledȱbyȱtheȱhabitualȱpossessionȱofȱvirtuesȱandȱgiftsȱisȱaȱnecessityȱforȱ
everyȱ disciple.ȱ Whatȱ isȱ calledȱ forȱ hereȱ areȱ notȱ attitudesȱ orȱ feelingsȱ butȱ ratherȱactions,ȱofȱwhichȱtheȱBeatitudesȱareȱtheȱforemostȱexampleȱandȱwhichȱnotȱonlyȱ
leadȱ towardsȱ (aȱ future)ȱ happinessȱ butȱ inherentlyȱ participateȱ inȱ it.ȱ Whatȱ thisȱreaderȱwouldȱhaveȱappreciatedȱmoreȱisȱifȱtheȱauthorȱhadȱ offeredȱmoreȱvisualȱandȱ schematicȱ representationȱ ofȱ variousȱ relationsȱ (lists,ȱ charts,ȱ comparativeȱtablesȱetc.).ȱAlso,ȱitȱwouldȱhaveȱbeenȱveryȱhelpfulȱifȱtheȱquotationsȱfromȱtheȱBibleȱ
atȱ theȱ beginningȱ ofȱ everyȱ chapterȱ wereȱ notȱ justȱ longȱ blockȱ quotationsȱ butȱ aȱ
structuredȱ textȱ (asȱ parallelismsȱ areȱexplainedȱ atȱ someȱ placesȱ inȱtheȱ respectiveȱchapter)ȱwithȱnumberedȱversesȱ(sinceȱwhenȱconstantlyȱreferringȱtoȱaȱverseȱbyȱnumberȱoneȱhasȱtoȱlookȱupȱbyȱhimselfȱorȱherselfȱwhichȱverseȱexactlyȱisȱmeant).ȱ ȱBeȱthatȱasȱitȱmay,ȱtheȱoverallȱideaȱ—ȱwithȱitsȱconclusionsȱtoȱbeȱpursuedȱinȱmoreȱ
depthȱ inȱ theȱ futureȱ —ȱ isȱ groundbreaking.ȱ Readingȱ theȱ Sermonȱ asȱ aȱ Christianȱtreatiseȱ onȱ virtuesȱ canȱ serveȱ toȱ emphasizeȱ aȱ moreȱ rationalȱ andȱ convincingȱpurpose,ȱmakingȱitȱlessȱofȱaȱspiritualȱcatechesisȱand,ȱconversely,ȱinterpretingȱtheȱ
theologicalȱ asȱ wellȱ asȱ cardinalȱ virtuesȱ fromȱ aȱ Christianȱ perspectiveȱ asȱ habitsȱadvancingȱmeritoriousȱactionsȱthatȱparticipateȱinȱtheȱpromisedȱrewardȱofȱheavenȱmeansȱtoȱunderstandȱtheȱwholeȱethicalȱlifeȱasȱmoreȱthanȱaȱhumanȱprojectȱandȱ

192184ȱmoralityȱasȱmoreȱthanȱanȱethicalȱtheory.ȱInȱtheȱSermonȱJesusȱindeedȱproposesȱaȱ
genuinelyȱhumaneȱconductȱunderstandableȱandȱacceptableȱbyȱanyȱperson,ȱevenȱ
thoughȱ theȱ Beatitudesȱcontinueȱ toȱ representȱ aȱ scandalȱ andȱ theȱ humanȱ personȱ(haveȱbecomeȱaȱnewȱbeingȱinȱChrist)ȱneedsȱtoȱbeȱassistedȱbyȱtheȱgraceȱofȱGod.ȱ ȱȱȱ