Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-27
THE BEATITUDES.
Matt, 5:I-I2.
Golden Text: Blessed are
the pure in heart; for they
shall see God. Matt, SD.
AAfH OUNTAIN messages abound in
Xiii the Scriptures. The law was

6nfk oUNTA1N messages abound in
(Ru the Scriptures. The law was
Nv given to men on Mount Sinai.
Elijah, filled with encouragement. despair
and doubt, received a message in the soli-
tude Of the mountains that thrilled him
with its message Of hope. The still
small voice Of God speaks frequently to
men from the mountain heights. but no
message ever spoken surpassed that of
Jesus. delivered as our lesson tells us
on "the mountain
The place, while not important to the
understanding Of the lesson, was in all
probability the mountain near Caper-
naum. where the Master had spent all
night in prayer preceding the completion
Of the twelve. The hill. with two tops.
five miles northwest of Liberals. has
since been called the Mount of the Beati-
tudes. The traditional view that the
Horns of Hattin is the site where the
sermon was preached. part OF which is
our lesson today, is not accepted by all
scholars.
The place did not give this mountain
message it's peculiar power which has
won for 1t the first rank among the
sermons Of the world. The source Of this
sermons superiority and strength was
the personality OF the preacher. The
period in His ministry when he spoke
the message that has moved men Of all
ages was Immediately following the COM
pletlon Of the apostolic college. The
twelve had been won for Christ. Jesus
had consecrated them for spiritual lead
ership. He planned placing upon them the
responsibility Of carrying the gospel to
every creature. and through their mes
sage winning the nations Of the earth
for His kingdom. Before engaging upon
their message. Our lesson forms the
opening address. delivered 30 that the
multitude heard. but addressed to the
twelve. whom Jesus was seeking to teach
course was Christ's inaugural addressed
to the twelve apostles whom he had just
appointed. One forgets that the limita-
tons Of our lesson forbid our studying
the complete messianic manifesto.
Messianic Manifesto.
The sermon ought to be studied as q
whole, because the message of the intro
duction which is the basis Of our study
cannot be clearly comprehended without
a knowledge Of its relation to the sermon.
The meaning is apt to be lost unless we
study the part in relation to the whole.
The interpretations of the sermon have
been numerous. proving the many sided
ness OF the Masters messianic manifesto.
They have, too, often been made from the
the Kingdom Of God. Let us try to lay
aside all former ideas and approach the
lesson seeking to know the truth whether
our conception Of the kingdom is indi-
yidualistic or socialistic. The definition
Of Phillips Brooks that preaching Is the
presentation of truth through personality"
gives us key to unlock the truth or the
Masters sermon. The personality. pur-
pose and program OF Christ Will also help
US to grasp the message.
Then the plan Of Matthews gospel will
aid us to master 1t as whole. He was
writing q gospel to prove to the Jews
from the Old Testament that Jesus was
the Messiah. Christ fulfilled according
to Matthew the prophetic revelations
concerning the Messiah. The Old Testa-
ment conception. OF the obedience to God
is life and disobedience is death, will aid
us in our study of the truths Of the
kingdom of God, or. as he puts it. the
Kingdom Of Heaven. The purpose OF the
messianic reign was to restore GODS rule
in the life Of men. The mountain from
which Jesus speaks answers to Sinai. The
Charta Of the Christian era. just as the
Mosaic law was the basis Of the old
Jewish state. service and success.
The gospel Of the kingdom which Jesus
It proclaimed Gods purpose. plan and
mower to bring to pass that which the
law failed to secure-the rule Of God IN
the life Of men and nations.
The spiritual and social standards OF
Christ are not separate. but one. Spirit
ual sons of God demonstrate it by being
social servants Of men. The social laws
Of Christ have been reduced to one by
DR.. Strong. Service inspired by love and
measured by sacrifice" The man who
does Christ's work must be q Christian.
He only has the needed spiritual prepare
ton to do the Masters service. No other
will listen to the Masters voice. The
gospel, as seen by the study OF the SER
mon as q whole. has q social expression.
but it's foundation was established In
spiritual life. Christ opens His mountain
message, suggested by seeing the multi
tudes," proclaiming the principles OF the
KINGDOM by stating the character Of the
Christian citizen. Jesus first points out
the way to life.