The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-01-27
Sunday, Jan. %.
Matthew SLIP, 43-4S.

| NOQ.-maLIne" 30
In midsummer of the year Is
and after a night of prayer Jesu:
chose the Twelve Apostles anc
preached the Sermon on the
Mount probably on the Horns Of
Hattin near Capernaum. 1t wa:
the inaugural addressiof the King
dom, being delivered to the new
ly chosen Twelve and to the null
titudes who assembled probably
by appointment.
The Character of Christians
Tvs. 3-12) was wildly sketched
in the Beatitudes. The King has
appeared. The Kingdom has
emerged in the selection of the
/ Twelve. But who can belong to
the Kingdom The eight "blesseds"
answer.
The Influence Of Christians
! Tvs. 1870 was graphically pic
tured in two expressive meta
phors. As salt they keep the
world from going wholly to the
bad, preserving it from putrefac-
! ton and saving it to service. AS
light they shine away the dark
ness and by manifest but modest
good works glorify the Father in
heaven.
Having thus described the sub
iects of his Kingdom the King
goes on to show its superiority
over the old dispensation. And
he declares that he came not to
do away with the Law but to ex-
tend and complete its meaning
and application.
The Law of Righteousness Tvs.
1920 must not stop with the
externaliSm of the scribes and
Pharisees. Jesus calls for the
righteousness that springs out of
the inner nature and is animated
by a spiritual motive. Obedience
of this sort leads to the only dis
tinction attainable in the king
dom of heaven.
The Law of Murder Tvs. 21-26)
must not in the view of Jesus
have to do only with the man who
kills a fellow man with malice
aforethought, 1t forbids anger
which is incipient murder; stops
insult which is oral massacre; and
checks the breath of hate which
is germ is the blow of death.
Hence reconciliation is more ur-
gent than worship.
The Law of Adultery Tvs. 27-
2S) is not to be limited to the
act of unchastity. Jesus incul-
Gates a far stricter morality. He
declares that in reality the lust
full look is the awful crime. He
also teaches that conjugal infide-
lily is the sole ground for di-
vorce and that subsequent union
with the unfaithful one is the
commission of adultery. Evil de-
sire must be checked though its
cost equal the loss of eye or
foot.
The Law of Perjury Tvs. 49,
81 is not confined by Jesus to
false swearing or to Oaths that
prompted evasion of perform
ance. He forbids swearing al
thougher. In none of it's usual
forms is it permissible. More
than simple statement in COM
mon dealings is sinful.
TIE Law of Retaliation Tvs.
38-42) had been twisted into
authority for personal revenge
of private wrongs. Jesus teach
es that retaliation is wrong even
under repeated insult, t h
ignoble legal wrangling is worse
than to lose cloak and coat, that
INSTRUMENTATION is worse than
double civil duty, and that it is
better to be fleeced by every
borrower and beggar than to be
misanthrope.
The Law of Love Tvs. 43-48)
is not restricted to family and
friends. 1t must include even
our enemies. And our love must
express itself in prayer for them.
Thus we show ourselves the chill
dren of him who sends rain and
sunshine to both righteous and
wicked. There is no virtue in
giving love for and swapping sal
utations. The perfect Father in
heaven is our model.
The standard of character is
shown in the subjects of the
Kingdom. Jesus had just chosen
twelve men to be his apostles
and thus started the Kingdom
visibility. Naturally this burning
question pressed itself upon his
auditors: Who can belong to the
Kingdom? In answer he taught
that they are not the goddess
rich, but the poor in spirit; not
the thoughtfuless gay, but they
that mourn: not the proud, but
the meek; not the self-satisfied,
but the aspirant after righteous
ness; not the stern devotee off
exact justice, but the merciful:
not the corrupt, but the pure in
heart; not strife-sowers, but
peacemakers; not the popular
through compromise, but the per-
secuted for Christ's sake. In the
same breath he taught that pri-
vilege is associated with char
acter. In their poverty the sub
iects of the Kingdom not only
belong to it. but own it. For
their sadheartedness they shall
receive heavenly comfort. Their
humility shall be crowned with
ultimate inheritance of the earth.
Their spiritual aspirations shall
be satisfied. Their mercifulness
shall be rewarded with mercy
from God and man. In their pur-
! ity of heart they shall see God.
| In the good work of peacemaking
they shall be called the children
of God. And in their suffering
| E.. H. .o1.o 0f Iacrc tho,, oon