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Chapter 5 -- How to Be Happy and Keep the Law
One day Jesus took note of the multitudes, went up into a mountain, sat down, and opened up and taught us all. This is what he said.
"Happy are you if you are depresssed; I tell you that all heaven is yours.
"Happy are you if you are sad; you will be comforted.
"Happy are you if you know your powerlessness; you will inherit the earth.
"Happy are you if you are searching; you will be filled.
"Happy are you if you are kind; you will receive kindness.
"Happy are you if yo are clean inside; you will see God.
"Happy are you if you are persecuted for good things; all heaven is yours.
"Happy are you if you are ridiculed, persecuted, and falsely accused because of me. Be joyful, be glad, for your reward is great. The prophets have always been persecuted.
"You are the salt of the earth. Salt without saltiness is useless.
"You are the light of the world. Like a city on a hill and a candle on a candlestick, do not hide your light but let it shine so that people around you will see your kind actions and glorify your Father in heaven.
"I came not to destroy the law as some think, but to fulfill it. Surely heaven and earth will pass away before one tiny nuance passes from the law. If you do and teach these commandments, you will be great in my kingdom. Actually, to enter my kingdom at all, your law keeping must far exceed that of the press, the politicians, and even the pastors.
"You know which law I mean. One commandment says, You shall not kill. I say, Whoever is angry with a brother without cause or ridicules a brother, the same is in danger of hell. So if you bring a gift to God and there remember something you have not dealt with standing between you and your brother, leave your gift and go be reconciled with your brother and then come back to offer your gift.
"Agree quickly with your enemy. It makes better sense than being dragged from judge to officer to jail. Jail does not release you until you have paid all.
"Back to the law: you remember the commandment, You shall not commit adultery. I say, Whoever looks with lust has already committed adultery. If your eye, or your hand for that metter, causes you to offend this commandment, it is better to gouge it out than to let your whole body go to hell.
"Someone has said, If you want to abandon your spouse, at least give a legal divorce. I say, Whoever abandons wife or husband, except for a cause like fornication, causes the one abandoned and whoever then marries that person to commit adultery.
"You have heard it said, You shall not swear on yourself, but make your oaths to God. I say, Swear not at all, not by heaven God's throne, not by earth God's footstool, not by Jerusalem the city of the Great King, and not by your head the hairs of which you cannot change to white or black. Instead, say only Yes, yes, or No, no. Any more than that can get you into trouble.
"You have heard, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I say, Do not fight back. Woever hits you once, turn again to him or her. Whoever sues the coat off your back, give to him or her your shirt, too. Whoever requires a mile of service, give him or her the second mile, also. Give and lend freely.
"You have heard, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. I say, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you. This way you will show that you are the children of your Father in heaven, who sends the sun and rain to both the evil and the good.
"If you love only those who love you and greet only those who are like you, what reward do you deserve? This is simply common practice. Instead, you whall be merciful and therefore perfect, following the example of your Father in heaven."
I watched the faces in the crowd. Some were puzzled, like "What kind of kingdom IS this?" Some were shocked or even angry, "Never heard the likes before; this guy think he's better than our law?!!!" But I heard something so different, so way out of the box, that a little seed of hope began to sprout in my thinking. Surprised me.
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