Note 35 — Part I

There is a marked difference between these latest utterances of Jesus and His first preaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Then He was enthusiastic, filled with the hope of converting the Jews, and establishing His Father's spiritual kingdom on earth. Now He is disappointed, realizing that His death is near, that His religious teachings have been rejected by practically all of His people, and that He will leave behind Him a mere handful of followers, few, if any, of whom yet understand the true meaning of His religion. The spirit of the Sermon on the Mount is love for one another, kindness active in every-day life, charity for others' shortcomings, leniency in judging and punishing offenders. But His later sayings abound in bitter censure of the Pharisees and others who have thwarted His work, of denunciation of all evil-doers, of promises of reward to His followers, and of predictions of severe punishment for those who reject His teachings.

Thus in the Sermon on the Mount He says:

"Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt. V:7).

"Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God" (Matt. V:9).

"Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way; first be reconciled with thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" (Matt. V:23, 24).

"Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him" (Matt. V:25).

"But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. V:39).

"But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you" (Matt. V:44).

"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. VI:15).

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. VI:33).

"Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matt. VII:1).

"Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote of thy brother's eye" (Matt. VII:5).

"Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the Law and the prophets" (Matt:VII:12).

As to those who heard His sayings and did them not, He speaks no stronger condemnation than to compare them to the foolish man who built his house on the sand (Matt. VII:24-27).

Compare with these the following excerpts from His later preachings:

"Verily I say unto you that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you" (Matt. XXI:31).

"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Matt. XXI:44).

"Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. XXII:13,14).

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites" (Matt. XXIII:13, 14, 15).

"Ye fools and blind" (Matt. XXIII:17, 23, 24).

"Ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness" (Matt. XXIII:27).

"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Matt. XXIII:33).

"That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth" (Matt. XXIII:35).

"And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days" (Matt. XXIV:19).

"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Matt. XXIV:40).

"And shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. XXIV:51).

"And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. XXV:30).

"Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. XXV:41).