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The Sermon on the Mount

Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them:

True Happiness(A)

“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
    the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
(B)“Happy are those who mourn;
    God will comfort them!
(C)“Happy are those who are humble;
    they will receive what God has promised!
(D)“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;
    God will satisfy them fully!
“Happy are those who are merciful to others;
    God will be merciful to them!
(E)“Happy are the pure in heart;
    they will see God!
“Happy are those who work for peace;
    God will call them his children!
10 (F)“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
    the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

11 (G)“Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. 12 (H)Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.

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People talk about this Jesus, this Preacher and Healer. Word spreads of His charisma and wisdom and power and love. People who are too sick to walk persuade their friends and relatives to carry them to Jesus. These cripples and demonized and ill and paralytics come to Jesus, and He heals them, and they follow Him.

Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountain (as Moses had done before Him) and He sat down (as Jewish teachers of His day usually did). His disciples gathered around Him.

There on the mountain Jesus teaches them all. And as He is teaching, crowds gather around and overhear His teachings, listen in, and are captivated. This, the Sermon on the Mount, is the first of the five Mosaic-like sermons in Matthew.

And He began to teach them.

Jesus: Blessed are the spiritually poor—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
    Blessed are those who mourn—they will be comforted.
    Blessed are the meek and gentle—they will inherit the earth.
    Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—they will be filled.
    Blessed are the merciful—they will be shown mercy.
    Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.
    Blessed are the peacemakers—they will be called children of God.
10     Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11 And blessed are you, blessed are all of you, when people persecute you or denigrate you or despise you or tell lies about you on My account. 12 But when this happens, rejoice. Be glad. Remember that God’s prophets have been persecuted in the past. And know that in heaven, you have a great reward.

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