Look at the whole of Chapter 5
Submitted by Ford Prefect on January 12 2001 20:46:21
In reply to suppressing and becoming submitted by F.O.D. on January 12 2001 20:34:11
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The beatitudes, the similes of salt and light, a comment on the law followed by the rather shocking statements about anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation and culminating with love of enemies. What I see here isn't a series of new injuctions but a call to go beyond legalism....to go beyond obeying the letter of the law. In a time when wealth was still equated with God's favor and religious status was equated with righteousness, Jesus says the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are persecuted are blessed. He says we are to be not just blind followers of written laws but a light to others, salt to season lives with. He says we should love enough not just to avoid killing, taking another's wife or husband, casually casting off a wife, swearing as a normal matter of conversation, or just seeking revenge when truly wronged; but to really care for others, and to respect them regardless of their status or what they may have done to us. I think to reduce this chapter to just another set of laws is to miss its importance entirely. ---Ford |
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