As the name suggests, the Sermon on the Mount is a collection of Jesus' teachings at the mountain top, hence, getting its name. This sermon has been elaborately recorded in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, in chapters 5, 6, and 7. It also throws light on various aspects of our lives, including the issues of anger, lust, forgiveness, divorce, mercy, faith, and so on. Because its components touch on various aspects of human life, it wouldn't be wrong to say that this piece of teaching is a central doctrine that forms the basic core of Christianity. It would be interesting for you to know that this sermon also appears in the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 6, verses 17-49. However, there are noticeable differences between the two. There have been speculations that perhaps Saint Luke records a different instance where Jesus preached the same teaching, while some state that Luke's account is a brief description of the same sermon. In reference to Luke's description, this preaching is also known as "The Sermon on the Plain" as it is believed that sermon was taught by Jesus at a level spot, not on a mount. Saint Matthew explains the sermon in quite a detailed manner, extending to three complete chapters in the Gospel. There are various subheads in the Gospel itself, that divide one subject from the other, and in an overview, remarkably explain the true essence of being a part of God's family. Mentioned below are the various facets that Jesus spoke about, and in the process, enlightened His listeners by clarifying the mist of confusion and ignorance from their hearts and minds. The sermon begins with these words: "Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him." These words are what give this sermon its very name. Then Jesus proceeds with his teachings, that are explained in the following sections. The following section discusses the meaning and implications of the aforementioned subjects in brief, one by one. The excerpts have been taken from the English Standard Version of the Holy Bible. The reason why this section is called the "beatitudes" is because it emphasizes on the 'blessed'. Beatitude is the Latin word for 'blessed', or 'happiness'. There are nine beatitudes in the Sermon on the mount that Jesus mentions to lift up the spirit of those who are living a life full of difficulties in some form or the other. He begins by addressing those who are "Poor in spirit." Poor in spirit may be referred to those who realize that they are poor in terms of spiritual enlightenment and knowledge, and continually seek God's guidance for enriching their spirit through His words. Which is why, some experts believe that the poor in spirit are those who need and seek God's counsel at all times. He then proceeds to blessing "those who mourn" on earth, stating that they will be comforted in heaven. Mourning is often the result of loss. But, Jesus states that in heaven there is no mourning for the kingdom of God restores what is lost. Our Lord then speaks of those who are "meek", those who "hunger" and "thirst", stating that they will find the comfort and satisfaction that they seek, when they reach heaven. For in heaven lies the fountain of living water, so that no one shall hunger and thirst, or be meek, but gain strength in the name of God. After referring to the humanly feelings of hunger and thirst, our Lord shifts to the spiritual paradigm, addressing the need to be "merciful" and have "purity in heart." Jesus' teachings have always implied the fact that one shall always receive what he/she gives to the others. For if you yourself show mercy to others, the Father in heaven will also be merciful towards you. He also states that the only way to see God is through a pure heart. He also invariably instructs what is expected from His followers, which is to become the "peacemakers" of this world. Soon after this sentence, He speaks of "persecution" and revilement that many prophets have gone through for the sake of the kingdom of God. He assures His followers not to be perturbed by these tribulations, for there is a greater reward and blessing that awaits for them in heaven in lieu of their faithfulness. After the beatitudes, Jesus uses a parable to explain the true characteristics of those who are worthy of being God's children. Taking the example of a common cooking ingredient, salt, Jesus explains how we can make a difference in the world through our presence. What makes salt the most essential part of our life is its ability to bring taste to our food. With its absence, everything would taste bland, not worth eating. Similarly, without our spiritual salt, our life would be bland, not worthy of true living. Another essential quality of salt is its ability to get scattered and dissolve easily. In this reference, some experts suggest that salt is referred to the disciples of Christ who have scattered all across the globe to spread their enlightened words of one and all. Then Jesus takes the example of the light, which is impossible to hide from the rest of the world once lit. Therefore, Jesus implies that we must become the light of this world, and guide those who are trapped in darkness, so that our Father in heaven may be delighted with our works, and we may bring more and more people closer to the love of God. During His ministry, Jesus condemned the Pharisees and Jewish priests for doing a lot of things that according to them were a part of the law. But here, in this sermon, Jesus clarifies to all His listeners that His purpose is not to abolish the law, but to fulfill all what is written in it. He clearly states that until the law has been fulfilled, it cannot be passed. This implies that Jesus did fulfill all the laws written in the Old Testament, so that they are now passed, paving way for His teachings in the New Testament. He also emphasizes on the fact that our conduct should be as per the commandments of God, in fact, we should aim at becoming the epitome of righteousness in fulfilling the commandments so as to gain entry in heaven. As Jesus was speaking about the need to keep the commandments of God, He takes reference of the Old Testament where it has been stated that committing a murder is a sin. However, Jesus becomes stricter and states that anger and its aftereffects are equally grave sin, where we all are liable to judgment. Jesus emphasizes on the necessity to reconcile with our brothers with whom we are angry or upset. He states that it is only when we have reconciled our differences with our dear ones, that we are worthy to offer any gift to the alter. Invariably, through this message, He is trying to both warn and save us all from the fires of hell. The root cause of all evil is anger, which can only be overcome with reconciliation, forgiveness, and love. After speaking of anger, a rather easily doable sin, Jesus speaks of lust. Adultery has always been considered as a grave sin in Christianity, but Jesus emphasizes that the sins committed by both the body and mind are equally detestable. Aware of the eternal torment that awaits the sinners in hell, Jesus clearly states to separate the very member of our body that causes us to sin. In reference to lust, he gives an example to take out the eye that makes you lust for a woman. This sacrifice to separate the cause of sin from yourself may also imply of the need for repentance, where substantial sacrifices need to be made by a person to overcome their sinful nature, so that as a reward, they may share the cup of eternal bliss. Marriage is considered to be a pure union of two individuals, so that they are no longer two, but one. If someone breaks this pure union out of his/her own will, it is considered to be no less than a sin in the eyes of God. While the Old Testament accepted divorce, Jesus clearly implies how He detested the whole concept and considered it as means to commit the sin of adultery. While many modern believers would not take His view quite sportingly, considering how common divorces have become in today's world, there is a need to look behind Jesus' intention in saying so. Going back to what He taught us at the very beginning of the sermon, we would be reminded of the fact that God wants us all to be merciful, peacemakers, and a light in the lives of others. If we stand true to these qualities, then why would we commit an act so unappreciative as a divorce? In this reference, John Chrysostom, an early Church Father states, "He that is meek, and a peacemaker, and poor in spirit, and merciful, how shall he cast out his wife? He that is used to reconcile others, how shall he be at variance with her that is his own?" Worth a thought, isn't it? The attitude that Jesus had in the previous sections is still prevalent in this section too, when He addresses about people taking oaths and swearing on others to prove a point. While the Old Testament states that one must abide by the word for which he/she has sworn, Jesus with His in-depth thinking instructs the listeners not to swear at all. He also indicates that we humans have no power the hair of our own head, let alone be the throne, footstool, and city of God. He also emphasizes on the fact that simplicity is what comes from those who dwell in the name of God. A simple Yes, or No is enough, and those who say anything more, do not come from the kingdom of God. In this life, there will be many who will do wrong to us, who will hurt us, and our human nature will compel us to retaliate and seek revenge. The Old Testament considers it to be justifiable if one seeks an eye for an eye, so that things get even. But Jesus, who advocates peace, mercy, and forgiveness, tells us to not even it out, but give more to others as compared to what has been asked. Our Savior wants us to walk on the path of mercy and love, peace and harmony. If we but go out to even things out, do wrong to those who have wronged us, we would not have any peace around us anymore. Another point to consider in this context is that giving what we have to others who seek it, is like spreading our light to those in the dark. Therefore, resisting evil is not the way to overcome it, rather, we should let our goodness be the reason for them to identify the goodness that lies within them. Previously in this sermon, when Jesus explained about the fulfillment of the law, we had mentioned that the entry to the kingdom of heaven is for those who abide by the law with all their heart and soul. Our enemy is the one that prevents us from keeping the law, bringing feelings of hatred, anger, retaliation, and evil in our hearts. Therefore, Jesus says that we shall hate no one but bestow our love even to those who hold enmity against us. To keep things even is what everybody does, even the sinners, even the evildoers, but being the sons and daughters of God, we must love everyone, and even pray for those who persecute us for nothing. We must be as merciful, forgiving, and ever accepting as our Father in heaven, our aim must be to become as perfect as He is. Here, Jesus basically is warning all those believers who also believe in show off. He emphasizes that the only audience you need to have while practicing righteousness is our Father who is in heaven. Other than Him, there is no need to make it obvious to the others of your deeds. Jesus seeks that the only reward that matters is the one that we will receive from the kingdom of heaven, hence, we must not seek the praises of others, which are not beneficial to us in any substantial manner. Jesus not only taught us how to be humble in our ways, but also gave us the most powerful prayer of all to help us connect with God in the most just manner. The Lord's prayer is an ensemble of just the right words that can help us through the times of trials and tribulations, and also keep us focused in His way. The prayer begins with praising the Father and the willingness to honor His will in our lives and in heaven above. The Lord also teaches us to thank the Father almighty for our daily source of nourishment, our bread, and also to remember that at the end of the day, we all are sinners who must seek forgiveness from God all the time. The most crucial part of the prayer comes when Jesus states that the Father shall forgive our sins in the same way as we shall forgive those who have sinned against us. Invariably, this states that we cannot get what we are unwilling to give, as discussed in the sections above. The conclusion of this prayer consists of the prayer of protection, both from temptation and evil. This just signifies on the fact that we all are "poor in spirit' and it is only through prayer and God's mercy that we shall be uplifted to be fit to be ideal worshippers in the eyes of God. Fasting has always been considered as a quintessential way to purify both your body and mind. It has always been believed that fasting and prayer draw you closer to God and take you away from the sinfulness of this world. Jesus warns those who fast, to not show their discomfort to others, so as to gain sympathy or admiration. Not that the fasting of these attention-seeking believers would not be considered, they will receive their due reward, but it wouldn't be as glorious as those who keep their discomfort within themselves, just as God wants it. The main aim of fasting is to purify your spirit and grow in faith, the reflection of which should be pleasant, not distorted. The treasures of earth are measured by the amount of money, money which is easily exhaustible, perishable, could be stolen from us, could be destroyed by nature. This treasure becomes more of a liability than a possession, making us prone to evil and sin. Jesus encourages the believers to not run after the treasures of the earth that can be easily taken away, but to focus on receiving the treasures that await in heaven, that no one will snatch away from us. Jesus indirectly states money as evil when He states that no one can serve two masters, one being God and the other money. He implies that our life should aim towards loving and helping others through the means we have, not loving the means in itself while avoiding those who need help. Our eye/intention/focus should be clear so that we see light in our lives and spread it to those around us. As we had mentioned in the previous point, money is the cause of evil, it seems more like a liability, and here, Jesus has indirectly also called it a troublemaker, anxiety deliverer! If we look at our lives today, we run after money because it gives us access to luxury, to options. With more money, more options, more desires, comes anxiety and worry in the form of choice, security, and fulfillment of desires. Jesus clearly states that worry and anxiety are futile, they do no good to any person, which is why it is pointless to waste your life on them. He emphasizes on the need to trust in God, who knows the small and little things that we desire, even before we realize that we need them. Jesus invariably implies that our worries of the day should be regarding the challenges that we face in proclaiming the word of God to the world, the rest would be taken care by God Himself. Judging isn't right, but invariably we tend to become judgmental about many people in our lives, even without knowing their background or reason behind their demeanor. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ warns us of being the hypocrites that we tend to become. Where we tend to be all righteous when it comes to others, but in our own lives accept the room for sinfulness. This sinfulness is what Jesus refers to as the log in our eyes. He indirectly states that what we judge is just a speck compared to the log that we have. In short, we are not authorized, nor have the capability to judge anyone. What we must focus is on our own righteousness, and sharing the same with others in our lives. In saying so, Jesus also warns that it is worthless to impart the holy word among those that would not understand its value, when He compares giving pearls to pigs. They will not hold it as a treasure but trample it under their feet and attack you. This He says in reference to those who do not wish to follow righteousness. To substantiate the faith of the believers, Jesus gives them the examples of everyday life, such as, a father will never give stone to his child who asks him of bread, or a serpent when he is asked of a fish. Jesus knows that we all are sinners, and irrespective of being the sinners that we are, we would never ignore the plea of those we love, then why would God, the pure in heart, the epitome of love, mercy, and grace, not listen to our plea? He is waiting to bestow His love upon us, all we have to do, is ask with a pure and faithful heart. If it was easy to be righteous, many would have taken the path. However, because the path to the kingdom of heaven is a difficult and narrow one, this is what makes it worthy. "The road is wide" can be linked with our world today, where a majority of population is living in a sinful manner, where lying, lust, divorce, adultery, and other sins have become quite acceptable for the people today. They have become acceptable because the road is easy and wide. However, the "narrow" road, the road to righteousness doesn't have many travelers because of the challenges that come on the way, but it is only through these challenges that the road is worth taking. While the wider road takes a majority to destruction, the narrow road takes to eternal bliss. By taking the example of a tree and its fruit, Jesus explains the fact that a false prophet will never bear the fruit of truth, likewise, a true prophet will never teach that is false and evil. Indirectly, what Jesus is trying to say is that a genuine prophet will never seek his own glory, but the welfare of his followers. Likewise, a false prophet will always try to seek his own welfare by cheating or manipulating the faith of his believers. In this part of the sermon, Jesus honestly tells the crowd that to be a part of the kingdom of God, it requires more than taking God's name and/or performing miracles in His name. As mentioned in the section where our Lord speaks of the fulfillment of the law, here too, Jesus emphasizes on the need to be lawful towards the commandment and expectations of God. He speaks of the day of judgment, when all will be evaluated, all that was shown, and all that really was. And then, based on their righteousness and purity of their hearts, the Lord will decide whom He knows and whom He doesn't know. This parable sounds a lot like the Parable of the Sower. Here, Jesus emphasizes on the foundation of one's belief and faith. Those who just hear but do not follow, are the foolish builders that lay their foundation on something as unstable as the sand, where a little bit of turbulence in the form of rain and wind can shatter their fragile belief in the word of God, but the wise believers are those who lay their foundation on a base as strong and stable as a rock, so that no trials and tribulations from the evil is able to move their belief even an inch away. As the sermon began with Him taking a seat at the mountain top, speaking as if He has come from heaven above―which He did, indeed―it ends with the crowd being awestruck and astonished at His knowledge and teachings, because in spite of not being recognized as the one with any authority to speak of God, He did so stupendously. This just implies on the fact that He was the light that came to guide us all. And that even though He was born a carpenter, living a simple ordinary life, the light of His wisdom and heavenly grace shone bright and attracted all those who were "poor in spirit." And as true believers, we must do the same. Although quite elaborate, the small sections of this parable provide a brief insight on the problematic areas of living a mortal life in a world that is so overshadowed by sins and superficiality. In the midst of evil and darkness, the Sermon on the Mount gives us a sense of assurity, a much-needed guidance that we may refer to during the times of emotional, physical, spiritual, and social conflicts, in matters both big and small. Amen.