The Sermon on the Mount by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2014, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 In a previous book, "Better Healthcare than Obamacare, for Free," I wrote that people really were trying to kill Jesus, and eventually they got the job done. That's the basic idea, of course. And we know from the Bible that Jesus died on the cross of crucifixion. The point I was trying to make is that Jesus was not paranoid and had no demons. Strictly speaking, however, it is not technically correct to say that Jesus' enemies were successful at killing Him because Jesus himself said, "Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, so that I can take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the ability to lay it down, and I have the ability to take it again. I have received this commandment from my Father." (John 10:17,18) So then, the only way that Jesus' enemies could be successful in killing him is that Jesus yielded up his spirit in death because it was the will of God the Father for Jesus to die for our sins. Jesus was cooperating with the will of God, his Father. On the third day, God the Father raised up Jesus from the dead. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God in heaven. From the time that Jesus' earthly ministry began at about age thirty, Jesus preached many sermons to many people. But one of his most famous sermons is the "Sermon on the Mount." It is found in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. Here is the Sermon on the Mount from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version: ___Matthew chapter 5 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set, his disciples came to him, 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they'll be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, because they'll obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, because they'll see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they'll be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for being righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 Blessed are you, when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be very glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for that's what they did to the prophets who went before you. 13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be salted? It is then good for nothing, except to be thrown out, and to be walked on by men's feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill can't be hidden. 15 Nor do men light a candle, and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick, and it gives light to all that are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they'll see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17 Don't think that I've come to destroy the law, or the prophets, I haven't come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth go away, one period or one comma shall in no way pass from the law, until all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, unless you have more righteousness than the scribes and Pharisees, you'll in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 You have heard that it was said by those of old time, You shall not kill, and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment, 22 But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother without a good reason shall be in danger of the judgment, and whoever shall say to his brother, You vain fellow, shall be in danger of the council, but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell's fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 Leave your gift there before the altar and go away, first make peace with your brother, and then go back and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you're in the street with him, so the adversary won't turn you over to the judge, and the judge won't turn you over to the officer, and you aren't thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you'll no way come out from there, until you've paid the very last penny. 27 You've heard that it was said by those of old time, You shall not commit adultery, 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out, and throw it from you, for it is profitable for you that one of your members is destroyed, and not that your whole body should be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand offends you, cut it off, and throw it from you, for it is profitable for you that one of your members is destroyed, and not that your whole body should be thrown into hell. 31 It has been said, Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her divorce papers, 32 But I say to you that whoever shall put away his wife, except because of fornication, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever shall marry her that's divorced commits adultery. 33 Again, you've heard that it has been said by those of old time, You shall not falsely promise, but shall perform to the Lord your oaths, 34 But I say to you, don't swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, 35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you can't make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yes, yes, no, no, for whatever is more than these comes from evil. 38 You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, 39 But I say to you, don't resist evil, but whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your overcoat also. 41 And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow from you don't turn away. 43 You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you, and persecute you, 45 So that you'll be the children of your Father who is in heaven, for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what are you doing more than others? Don't even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." ___Matthew chapter 6 1 "Be careful that you don't give charitable gifts before men to be seen by them, otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Therefore when you give charitable gifts, don't sound a trumpet before you, like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so they'll have honor from men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you give, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 So that your giving will be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret shall himself reward you openly. 5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites are, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, so they'll be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you've shut your door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. 7 But when you pray, don't use useless repetitions, like the heathen do, because they think they'll be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore, don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Therefore, pray like this, Our Father who is in heaven, your name be honored. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, like it is in heaven. 11 Give us our daily bread today. 12 And forgive our debts, like we forgive our debtors. 13 And don't lead us into temptation, but give us deliverance from evil, for yours are the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 14 For if you forgive men their wrong doing, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 But if you don't forgive men their wrong doing, neither will your Father forgive your wrong doing. 16 Also, when you fast, don't have a sad face like the hypocrites, for they distort their faces, so they'll appear to men to be fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, put ointment on your head and wash your face, 18 So that you don't seem to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, shall reward your openly. 19 Don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moths nor rust can corrupt, and where thieves don't break through nor steal, 21 Because where your treasure is, your heart will be there also. 22 The light of the body is the eye, if therefore your eye is single, your whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You can't serve God and money. 25 Therefore I say to you, don't be worrying about your life, what you'll eat, or what you'll drink, nor for your body, what you'll put on. Isn't the life more important than food, and the body than clothes? 26 Look at birds of the air, for they don't plant, nor do they harvest, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you much better than they are? 27 Which of you can, by thinking, add eighteen inches to his height? 28 And why do you take thought for clothes? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they don't toil, nor do they spin, 29 And yet I say to you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 So, if God clothes the grass of the field, that exists today, and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won't he much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore don't think, What will we eat? Or, What will we drink? Or, with what shall we be clothed? 32 (Because the Gentiles seek for all those things,) for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore, don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is its own evil." ___Matthew chapter 7 1 "Don't judge, so you won't be judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged, and with what measure you measure out, it shall be measured back to you again. 3 And why do you look at the speck that's in your brother's eye, but don't consider the plank that's in your own eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the speck out of your eye, and see, a plank is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first cast out the plank out of your own eye, and then you'll see clearly to cast out the speck from your brother's eye. 6 Don't give that which is holy to the dogs, and don't throw your pearls before pigs, so they don't trample them under their feet, and turn again and tear you. 7 Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and you'll find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you, 8 For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him? 12 Therefore whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter in at the restricted gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in there, 14 Because the gate is restricted, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are greedy wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit. 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, nor can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. 20 So, by their fruits you'll know them. 21 Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, haven't we prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then I will tell them, I never knew you, go away from me, you sinners. 24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock, 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it didn't fall, because it was founded on a rock. 26 And everyone that hears these sayings of mine, and doesn't do them, is like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand, 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it fell, and it was a big disaster." 28 And when Jesus had finished these sayings, the people were amazed at his doctrine, 29 Because he taught them like one who had authority, and not like the scribes. Chapter 2 Toward the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, we have the nine blesseds, also called the beatitudes. Smith Wigglesworth has also pointed out that there are nine gifts of the spirit listed in 1 Cor chapt 12. If we're meek, we'll inherit the earth. If we're merciful we'll obtain mercy. Some of this can be summed up in the "Golden Rule." Jesus said, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. But we have the righteousness that is by faith. (Rom 9:30) If there's a part of your body that would send you to hell, it's better to lose that part of your body than to go to hell. We should ask the Lord for his guidance in this matter. When you give, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Matt 6:9-13 is called "The Lord's prayer." In Matt 6:15, Jesus said if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. I met a man in Houston, TX, who said he had been cheated by his business partners. I don't doubt that such a thing happened. But this man said he couldn't forgive them. I told him he had to forgive them, or God wouldn't forgive his sins. We have to get our sins forgiven if we are to go to heaven. It would be very foolish to let unforgiveness to others send ourselves to hell, where there's crying and gnashing of teeth, where their worms don't die, and the fire is not quenched, says Jesus. In Matt 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." Don't put finding wealth first on your list of priorities. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and the other things will be added to you. In Matt 7:12, we have the "Golden Rule." In Matt 7:13,14, Jesus tells us that the majority of people go to hell, and a minority of people go to heaven. Make sure you're in that minority that go to heaven. Get born again as in John chapt 3. (and see Romans 10:9,10) In Matt 7:16, well know men by their fruits. Good men don't produce bad fruit. Bad men don't produce good fruit. Have you found someone that's a habitual liar? That's not Christian behavior. In Matt 7:22 we see that some Christians will go to hell. You have to be a Christian to cast out demons from people, but even some of those who've done so will wind up in hell. Matt 7:24, build your house on the rock of what Jesus has said. ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.