The Sermon on the Mount 4 - Matt5:9-16

So far we’ve talked about meekness and purity and mercy and going right along with that theme Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Honestly, it sounds pathetic, but I feel like a big part of being a peacemaker is simply not instigating contention. Don’t start it, don’t take part in it. There’s a book that I listened to called A Complaint Free World, and it was really incredible, talk about peacemakers. I’m a very negative person by nature, aggressive and hostile, so any movement into positivity is hard won for me, I have to actively work on being positive and optimistic. In this book, it talks about training yourself to become complaint free, because really, complaining isn’t peaceful and it isn’t making the world a better place. It talks about not only getting yourself out of it, but also how to keep others from bringing it to you. And that’s not to say be a push over, he talks extensively about taking care of uncomfortable situations without having the unpleasantness affect your life. The term “peacemaker” implies that we have control over other people’s anger and aggression, that we can some how “make peace” among others, but that isn’t the case. We can’t force anyone else to stop fighting, trust me I try to do it with my kids all the time and it doesn’t work. The Lord says that we are to use influence, gentleness, kindness, love unfeigned, etc. in order to get results with other people, that’s the only way that it works. Having peace within ourselves allows us to bring peace to others, and keeping ourselves out of conflict allows us to keep our inner peace. Being the person that brings negativity and hostility to others is draining and that’s what makes you a toxic person and I try really hard to not be like that.

The Savior continues, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” This counsel is counter-intuitive because it makes no sense logically to be happy when people are mean to you. Be happy when you are made fun of because those you look up to have been made fun of before too, that doesn’t make any sense. This perspective must be viewed eternally to make any sense. When you are being persecuted because of your beliefs, just know that your reward is great in heaven, and that other spiritual giants have also been persecuted for the same thing. It’s like being assured that you are on the same spiritual path as the prophets and the Savior himself, who was ultimately persecuted and killed because of what he taught. JTC says, “It is evident that the specified blessings and the happiness comprised therein are to be realized in their fullness only beyond the grave; though the joy that comes from the consciousness of right living beings, even in this world, a rich return… Supreme happiness is not an earthly attainment; the promised ‘fullness of joy’ lies beyond death and the resurrection… The Beatitudes are directed to the duties of mortal life as a preparation for a greater existence yet future. In the kingdom of heave, twice named in this part of the Lord’s discourse, are true riches and unfailing happiness to be found. The kingdom of heaven was the all-comprising text of this wonderful sermon; the means of reaching the kingdom and the glories of eternal citizenship therein are the main divisions of the treatise.”

Those followers of Christ “are the salt of the earth… Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” This is a very popular verse, and another time in which Jesus taught in metaphor. To me, this concept is best summed up by the saying, “live your life so that people will want to know God because they know you.” The IM quotes Elder Robert D. Hales as teaching, “Wouldn’t it be pleasing to Jesus if we could let our light so shine that those who followed us would be following the Savior?... Have you ever stopped to think that perhaps you are the light sent by Heavenly Father to lead another safely home or to be a beacon from a distance to show the way back to the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life? Your light is a beacon and should never stop burning or mislead those who are looking for a way home.”