CHAPTER IV

GOD'S KINGDOM

Therefore the will of the Father is the life and welfare of all men

("Thy kingdom come")

AND Jesus went among the towns and villages, and taught all men the happiness of fulfilling the Father's will. (mt 9:35) Jesus was sorry for men, that they perish without knowing wherein is the true life, and are driven about and suffer, without knowing why, like sheep left without a shepherd. (mt 9:36)

Once a crowd of people gathered to Jesus, to hear his teaching; and he went up on a hill and sat down. His disciples surrounded him. (mt 5:1)

And Jesus began to teach the people as to what is the Father's will. (mt 5:2) He said:Blessed are the poor and homeless, for they are in the Will of the Father. (lk 6:20) Even if they hunger for a time, they shall be satisfied; and if they grieve and weep, they shall be comforted. (lk 6:21) If people look down upon them, and thrust them aside and everywhere drive them away, (lk 6:22) let them be glad at this; for the people of God have ever been persecuted thus, and they receive a heavenly reward. (lk 6:23)

But woe to the rich, for they have already got everything they wish, and will get nothing more. (lk 6:24) They are now satisfied; but they shall be hungry. Now they are merry; but they shall be sad. (lk 6:25) If all praise them, woe to them, because only deceivers get everybody's praise. (lk 6:26)

Blessed are the poor and homeless, but blessed only then, when they are poor, not merely externally, but in spirit; as salt is good only when it is true salt; not externally only, but when it has the savor of salt.

So, you also, the poor and homeless, are the teachers of the world; you are blessed, if you know that true happiness is in being homeless and poor. But if you are poor only externally, then you, like salt without savor, are good for nothing. (mt 5:13) You must be a light to the world; (mt 5:14) therefore do not hide your light, but show it to men. For when one lights a candle, one does not put it under a bench, but upon the table, that it may light all in the room. (mt 5:15) So, you also, do not hide your light, but show it by your works, so that men may see that you know the truth, and, looking at your good works, may understand your Heavenly Father. (mt 5:16)

And do not think that I free you from the law. I teach not release from the law, but I teach the fulfilment of the eternal law. (mt 5:17) As long as there are men under heaven, there is an everlasting law. (mt 5:18) There will be no law, only when men shall of themselves act wholly according to the eternal law. And now I am giving you the commandments of the eternal law. And if anyone shall release himself, if only from one of these short commandments, and shall teach others that they may so release themselves, he shall be least in the kingdom of heaven; while he who shall fulfil them, and shall thereby teach others, shall be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (mt 5:19) Because if your virtue be not greater than the virtue of the orthodox leaders, you will in no way be in the kingdom of heaven. (mt 5:20)

These are the commandments:

I

In the former law it was said: "Do not kill." But if anyone shall kill another, he must be judged. (mt 5:21)

But I tell you, that everyone is worthy of judgment who gets angry with his brother. And still more to blame is he who abuses his brother. (mt 5:22)

So that, if you wish to pray to God, remember, first, whether there is no man who may have something against you. (mt 5:23) If you remember that but one man considers you have offended him, leave your prayer, and go first and make peace with your brother; and then you may pray. (mt 5:24) Know that God wants neither sacrifice nor prayer, but peace, concord, and love among you. And you may neither pray, nor think of God, if there is but one man to whom you do not bear love.

And so this is the first commandment: Do not be angry, do not abuse; but having quarreled, make peace in such a way that no one may have cause for offense against you.

II

In the former law it was said: "Do not commit adultery; and if you wish to put away your wife, give her a bill of divorce." (mt 5:31)

But I tell you, if you are drawn by the beauty of a woman, you are already committing adultery. (mt 5:28) All sensuality destroys the soul, and therefore it is better for you to renounce the pleasure of the flesh than to destroy your life. (mt 5:29)

And if you put away your wife, then, besides being vicious yourself, you drive her also into vice, and him who shall have to do with her. (mt 5:32)

And therefore, this is the second commandment: Do not think that love toward woman is good; do not admire the beauty of women, but live with the one to whom you have become united, and do not leave her.

III

In the former law it was said: "Do not utter the name of the Lord your God in vain, do not call upon your God when lying, and do not dishonor the name of your God. Do not swear by Me in untruth, so as to profane your God." (mt 5:33) But I tell you that every oath is a profanation of God.

Therefore, swear not at all. (mt 5:34) Man cannot promise anything, because he is wholly in the power of the Father. (mt 5:35) A man cannot turn one hair from gray to black; (mt 5:36) how then shall he swear beforehand, that he will do this and that, and swear by God? Every oath is a profanation of God, for, if a man shall have to fulfil an oath which is against the will of God, it must follow that he has sworn to go against God's will; so that every oath is evil. But when men question you about anything, say: "Yes," if yes,"No," if no. Everything added to this is evil. (mt 5:37)

Therefore, the third commandment is: Swear nothing, to anyone; say "Yes," when it is yes,"No," when it is no; and understand that every oath is evil.

IV

In the former law it was said: "He who destroys life, shall give a life for a life; an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, an ox for an ox, a slave for a slave," and so on. (mt 5:38)

But I tell you: Do not wrestle with evil by evil. (mt 5:39) Not only do not take by law an ox for an ox, a slave for a slave, a life for a life, but do not resist evil at all. If anyone wishes to take an ox from you by law, give him another; if anyone wishes to get your coat by law, give him your shirt also; (mt 5:40) if anyone strikes out your tooth on one side, turn to him the other side. (mt 5:39) If you are made to do one piece of work, do two. (mt 5:41) If men wish to take your property, give it to them. If they do not return your money, do not ask for it.

And therefore: Do not judge, do not go to law, do not punish, and you yourself shall not be judged, nor punished. Forgive all, and you shall be forgiven, because if you shall judge people, they will judge you also.

You cannot judge, because you, all men, are blind, and do not see the truth. (mt 7:1) How, with obstructed eyes, will you discern the mote in your brother's eye? (mt 7:3) You must first clear your own eye. (mt 5:5) But whose eyes are clear? Can a blind man lead a blind man? Both will fall into the pit. (lk 6:39) Thus, also, they who judge and punish, like the blind, are leading the blind.

They who judge and condemn people to violent treatment, wounds, maiming, death, wish to teach people. But what else can come from their teaching, than that the pupil will learn his lesson, and will become quite like the teacher? (lk 6:40) What, then, will he do, when he has learnt his lesson? The same that the teacher does: violence, murder.

And do not think to find justice in the courts. To seek legal justice, to hand matters over to human courts, is the same as to cast precious pearls before swine; they will trample upon it, and tear you to pieces. (mt 7:6)

And, therefore, the fourth commandment is: However men may wrong you, do not resist evil, do not judge and do not go to law, do not complain and do not punish.

V

In the former law it was said: "Do good to men of your own nation, and do evil to strangers." (mt 5:43)

But I tell you, love not only your own countrymen, but people of other nations. Let strangers hate you, let them fall upon you, wrong you; but you speak well of them, and do them good. (mt 5:44) If you are only attached to your countrymen, why, all men are thus attached to their own countrymen, and hence wars arise. (mt 5:46) Behave equally well toward men of all nations, and you will be the sons of the Father. (mt 5:45) All men are His children, and therefore all are brothers to you.

And, therefore, this is the fifth commandment: Behave equally well toward foreigners, as I told you to behave among yourselves. Before the Father of all men there are neither different nations nor different kingdoms: all are brothers, all sons of one Father. Make no distinction among people as to nations and kingdoms.

And so: I. Do not be angry, but be at peace with all men. II. Do not seek delight in sexual gratification. III. Do not swear anything to anyone. IV. Do not oppose evil, do not judge, and do not go to law. V. Do not make any distinction among men as to nationality, and love strangers like your own people.

All these commandments are contained in this one: All that you wish people should do for you, do you even so to them. (mt 7:12)

Fulfil my teaching, not for men's praise. If you do it for men, then from men you have your reward. But if not for men, then your reward is from the Heavenly Father. (mt 6:1) So that, if you do good to men, do not boast about it before men. Thus hypocrites do, that men may speak well of them. And they get what they wish. (mt 6:2) But if you do good to men, do it so that no one may see it, so that your left hand may not know what your right hand is doing. (mt 6:3) And your Father will see this, and will give you what you need. (mt 6:4)

And, if you wish to pray, do not pray like the hypocrites. Hypocrites love to pray in churches, in the sight of men. They do this for men's sake, and get in return from men that which they wish. (mt 6:5)

But, if you wish to pray, go where no one may see you, and pray to your Father, the Spirit, and the Father will see what is in your soul, and will give you that which you wish in the spirit. (mt 6:6)

When you pray, do not chatter with your tongue like the hypocrites. (mt 6:7) Your Father knows what you want before you open your lips. (mt 6:8)

Pray only thus:

Our Father, without beginning and without end, like heaven!

May Thy being only be holy. (mt 6:9)

May power be only Thine, so that Thy will be done, without beginning and without end, on earth. (mt 6:10)

Give me food of life in the present. (mt 6:11)

Smooth out my former mistakes, and wipe them away, even as I so do with all the mistakes of my brothers, (mt 6:12) that I may not fall into temptation, and may be saved from evil. (mt 6:13)

Because Thine is the power and might, and Thine the judgment.

If you pray, above all, bear no one any malice. For if you do not forgive men their wrong-doing, the Father also will not forgive you yours. (mt 6:14-15)

If you fast, and go hungry, do not show it to men; thus do the hypocrites, that people may see, and speak well of them. And people speak well of them, and they get what they wish. (mt 6:16) But do not you do so; if you suffer want, go about with a cheerful face, that people may not see. (mt 6:17) But your Father will see, and will give you what you need. (mt 6:18)

Do not lay up store on earth. On earth, the worm consumes, and rust eats, and thieves steal. (mt 6:19) But lay up heavenly wealth for yourself. Heavenly wealth the worm does not gnaw, nor rust eat, nor thieves steal. (mt 6:20) Where your wealth is, there will your heart also be. (mt 6:21)

The light of the body is the eye, and the light of the soul is the heart. (mt 6:22) If your eye is dim, then all your body will be in darkness. And if the light of your heart is dim, then all your soul will be in darkness. (mt 6:23) You cannot serve at one time two masters. You will please one, and offend the other. You cannot serve God and the flesh. (mt 6:24) You will either work for the earthly life or for God. Therefore, do not be anxious for what you shall eat and drink, and wherewith you shall be clothed. Life is more wonderful than food and clothing, and God gave it you. (mt 6:25)

Look at God's creatures, the birds. They do not sow, reap, or harvest, but God feeds them. In God's sight, man is not worse than the bird. (mt 6:26) If God gave man life, He will be able to feed him too. But you yourselves know that, however much you strive, you can do nothing for yourselves. You cannot lengthen your life by an hour. (mt 6:27) And why should you care about clothing? The flowers of the field do not work and do not spin, (mt 6:28) but are dressed as Solomon in all his glory never was. (mt 6:29) Well, then, if God has so adorned the grass, which to-day grows and to-morrow is mown, will he not clothe you? (mt 6:30)

Do not trouble and worry yourselves; do not say that you must think of what you will eat and how you will be clothed. (mt 6:31) This every one needs, and God knows this need of yours. (mt 6:32) And so, do not care about the future. Live in the present day. Take care to be in the will of the Father. Wish for that which alone is important, and the rest will all come of itself. (mt 6:33) Strive only to be in the will of the Father. And so, do not trouble about the future. When the future comes, then it will be time to do so. There is enough evil in the present. (mt 6:34)

Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. (lk 11:9) Is there a father who would give his son a stone instead of bread, (mt 7:9) or a snake instead of a fish? (mt 7:10) Then, how is it that we, wicked men, are able to give our children that which they need, while your Father in heaven shall not give you that which you truly need, if you ask Him? (mt 7:11) Ask, and the Heavenly Father will give the life of the spirit to them who ask Him.

The way to life is narrow, but enter by the narrow way. The way into life is one only. It is narrow and strait. About it the plain lies great and wide, but it is the way of destruction. (mt 7:13) The narrow way alone leads to life; and few find it. (mt 7:14) But do not quail, little flock! The Father has promised you the kingdom. (lk 12:32)

Only, beware of false prophets and teachers; they approach you in sheepskins, but within they are ravening wolves. (mt 7:15)

By their fruits will you know them; by that which they yield. Figs are not gathered from thistles, nor grapes from thorns. (mt 7:16) But a good tree brings forth good fruit. And a bad tree brings forth bad fruit. (mt 7:17) And so you will know them by the fruits of their teaching. (mt 7:20) A good man, from his good heart, brings forth everything that is good; but a wicked man, from his evil heart, brings forth everything evil; for the lips speak from the overflow of the heart. (lk 6:45) And therefore, if teachers teach you to do to others that which is bad for yourselves,teach violence, executions, wars,know that they are false teachers.

For it is not he that says: Lord, Lord! who shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who fulfils the word of the Heavenly Father. (mt 7:21) The false teachers will say: "Lord, Lord! we have taught your teaching, and we have driven away evil according to your teaching." (mt 7:22) But I will disown them, and say to them: No, I never acknowledged you, and do not acknowledge you. Go out of my sight, you are doing that which is unlawful. (mt 7:23)

And so, everyone who has heard these words of mine, and fulfils them, he, like a reasonable man, builds his house upon a rock. (mt 7:24) And his house will stand against all storms. (mt 7:25) But he who hears these words of mine, and does not fulfil them, he, like a foolish man, builds his house upon sand. (mt 7:26) When the storm comes, it will overthrow the house, and all will perish. (mt 7:27)

And all the people wondered at such teaching; (lk 4:32) because the teaching of Jesus was quite other than that of the orthodox teachers of the law. These taught a law which must be obeyed, but Jesus taught that all men are free. And in Jesus Christ were fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah: (mt 4:14) "The people living in darkness, in the shadow of death, saw the light of life, (mt 4:16) and he who furnished this light of truth does no violence nor harm to men, but he is meek and gentle. He, in order to bring truth into the world, neither disputes nor shouts; his voice is never heard raised. (mt 12:19) He will not break a straw, and will not blowout the smallest light. (mt 12:20) And all the hope of men is in his teaching. (mt 12:21)