Sermon on the Mount

A while ago someone posted a photo on Facebook that showed a passage from the Old Testament and highlighted the portion that talked about the Hebrews owning slaves. That post made me think a lot and maybe I will be able to streamline my thinking by posting about it.

Historically, slavery has been part of this world until recently when a war was fought over it and slaves in the United States and other Western countries got their freedom. It was a religious movement that started the US down the path of outlawing slavery. Make no mistake I think this is the good in a natural state of things. I'm not sure if everybody realizes but in modern times there are still slaves. Of course there not called slaves but I've read there are up to 30 million people, mostly young women, who are held captive as slaves. Sometimes their families are threatened to keep them from running away. This is a horrible perversion but but slavery finds its way into society whenever it can. I feel this is an undeniable historical fact. Some of the things I've read about people crossing our border illegally and fall into being trapped into slavery turned my stomach.

One thing about the Old Testament portion that was posted is that it ignores the fact that Hebrews were held as slaves by the Egyptians for 400 years before Moses led them out. At that time in societies, from Egyptian to Syrian to Babylonian to Persian, slaves could be killed at any time a master chose. This instruction in the Old Testament actually put the Hebrews under a stricter law than was normal.

One of the things the Facebook post mentioned was that Bible believers needed to shut up about moral things because of these verses. As a Christian I feel the need to point out that the Old Testament is not currently applicable. The Christian is called to a much higher standard.

I have been listening to a series of sermons from my home church that deal with Jesus' teaching that is called "the sermon on the mount". It can be found in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7. If you read it, you will notice many times Jesus says "you have heard it said…" When avoids being an eye for an eye. And then he says "but I say I to you…". He is pointing out the true meaning of what the Hebrews have followed and twisted into an extensive set of rules. One of the verses I find most profound is Matthew chapter 7 verse 12 "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets".

To me this verse is very profound and supported by other Scripture verses that you can look up yourself, I think. If men were to follow this simple statement the entire law of Moses would've been summed up in these few words. Another place that Hebrews are told that God has dealt with them "because of the hardness of their hearts". They had all these roles but the simple fact of the law and the prophets was that you should treat others as you would have them treat you. Where is slavery in these verses – it is turned on its head. So many other laws and rules made to control a disobedient and hardhearted generation would be turned on their heads also.

The sermon on the mount profoundly showed how different Christ's attitude was to the people who professed to represent him. This is true today that that standard is very difficult to live up to but it is the Christians' calling.