WE are told by Matthew that when the people had listened to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount they "were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." The office of the scribe was to write, teach, and interpret the Mosaic law. The exercise of these duties, however, corresponded with the prevailing foundational belief in a God who could hate, punish, and kill,—a God who could do evil as well as good.
If such was the popular conception of God's character, how could the people, who called themselves the children of God, believe themselves possessed of higher attributes than, in their concept, their Father had? Hence their astonishment. Here was Jesus daring to take their most honored doctrines and laws, one after another, turn on them the light of spiritual understanding, and show how far they fell short of perfection! He said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." Again, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you. That ye resist not evil;" and again, "I say unto you, Love your enemies." And so throughout this sermon, as well as in all his teachings, Jesus pointed uncompromisingly to perfection as the only right standard. He did not say: If you can, it is well to love your enemies. You must be as good as you can. It is better not to judge. No! He declared, "Love your enemies;" "Be ye therefore perfect;" "Judge not."
Who will strive for that which he believes to be unattainable? One of the mesmeric phases of the Adam-dream is the belief that evil is such a mighty power that only a degree of goodness is possible of attainment in the present stage of existence. This belief that man's possibilities for good are limited, which is based on the premise that he is mortal and material, and is swayed alternately by good and evil influences,—this belief has worked to paralyze the spiritual activity which always manifests itself in successful efforts to overthrow the belief in everything unlike good, unlike God.
