Dedicated to Freedom, Civil Rights and
Justice
Zealous Representation
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
commentary
In his 1958 book, Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story, Martin
Luther King wrote that it wasn't words like "nonviolent resistance,
non-cooperation [or] passive resistance" that motivated the actions in
Montgomery; he said it was the phrase "Christian love." King wrote,
"It was the Sermon on the Mount, rather than a doctrine of passive
resistance, that initially inspired the Negroes of Montgomery to dignified
social action. It was Jesus of Nazareth that stirred the Negroes to protest with
the creative weapon of love."
In honor of Martin Luther King, I provide an excerpt from Matthew containing
that text:
1 When Jesus F30
saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples
came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, 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 will be
comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit
the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 "Blessed are the
merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 "Blessed are the
pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 "Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people
revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely F31
on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great
in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before
you.
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its
taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything,
but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 "You are the
light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No
one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the
lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the
same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good
works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the
prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For
truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, F32
not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19
Therefore, whoever breaks F33
one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same,
will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and
teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times,
"You shall not murder'; and "whoever murders shall be liable to
judgment.' 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a
brother or sister, F34
you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult F35
a brother or sister, F36
you will be liable to the council; and if you say, "You fool,' you will
be liable to the hell F37
of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if
you remember that your brother or sister F38
has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the
altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, F39
and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with
your accuser while you are on the way to court F40
with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the
guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you,
you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall not
commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at
a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is
better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be
thrown into hell. F41
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and
throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your
whole body to go into hell. F42
31 "It was also said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let
him give her a certificate of divorce.' 32 But I say to you that
anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her
to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient
times, "You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made
to the Lord.' 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either
by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for
it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37
Let your word be "Yes, Yes' or "No, No'; anything more than this
comes from the evil one. F43
38 "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an
evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40
and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41
and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42
Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to
borrow from you.
43 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may
be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil
and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the
tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your
brothers and sisters, F44
what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This passage calls to mind, an excerpt from Romans 3:
9 What then? Are we any better off? F10
No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are
under the power of sin, 10 as it is written: "There is no
one who is righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who has
understanding, there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned
aside, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness,
there is not even one." 13 "Their throats are opened
graves; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of vipers is
under their lips." 14 "Their mouths are full of cursing
and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery are in their paths, 17 and the
way of peace they have not known." 18 "There is no fear
of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are
under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be
held accountable to God. 20 For "no human being will be
justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law
comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now, apart from law, the
righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the
prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus
Christ F11
for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified
by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25
whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement F12
by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his
righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins
previously committed; 26 it was to prove at the present time that
he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. F13
27 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By
that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that a
person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. 29
Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of
Gentiles also, 30 since God is one; and he will justify the
circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same
faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means!
On the contrary, we uphold the law.
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