Note: I read the Bible to consider whether a specific passage comports to my weak-comprehension of the perhaps 5,000-year-old Sumerian philosophy expressed by Hebrew scholars 3,000 years ago in Genesis 1:28: Female& male-human-being can& may, independent of other entities, constrain political chaos on earth. I think the next Bible canon should include the law codes of Sumer.
I perceive that the 10,000-year-old Sumer civilization ought to be considered, in order to increase civic-integrity while appreciating private spiritual pursuits in 2022 and beyond.
Matthew 5
(My
comments bracketed with yellow
highlight.)
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside
and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he
began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
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 be shown 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 because of
righteousness,
for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [To this point, I think Jesus is grooming his disciples ---appealing to
their nobler motives, borrowing from Dale Carnegie --- with the people as
witnesses.]
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. [I perceive this a quid pro quo based on opinion. When is
someone’s appreciative caution invoked by Jesus? I don’t trust Matthew’s quote
of Jesus.] 12 Rejoice and be glad, because
great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the
prophets who were before you. [Referring to “before Abraham was born I am”, Jesus may have visited
people Matthew calls “prophets”. Matthew may not have known them all, for
example, Agathon, quoted by Plato 460 years before Jesus was born. Agathon’s
speech, in “Symposium” seems worthy of a SS lesson. It also reminds me that
“Before Abraham was born I am” extends both backward and forward.]
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything,
except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. [I do not agree with this idea at all. The human-being
has the potential to perfect his or her unique intentions and achievements
before body& mind stop functioning.]
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill
cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp
and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light
to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let
your light shine before others [Never fear civic integrity: I write blogs to not subjugate myself to
“scholarship” and other licensure stonewalling. Obviously, I find it rewarding
to claim that independence. And there’s no such thing as religious integrity,
because it is founded in mystery.], that they may see your good
deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. [In V.11, it seems your light should shine because
of Jesus. In reverting to “the Father” is Matthew bemused about who Jesus is? Does
he cite the Father to try to avoid persecution because of Jesus?]
The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For
truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter,
not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until
everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who
sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others
accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever
practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of
heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your
righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you
will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. [If Jews believe keeping the law merits heaven, this
paragraph seems anti-Semitic. If it is, civic-citizens ought to be cautious
about judging citizens who do not appreciate the practical Jesus --- the Jesus
discernable by living people.]
Murder
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago,
‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to
judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is
angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who
says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says,
‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and
there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave
your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then
come and offer your gift. [I
am suspicious of altar instructions, because elsewhere Jesus advocates building
character rather than materialism. And philanthropy is a way of re-distributing
U.S. taxation without legislative oversight; I oppose it. Matthew 6:21 applies
to churches as well as to citizens: “For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.”]
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking
you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary
may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer,
and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell
you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. [It’s not that easy in 2022.]
Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit
adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone
who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his
heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to
stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one
part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And
if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It
is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go
into hell. [The practical
Jesus is more realistic than Matthew’s seeming adolescence. What’s at stake is
objectification of women for sexual fantasy. An authentic man perceives every
woman a potential crowd, with up to 400 eggs to produce during her fertile
years. By no imagination would he engage the crowd for sexual satisfaction.]
Divorce
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give
her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone
who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of
adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. [It’s not that simple. If a
spouse’s conduct is ruining the children’s future; hears the complaint without
expressing consideration, remorse, repentance, and reform; then resumes the
practice, the responsible spouse must take civil action.]
Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all [Why are most U.S. President’s so arrogant? I think it’s because Christians accommodate religious arrogance. I don’t think Jesus-practitioners would accommodate oaths.]: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. [I doubt Jesus spoke “city of the Great King”.] 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ [Does this reference a Sumer code of law?] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. [Does anyone trust Matthew on this report? For example, the moment I realize a person is heavily under narcotics, I leave the scene.] If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. [From cheek slapping on, there’s a measure of cautious value in these ideas, provided you appreciatively caution an offender. A wayward citizen needs the chance to reform.]
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But
I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that
you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on
the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you,
what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing
that? 47 And if you greet only your own people,
what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be
perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. [This may be the most difficult message attributed
to Jesus. Here’s my take on it.
Human beings face necessity& justice: shared
subjectivity to physics& progeny with potential to practice, facilitate,
and encourage perfect choices --- mimic the practical Jesus. Enemies and
persecutors are fellow-citizens encouraged to reform. However, evil, which
Matthew did not address, must be eradicated.
Love is often inappropriate, because it is not
wanted by the other party. Appreciation is a better goal, dependents seeking to
reform are appreciable, and evil cannot be appreciated. Mutual appreciation is
a can& may, but love is not practicable without appreciation& fidelity.
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s opinion is that Jesus was a
man who asserted that a human-being can perfect their unique person. Read
“Divinity School Address”, 1838. Emerson’s encouragement to “virtue” or
civic-integrity has been repressed, now for 184 years, by churches that
otherwise praise Emerson.
Further, V48 seems a refrain of Genesis 1:28’s,
provide order& prosperity in the image of God. This is evidence for a
possible Jesus message, “Before Abraham was born I am”. Jesus may be the author
of Genesis 1 and its God. I don’t think so but don’t know
the-ineluctable-truth. Ineluctable means “not to be avoided, changed, or
resisted”, merriam-webster. com.
The above concerns can& may appeal to most
people’s experiences& observations. However, the person who hopes the Bible they believe is the infallible
word of the entity that judges the consequences of human choice will find a way
to castigate the civically-concerned fellow-citizen along with his/her opinion,
just as Emerson was banned from Harvard for 30 years. And surely R. E. Lee in
1856 understood Frederic Douglass’s 1852 statement, “There is not a man beneath the canopy of heaven, that
does not know that slavery is wrong for him”. We know the
fierceness of Bible belief from 2,000 years of divergent chaos, especially in
the USA, where Christianity’s European kings, after 15th century
papal bulls, traded with African kings who captured national neighbors as property
for sale. No nation may discern the evil Christianity has wrought more than the
USA. The practical Jesus can& may inspire most people to reform.
I agree that Jesus meant it, if he suggested that human-beings can& may perfect themselves.]
On Freedom
I happened to respond to a quora question regarding Gibran’s “On Freedom”. The poem is posted below [with my comments].
Kahlil Gibran -
1883-1931
And an orator said, Speak to us of Freedom. And he answered: At the city gate and by your fireside I have seen you prostrate yourself and worship your own freedom, Even as slaves humble themselves before a tyrant and praise him though he slays them. Ay, in the grove of the temple and in the shadow of the citadel I have seen the freest among you wear their freedom as a yoke and a handcuff. And my heart bled within me; for you can only be free when even the desire of seeking freedom becomes a harness to you, and when you cease to speak of freedom as a goal and a fulfilment. You shall be free indeed when your days are not without a care nor your nights without a want and a grief, But rather when these things girdle your life and yet your rise above them naked and unbound. And how shall you rise beyond your days and nights unless you break the chains which you at the dawn of your understanding have fastened around your noon hour? In truth that which you call freedom is the strongest of these chains, though its links glitter in the sun and dazzle your eyes. [I think “truth” is unintentionally vague. And “the-ineluctable-truth” is accurate& precise, even though often unknown. Ineluctable means “not to be avoided, changed, or resisted. The hyphens invite the reader/listener to not separate even one word from the expression.]
And what is it but fragments of your own self you would discard that you may become free? If it is an unjust law you would abolish, that law was written with your own hand upon your own forehead. You cannot erase it by burning your law books nor by washing the foreheads of your judges, though you pour the sea upon them. And if it is a despot you would dethrone, see first that his throne erected within you is destroyed. For how can a tyrant rule the free and the proud, but for a tyranny in their own freedom and a shame in their own pride? And if it is a care you would cast off, that care has been chosen by you rather than imposed upon you. And if it is a fear you would dispel, the seat of that fear is in your heart and not in the hand of the feared. [The human-being develops internal constrains that must be released before they can accept& limit external constraints.]
Verily all things move within your being in constant half embrace, the desired and the dreaded, the repugnant and the cherished, the pursued and that which you would escape. [Improve the syntax with “the cherished and the repugnant”.] These things move within you as lights and shadows in pairs that cling. And when the shadow fades and is no more, the light that lingers becomes a shadow to another light. And thus your freedom when it loses its fetters becomes itself the fetter of a greater freedom.[The “shadow to another light” metaphor seems excellent yet lame, absent the “greater”. I suggest this thought: Independence from both internal freedom and external freedom empowers management of physics& it’s progeny. More concisely, with independence to freedom, metaphysics yields to physics.]
[For Christians, privately accepting Jesus’ spiritual-grace empowers public-fidelity to his civic lessons.]
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