Posted by Rob on June 09, 2003 at 09:57:14:
The beatitudes are heavy. I have read / listened to them over and over lately and - wow! Blessed are the poor in spirit. What does it mean to be poor in spirit? I wonder, he says to the crowd "you are the salt of the earth..." and "you are the light of the world..." was he talking as though all who were in the crowd were his followers (how can "non-believers" be the salt and light of this world)?
Jesus says that "if your right eye offends you pluck it out...if your right hand offends you cut it off, for it is better for you to enter the Kingdom of Heaven maimed then to have your whole body burn in hell". This is new testament stuff. We would have a hell of a lot of limbless people hanging around earth if that was the case. What does he mean by "offend"? Does he mean, for example, a lustful eye towards one of the opposite sex (it could happen to girls to!)? Is he serious? What does forgiveness of sins play in our lives if this is the case (i'm saying this because "pluck it out" sounds like penance more than anything else).
Lots of thought going on here. I think my brain is smoking!!
Rob.