The Sermon On The Mount - Your Spirituality Should Start Here
A friend of mine recommended that I read "The Sermon On The Mount" by Emmet Fox.
He knew that I was interested in spirituality books, and this was before I had even considered establishing a website to promote spirituality.
He even loaned me his copy of the book so I wouldn't have to wait to start reading it.
Although my website is primarily geared to spiritual fiction books, I believe that if you have an interest in spirituality and are open-minded (the two are mutually exclusive as far as I am concerned) this book is a must read.
Whether you have been investigating and experiencing spirituality for quite some time, or are just getting into it, this book should be read at least once.
I have read it twice in the last six months, and plan to make it a required yearly read because it contains so much insight.
The book is Emmet Fox's interpretation of The Sermon On The Mount, which begins with the Eight Beatitudes.
You may not know what these are, however they begin with "Blessed are the poor in spirit...
" and also contains "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth...
" which most people are familiar with.
The author analyzes every part of The Sermon, and gives his interpretation of the literal meaning of each portion.
In the first chapter titled "What Did Jesus Teach?" he emphasizes that Jesus taught us spirituality - he did not teach that we had to go to church to pray, that we had to wear fancy robes and build temples of worship - actually he taught quite the opposite.
In Chapter 5 titled "Treasure In Heaven", one of the lessons is that you should pray in solitude, and then God will reward you openly.
Jesus also taught not to pray using "vain repetitions, as the heathen do", meaning that your prayers should be spontaneous and from within.
Emmet Fox goes on further to explain that Jesus does give us a prayer to repeat, and that is The Lord's Prayer, which is also examined by the author at the end of the copy of the book that I purchased.
I strongly recommend that you make sure the copy you read contains this addendum on The Lord's Prayer as it is well worth reading.
There will be some religious people who will dismiss this book outright as simply one man's interpretation of the teachings of Jesus.
Some of the non-religious will claim that Jesus himself did not exist, and that he has been made up by man in order to justify their own made up beliefs.
For one man to have been studied intently by so many for the last two thousand years hardly gives this last argument much merit.
To me, that would be the equivalent of people believing in 200 years that Mickey Mouse was an actual live mouse, brought to life by Walt Disney (although it could happen - I won't be here to report on it, though).
For those who do not believe in Jesus, God, heaven, etc.
this book has some powerful lessons that can be taken.
I would suggest that if you read it and choose to disregard that it is Jesus talking, and if you are certain that there is no God, you can still see that it is an excellent guide on how to get along with others, and to be grateful for those things that you have.
It may also teach you ways to get more of what you want out of life, and perhaps make you more tolerant of the beliefs of others.
Whatever your faith, belief, religion or lack thereof, I would suggest that you put this book on your list of books to read as soon as possible.
If you have read it previously, perhaps this is a reminder that you should read it again.
It is not a hard book to read (compare it to "A Course In Miracles" if you want a "full time read").
I read it a few pages at a time so it took me a couple of months to get through (both times).
I believe that this is the type of book that needs to be read like a textbook, and not an off the shelf novel.
There is no test or exam, however if you put the principles taught into practice, you will find that you can get an amazing grade on your life.
Should you have any issues with my review (or have ever had others take issue with you) I will leave you with these few sentences from Matthew, Chapter V: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
" Laughter and love, Rick Fess "The Sermon On The Mount" Author - Emmet Fox HarperCollins Publishers New York, NY http://www.
harpercollins.
com
He knew that I was interested in spirituality books, and this was before I had even considered establishing a website to promote spirituality.
He even loaned me his copy of the book so I wouldn't have to wait to start reading it.
Although my website is primarily geared to spiritual fiction books, I believe that if you have an interest in spirituality and are open-minded (the two are mutually exclusive as far as I am concerned) this book is a must read.
Whether you have been investigating and experiencing spirituality for quite some time, or are just getting into it, this book should be read at least once.
I have read it twice in the last six months, and plan to make it a required yearly read because it contains so much insight.
The book is Emmet Fox's interpretation of The Sermon On The Mount, which begins with the Eight Beatitudes.
You may not know what these are, however they begin with "Blessed are the poor in spirit...
" and also contains "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth...
" which most people are familiar with.
The author analyzes every part of The Sermon, and gives his interpretation of the literal meaning of each portion.
In the first chapter titled "What Did Jesus Teach?" he emphasizes that Jesus taught us spirituality - he did not teach that we had to go to church to pray, that we had to wear fancy robes and build temples of worship - actually he taught quite the opposite.
In Chapter 5 titled "Treasure In Heaven", one of the lessons is that you should pray in solitude, and then God will reward you openly.
Jesus also taught not to pray using "vain repetitions, as the heathen do", meaning that your prayers should be spontaneous and from within.
Emmet Fox goes on further to explain that Jesus does give us a prayer to repeat, and that is The Lord's Prayer, which is also examined by the author at the end of the copy of the book that I purchased.
I strongly recommend that you make sure the copy you read contains this addendum on The Lord's Prayer as it is well worth reading.
There will be some religious people who will dismiss this book outright as simply one man's interpretation of the teachings of Jesus.
Some of the non-religious will claim that Jesus himself did not exist, and that he has been made up by man in order to justify their own made up beliefs.
For one man to have been studied intently by so many for the last two thousand years hardly gives this last argument much merit.
To me, that would be the equivalent of people believing in 200 years that Mickey Mouse was an actual live mouse, brought to life by Walt Disney (although it could happen - I won't be here to report on it, though).
For those who do not believe in Jesus, God, heaven, etc.
this book has some powerful lessons that can be taken.
I would suggest that if you read it and choose to disregard that it is Jesus talking, and if you are certain that there is no God, you can still see that it is an excellent guide on how to get along with others, and to be grateful for those things that you have.
It may also teach you ways to get more of what you want out of life, and perhaps make you more tolerant of the beliefs of others.
Whatever your faith, belief, religion or lack thereof, I would suggest that you put this book on your list of books to read as soon as possible.
If you have read it previously, perhaps this is a reminder that you should read it again.
It is not a hard book to read (compare it to "A Course In Miracles" if you want a "full time read").
I read it a few pages at a time so it took me a couple of months to get through (both times).
I believe that this is the type of book that needs to be read like a textbook, and not an off the shelf novel.
There is no test or exam, however if you put the principles taught into practice, you will find that you can get an amazing grade on your life.
Should you have any issues with my review (or have ever had others take issue with you) I will leave you with these few sentences from Matthew, Chapter V: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
" Laughter and love, Rick Fess "The Sermon On The Mount" Author - Emmet Fox HarperCollins Publishers New York, NY http://www.
harpercollins.
com
Source...