The Sermon on the Mount discusses various ways people can follow Jesus to go to heaven. In the first part the Beatitudes are discussed. In today's society these teachings mean almost nothing. However, they are believable. For example: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." No one should interpret this literally, I mean of course that if you follow up a situation with a humble act of kindness, you will not immediately gain a share of the land to call your own. However it can be assumed that Jesus' figurative interpretation meant the simple and universal knowledge that can be applied to many different situations today, namely that for every good deed one is rewarded or what goes around comes around. For most of the Beatitudes this saying can be followed. As for the rest of the teachings such as "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted", one can use common sense to interpret the message evident in that particular Beatitude. Therefore, these teachings can be lived when taken day by day, in our current society. No one can deny that it would not be easy for an individual living in our day to follow all the Beatitudes. Even though we expect it, because we as humans are so imperfect, it's not a piece of cake. Take for example a man who works at a very prestigious law firm in New York City, everyone who works at that law firm is inferior to him and he is basically making money by the second. If he has to fire someone, he will not hesitate to think of the Beatitude that says: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy." All he wants to achieve is a successful law firm, with fewer men who make mistakes like the one he wants to fire, and more men who can bring in a lot more money for him and his law firm. Instead of thinking about how maybe these mistakes were petty and can be corrected with further training or being kind and forgiving towards this employee like a real man and boss should be, he will think about how he wants him OUT so he can bring in a new and flawless man IN. Anything to further his company's reputation, but once again he is driven by wealth, which is not the right way to lead life at all. Maybe he should think about that Bliss, but in today's world there is a 100% guarantee that a man in that kind of position will not be. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Later in the passage, it says that Jesus expects everyone to love their enemies. This is a concept that everyone is familiar with, but again, almost no one will actually live their life according to that teaching. There are so many cruel and harsh people in the world today. When someone is treated like dirt, the last thing on their mind is forgiveness and abandonment. Instead, in place of those moral demands of Jesus, there is vengeance, anger and deviance. Of course, over time, an argument or just a situation in general that has caused people to become enemies can eventually lead to a possible reconciliation, but unfortunately it is never a permanent thing. I can love my enemies, of course I can. But the question is not: can I or cannot love my enemies, it is: how do I love my enemies? Nobody knows how, most people see it as impossible. By nature we are raised with the mentality, if someone deceives you, you deceive them. It's sad but true, and some families may even be taught to react physically if someone wrongs them. It's funny because the saying goes "two wrongs don't make onereason" is known all over the world, yet people seem to ignore it completely. The way most of us deal with problems today is not moral at all, but it is the way our society has come to be. There it is hope to correct the problem, but very little hope for it. The meaning of hypocrisy is defined in two different scenarios. First, it is said that if you "give alms", that is, give to the poor. don't "blow the trumpet in front to you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, to have glory from men". Jesus is trying to explain to us that when we do something good, we should not go around boasting of having done it. He says that we will be rewarded by God because he watches about us and sees all the good things we do, there's no need to go around trying to get attention for something good you've done, it's almost as if you've never done good action in the first place or it seems like you didn't think to what you did, you did it simply out of the gratitude you knew you would receive later. the second example that Jesus uses referring to hypocrisy concerns fasting. Emphasize that during the fasting period we should never remain with that expression on our face. The look of a "sad face", which clearly gives the impression that we don't want to do it and that we are only doing it because we have to, as if to expect pity from everyone around us while we fast. We can't sit and complain to everyone while we fast because that absolutely defeats the purpose of the entire sacrifice we are trying to make. I think hypocrisy like in the examples above is ridiculous. I mean, why preach one thing and do another. Why sit there and brag about how you believe something, and when it comes time to express your faith, sit back and purposely deny your faith, just like Judas did in that story when he denied Jesus three times. I think Jesus teaches us that whatever good you can do on earth should be done out of love and from your heart. Certainly not to get attention, not to receive rewards or recognition, not to ascend to a higher position or anything like that because the only rewards we need and will get in due time, are those from God Himself. These examples of doing selfless things for others, such as giving alms and making sacrifices for God such as fasting during the Lenten season, may be hypocritical expressions or they may be done with truth and sincere intention from our hearts. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In life, it's hard to say what I value most. I appreciate many things for different reasons. I appreciate my mother for bringing me into the world and supporting me in everything I do and for generally being there with unconditional love whenever I need it. I appreciate my best friend, for loving me no matter how hard it is, for supporting me when I encounter difficult times in my life. I appreciate God; I always turned to him both in church and at home praying in my bed. And you know what, more often than not he honestly answered my prayers or helped me when I asked him to help me. I know that if I am confused and can't find my way, he will be there, but I also know that sometimes he is unable to answer prayers because it may not be the right time for things to go right. It's all a matter of fate and destiny, I guess. At least that's how I've always seen it. I suppose it's just these three things that I appreciate the most, because they've helped me get to where I am today. If it wasn't for them I would be completely lost. What do I do darling? I treasure love and.