A Study of the Sermon on the Mount : With Special Reference to Matthew 5 : 21 - 48

In the early Christian Church, the central emphasis was put on the death and resurrection of Jesus rather than on the Sermon on the Mount (Manson, "Sayings", pp. 9-11). However, the teaching of Jesus does occupy an important and significant position in the Gospel traditions, because it is needed in the pastoral work as well as in the mission of the Church. It has been noticed that in the writings of the Church Fathers of the first three centuries, the Sermon on the Mount is quoted more frequently than any other three consecutive chapters in the Bible. The same is true in major twentieth-century commentaries. The unique place of the Sermon has continued to be recognized in modern times, not only within the Christian Church, but also by outsiders (McArthur, "Sermon on the Mount", p. 12). People may not agree with the Sermon, but they cannot ignore it (Hunter, "Pattern", P. 9). And we believe that a study of it will help in pastoral work as well as in the mission of the Church among the Chinese people who have been influenced more or less by traditional Confucian moral principles.