A New Walk On An Old Path: The Sermon On The Mount

By Don Hatfield

A young man named Isaac is on his way to Jerusalem the city where his Savior gave His life for him. On a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee he meets a man named James. James was there on the day that Jesus preached to the multitudes. James relates to Isaac the words of that day while explaining there meaning. Did the Sermon on the Mount do away with the Law of Moses or did it actually step it up notch? See if you agree with his interpretation of those memorable words of Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Don Hatfield
• Release date: Apr 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310146039

Don Hatfield

Hi I am Don. My wife Nancy live in West Virginia. I am also available for speaking engagements. I have put together a series called After Salvation - Following After God. You can preview this series at followingaftergod.com. This book will also be in print in the near future. God Bless. Don

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A New Walk On An Old Path

The Sermon on the Mount

By Don Hatfield

Smashwords Edition Copyright 2014

I meet him by accident while walking along a dusty road on my way to Jerusalem to see the city where they had crucified my Lord. I had climbed up the hill to a place called Tagbha (some called this the place of solitude) overlooking the Sea of Galilee and he was sitting there looking out on the blue waters. I stopped and said hello and we began to exchange a few pleasantries about the weather and the scenery. I told him my name was Isaac and that I was a believer in the Way of Jesus the risen Savior. I was hoping to share my faith with him when he said the strangest thing, It was here. I asked him, What was here. Did something happen here? He turned his face up towards mine and said, It was here that He gave the instructions for the new way and my new walk. It was here that He spoke to us the disciples and to the multitudes who were so hungry to hear Him. He then said would you like to hear what your Savior said to them?" I stood looking at him as the realization began to set in that this man had been with Jesus. He let me stand there in my astonishment for a minute and then smiled and said my name is James. He then patted the soft grass beside him and said sit down and I will tell you what He said that day.

I sat down beside the man named James. His hair was gray, his face wrinkled showing signs of wear that seemed to be way beyond his age. There were scars on his arms and legs where he had been beaten with the whips of hatred. But his eyes glowed with a light that shined straight from heaven and his voice sang with the praises of his Savior. He then began a discourse that changed my life and the way that I lived it. I will do my best to tell it to you as James told it to me. This is the way that he began.

James said that it was a beautiful day as they came to the top of the hill and as they looked down the hillside it was covered with people waiting for Jesus to come and speak with them. It was the perfect spot for the Sea of Galilee was behind the people making it easy for them to hear Him. James said that Jesus sat down just about where we were sitting. Just the thought of that sent holy chills down my arms to think that I could be sitting right in the very same spot that Jesus sat. I realized that James knew how I felt because he put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a brotherly hug. James began again and said, Jesus called us all around Him and when we sat down the whole multitude of people also sat down. When he told me this a soft warm breeze began to blow over my shoulders out towards the blue waters of the Sea of Galilee. James spoke softly and said, It was the same on that day. The people became so quiet that you could have heard a piece of straw fall and hit the ground. James said that Jesus then began to speak and the first words that came from Him were the following, Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. He looked at me and said, Isaac, may I explain to you what Jesus meant when He said these things to us as we all sat there. May I give you a little more understanding of those heavenly words that He spoke to us on that day? I shook my head again for it was at that moment that I knew my life and the way that I lived it would never again be the same.

He then began by saying, That word blessed can also mean happy. So you might think what a strange way to start speaking to people by telling them that the poor are blessed. Isaac, when Jesus said that He meant that you by believing in Him may not have any wealth of learning and you may not be cultured as the world believes culture to be. But when you are poor in spirit you are fitted to learn of Christ and to lay hold of His heavenly treasures. Because of that you can lay hold of His royal power and His royal dignity that will be bestowed upon believers in His royal Kingdom. This royalty will be given you in the heavens where God dwells and Jesus is seated on His royal throne. At this I could not help but said to James, Oh, let me be the poorest of beggars in this world that I might be the richest of royalty in His Kingdom. James said, That is a prayer that your Father will continually answer if you will always remember that your wisdom and learning is always dependent on His teaching and guidance.

I then said to James please tell me more of that day. James then spoke these words of Jesus, Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Isaac, again He used that word blessed or happy and again He used it in a strange context. He said happy or blessed are those that mourn. What does mourning mean to you Isaac? I said I guess it means to lament or wail over something that has happened. James then said, As a believer with a spot reserved for you in Heaven why you would possibly be mourning? I sat there for a moment and then a picture of my mother and father came into my mind. I could imagine myself going to heaven and a large book being opened with names in alphabetical order written down. I was thrilled as I read my name but as I scanned down the page for my mother and father their names were not to be found. Tears began to fill my eyes as I looked at James and he knew what I was feeling and thinking. James said, Isaac we will need much comforting. We will need much consoling. We will need our Father to wrap His arms around us and hold us. He will, Isaac, He will and our tears will be forever dried as