The Mount of Beatitudes

The record of the famous Jesus' sermon that some call the Constitution of Christianity, yet some call the New Law, is recorded in two Gospels, Luke 6 and Matthew 5.

It is important to notice the Apostle Matthew tells that Jesus begins the sermon with the words:

"Do not think I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17).

The teaching that follows this statement is better understood as the interpretation or instruction of how to “fulfill the Law and the prophets”. Some see Jesus' words of "blessed are those" exactly as "happy are those".

Then this is His formula of happiness and fullness in life. Eight  times He pronounces these words, according to Matthew's record.

There is a slight topographical discrepancy in description of the location of the Sermon in the narratives of Matthew and Luke. 

"And He went up on the hill and after taking seat His disciples came by to Him" (Matthew 5:1).

"Then He came down with them and stood on a level place. And a large number of His disciples had gathered along with a vast multitude from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon” (Luke 6:17).

The discrepancy can be settled when one sees the traditional place on the Mount of Beatitudes. On top of this hill there is a wide plateau. 

Professor Bargil Pixner says, "Matthew refers to Capernaum, Chorasin and Bethsaida as the cities "in which most of His miracles had been performed"  (Matthew 11:20).

(to be continued...)