[Illustration:  Then, on the mountain, he preached]

Before all the people who had come to hear him, Jesus called these twelve men to stand by his side.  Then, on the mountain, he preached to these disciples and to the great company of people.  The disciples stood beside him, and the great crowd of people stood in front, while Jesus spoke.  What he said on that day is called “The Sermon on the Mount.”  Matthew wrote it down, and you can read it in his gospel, in the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters.  Jesus began with these words to his disciples: 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are they that mourn:  for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek:  for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful:  for they shall obtain mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers:  for they shall be called the children of God.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“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 exceedingly glad:  for great is your reward in heaven:  for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

“Ye are the salt of the earth:  but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

“Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

It was in this Sermon on the Mount that Jesus told the people how they should pray, and he gave them the prayer which we all know as the Lord’s Prayer.

And this was the end of the Sermon: 

“Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 

“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 

“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell:  and great was the fall of it.”

THE STORY OF THE MIRACLE WORKER