OUR SAVIOR‘S MORAL COURAGE
1.THE delivery of the Sermon on the Mount is probably the most striking example of moral courage which the world has ever seen.There are two circumstances，which render the occasion on which it was delivered extraordinary.First，it was a very public occasion.A vast multitude from almost every part of the country were assembled.Judea，the southern province，and Galilee，the northern，were represented；so were the eastern and western shores of the river Jordan，and many distant cities and towns.
2.From all this wide extent of country a vast multitude，attracted by the fame of our Savior’s miracles，had assembled to hear what this professed messenger from heaven had to say.Again，it was probably，though not certainly，a very early occasion，perhaps the first on which the great principles of the gospel were to be announced to men by this discourse，containing，as it does，so plain and specific an exposition of the false notions of religion then prevailing.The Savior must have known，that he was laying the foundation of that enmity which was to result in his destruction.
3.But did he shrink？Did he hold back？Did he conceal or cover over one single obnoxious feature of the truth？He knew that the report of that meeting must be spread to every part of the country.As he looked around upon his auditory，he must have seen，here one from Galilee，there another from beyond the Jordan，and again a third，who would carry his report to distant Jerusalem；and yet，thus completely exposed，instead of attempting to soften or conceal，he brought outall the distinctive features of prevailing error，and contrasted them with the pure principles of his spiritual religion，with a plainness and a point，which was exactly calculated to fix them in memory，and to circulate them most widely throughout the land.
4.It was always so.The plainness，the point，the undaunted boldness，with which he exposed hypocrisy and sin，and the clear simplicity with which he held up to view the principles of real piety，have no parallel.And yet he knew perfectly well that，in direct consequence of these things，a dark storm was gathering，which must burst in all its fury upon his unsheltered head.
5.But the enterprising and determined spirit with which Christ entered into his work，was not satisfied with his own personal exertions.He formed the extraordinary plan of sending out，simultaneously，a number of his most cordial friends and followers，to assist in making the most extensive and powerful impression possible on the community.
6.At first he sent twelve，then seventy，who went everywhere，presenting to men the simple duties of repentance for the past，and of pure and holy lives for the future.There could not have been measures more admirably adapted to accomplish the work he had to do.And they succeeded.In two or three years it was done.And every Christian，who has work to do for his Master here，should learn a lesson from the enterprise，and system，and energy，which Jesus Christ exhibited in doing his great work.
（FROM ABBOTT ）
中文阅读
1.耶稣在山上的讲道可能是世人所目睹的使人受到道德鼓励的最有冲击力的范例。这次布道之所以与众不同，有两点原因：第一点就是，这是一次发生在公共场所的公开布道。从这个国家四面八方来的群众都聚集到了这里。有来自南部省份犹太的，还有来自北方加利利的代表，以及约旦河东西两岸的民众，以及其他远方城镇的人。
2.这个地域广阔的国家的各个地方的民众，都仰慕救世主奇迹的盛名，被奇迹所吸引，纷至沓来，来听这位上帝的特派使者说些什么。还有，我不能肯定，可能是因为这是一个非常早的时刻。在这次的讲道上，一些重要的教义可能第一次对世人宣布，其中包括对当时一些流行的错误的概念进行明确的说明和专门的解释。救世主一定已经知道，他正站在敌人的基础之上，而敌人的基础就是要毁了他。
3.但是他退缩了吗？他停滞不前了吗？他掩盖了一点点应受谴责的真相了吗？他知道他的这次讲道会传遍这个国家的每个地方。当他看着到场的听众，他肯定能够看到，这边有一位听众来自加利利，那边有一位听众来自遥远的约旦，那第三个人会把他的讲道带回遥远的耶路撒冷。尽管如此，他并没有对错误进行任何粉饰和隐藏，而是进行了彻彻底底的揭露，指出了所有当时流行的教义中明显的错误，并把这些错误与他纯正的精神教义作比较。他讲得既明白晓畅又切中要害，他让这些正确的教义留在了听众的记忆中，广泛传播到了这个国家的每一寸土地上。
4.一直是这样，他讲得既明白晓畅又切中要害，他大无畏地、勇敢地揭露了虚伪和罪恶，简明扼要地坚持着真正的虔诚信条，无人能比。他心知肚明这样做的直接后果，就是那些黑暗的风暴聚集而来，狂怒地向他无遮无拦的头上大发雷霆。5.耶稣在他的工作中注入的胆识和决心还不够他发挥的。他不满足于此，于是在自己布道的同时，他还派出了最忠心的朋友和信徒，去帮助公众对教义产生最充分和最有效的认识。
6.起初他派出了十二人，而后又派出了七十人。他们来到各个地方，向人们阐述应尽的义务：忏悔过去，在未来过纯正、高尚的生活。他为了完成工作所采取的措施令人赞叹，他们成功了，不到两三年，他们就完成了任务。每一位为主服务的基督徒，也从耶稣基督进行的伟大事业中表现出的进取心、工作方法和工作干劲中，学到了自己想要的东西。
（阿博特）