Christian Ethics: Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. Matthew 5:12
Many times we wonder why it is important to act ethically, and Jesus tries to give us an answer to that question in the Gospel of Saint Matthew. The beatitudes expounded in the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-26 and Matthew 5:3-12) constitute the beginning of Christian ethics.
Many times people think that good and evil are points of view, but they are not: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.", Isaiah 5:20.
The beatitudes of Jesus have a precedent, Psalm 1, the Psalm of the two ways. This psalm explains that good and evil are paths, we lead a life of righteousness or a life full of sins. And these ways by the law of the harvest and sowing law have a retribution: "They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.", Hosea 8:7.
Live according to the spirit, live the gifts received, Jesus explains to us, because the gifts have a retribution, the true goods of man: eternal life, holiness and communion.
The empire of excellence, the Kingdom of God's perfections belongs to those who convert to the way of Jesus: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.", Matthew 5:7-9.
But Jesus warns us, the world is given over to sin: "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out", John 12:31.
That is why the beatitudes tell us: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.", Matthew 5:11-12.
We must act ethically, Jesus explains, because the spiritual gifts (to live the gifts is to live ethically) have a reward in this life and in the future life with the judgment of God.
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