The Kingdom of God:
The Sermon on the Mount
by Archbishop Dmitri Royster
St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1992
128 pages
Goodreads

Notes from Chapter 12:

The Lord again teaches us that an external compliance with the law is not what is required of His followers, but rather a conversion that eliminates the very desire behind the violation of the law.
p.54

Notes from Chapter 13:

A number of the Fathers of the Church [for instance Saint Augustine and Saint Justin Martyr, references given here in the book] were of the opinion that the morality of the period of the Patriarchs was far higher than that of the period that followed the escape of Israel from Egypt… Because Jews turned away from God, certain things were instituted, such as circumcision and the Sabbath, to make them remember Him and His pact with them. They point out that Noah and Melchizedek were not circumcised nor did they observe the Sabbath, yet they pleased God…
Some of the fathers saw in Christ’s teachings a restoration of the call to holiness and purity of the people before the Exodus.
p.58

Conversion to Christ and His way must bring an end to “hardness of heart,” for conversion means precisely a change of heart.
p.59

I was struck by what I highlighted in bold. I don’t remember reading this nor paying attention to this important fact!

Notes from Chapter 14:

The whole series of qualities that make man blessed –the poor in spirit, the merciful, the clean of heart, etc.– are signs of a whole new style of life.
p.61

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THESE NOTES
Any reflection on these quotes?