Matthew Gospel

May the Aspirant recall the extreme fasts of all the great prophets and missionaries of the Scriptures, and particularly the fast of forty days, in the terrible solitude of the Judean desert, at the end of which the Christ had an appearance of the Prince of Darkness and the trial of His threefold temptation (Matthew Gospel, IV), or that of the failure of the Apostles in the healing of a possessed man, and of the recourse of Christ, who explained to them that certain typesof Demons can only be chased out by fasting. 

Holy Bible, Gospels according to St. Matthew, Chap. 3 St. Mark, Chap. 1 St. Luke, Chap. 3, St. John, Chap. 1. 

This detailed outline of the basic tenets and philosophy of the Fraternity of the Rose Cross is biblically based, with ample quotations from the Gospels, especially Matthew and John, and from James. Two roads are offered for man s journey The first suggests that faith alone is enough to attain enlightenment, the second asks that we make efforts and sacrifices. The Great Work is an outgrowth of the latter process"... 

In the introduction, we spoke of the importance of stars in the Bible, where stars are often signs of God s power and majesty. There is also an immense literature that attempts to come to terms with the Christmas Star represented in Matthew s Gospel. Aside from the Star of Bethlehem, most people don t realize just how pervasive the stars are in the Old and New Testaments. 

At this point, we should be reminded of the resurrection of many of the Saints, which are reported in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapt. 27, Verse 52-53. 

Nature and nurture determine behavior. Matthew wrote in his Gospel, Love your enemies. .. Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Martin Luther King said, I m sick and tired of violence. .. I m tired of hatred. I m tired of selfishness. I m tired of evil. ... 

The Sermon on the Mount provides a summary of New Testament ethical teaching (Gospel of Matthew, Chaps. 5, 6 and 7). 

See espedally Phto s Republic, Books II, III, and X. Gospel according to Matthew 5.3. 

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