In the sermon on the mount, Christ presented before His disciples the far-reaching principles of the law of God. He taught His hearers that the law was transgressed by the thoughts before the evil desire was carried out in actual commission. We are under obligation to control our thoughts, and to bring them into subjection to the law of God. The noble powers of the mind have been given to us by the Lord, that we may employ them in contemplating heavenly things. God has made abundant provision that the soul may make continual progression in the divine life. He has placed on every hand agencies to aid our development in knowledge and virtue; and yet, how little these agencies are appreciated or enjoyed! How often the mind is given to the contemplation of that which is earthly, sensual, and base! We give our time and thought to the trivial and commonplace things of the world, and neglect the great interests that pertain to eternal life. The noble powers of the mind are dwarfed and enfeebled by lack of exercise on themes that are worthy of their concentration. [Philippians 4:8 quoted.]{3BC 1145.2}

I bjergprædiken præsenterede Kristus de vidtrækkende principper i Guds lov for sine disciple. Han underviste Sine tilhørere og sagde at loven kunne overtrædes af tanker der bygger på et ondt ønske, som føres ud i livet. Vi er forpligtiget til at kontrollere vore tanker og underlægge dem Guds lov. Herren har givet os sindets ædle kræfter, så de kan bruges til at tænke over himmelske ting. Gud har gjort overmådige tilvejebringelser, så sjælen til stadighed vokser i guddommelig liv. Overalt har han sat agenter der hjælper os til at udvikle os i kundskab og dydighed; og dog, hvor lidt påskønnes disse agenter eller har glæde af dem! Hvor ofte hengiver sindet sig ikke til det som er jordisk, sensuelt og basisk! Vi giver vor tid og tanke til trivielle og tarvelige ting i verden, og forsømmer de store interesser som angår d et evige liv. Sindets ædlere kræfter forklejnes og svækkes fordi der ikke arbejdes med temaer det ville være værd for dem at koncentrere sig om. [Fil. 4,8 citeret.]