Matthew was an eyewitness; Luke wasn't.
In context, both Gospels say Christ was speaking to a multitude of His disciples and they all heard Him
In context, as you describe it, Jesus was calling the curious crowd "the light of the world." I don't think so.
What's the purpose of excluding the multitude from the Beatitudes?
That He calls someone "the light of the world."
Why would Christ ignore the throngs of eager followers who came to hear Him and touch Him, and instead whisper the Sermon on the Mount to only a select few?
For the same reason He spoke in parables. He wasn't there to teach the crowds, but to teach His disciples. For the crowds, Christ provided miracles.
Don't you see how that perspective keeps the spoken truth of Christ from men as individuals and instead places it secretly among a small hierarchy of men who then decide to whom and when to reveal it?
There you go again. I have never heard anyone in the Church talk about this. I have no clue how the Church sees it. I read it and I see it as I read it.
I ask myself "Would Christ call ordinary crowds the light of the world?" Not all are teachers and not all are apostles. He picked His disciples and He taught them the secrets of the Kingdom of God.
When He was among others, He spoke in parables lest they understood Him.
It has nothing to do with the hierarchy of men in the Church as you are hinting (again). I am only doing what every Protestant does every day: read as I see it. If you disagree, show me why would Christ call the crowds "the light of the world." Don't give me a sermon.
In all my life I've never heard anyone, Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox, say the Sermon on the Mount was delivered only to the Apostles
Are you the measure of the world?
You're in a minority of one here, Kosta
And your point is?
The protestant’s favorite Saint,Saint Augustine sees things the same way as what you’re saying as well
“”The beginning, then, of this sermon is introduced as follows: “And when He saw the great multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, HIS DISCIPLES CAME UNTO HIM: and He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying.” If it is asked what the “mountain” means, it may well be understood as meaning the greater precepts of righteousness; for there were lesser ones which were given to the Jews. Yet it is one God who, through His holy prophets and servants, according to a thoroughly arranged distribution of times, gave the lesser precepts to a people who as yet required to be bound by fear; and who, through His Son, gave the greater ones to a people whom it had now become suitable to set free by love.””
-Saint Augustine ;sermon on the mount book 1
From Luke 6 (which comports with Matthew)...
And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all." "a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
So unless Luke is a liar, we learn this wasn't just a "curious crowd." These were people who if they weren't believers already, they sure were after they were healed since Christ healed "them all."
Do you know of anyone who was not a believer after Christ healed them?
Dr.E: What's the purpose of excluding the multitude from the Beatitudes?
KOSTA: That He calls someone "the light of the world."
You don't think Christ referred to believers as "the light of the world?" You think that designation only went to the Apostles?
This is getting sillier...
And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them... Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life... As he spake these words, many believed on him..." -- John 8:1-2;12;30 "Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
So we see that those who believe in Christ will "have the light of life" and thus become like Christ, the "light of the world."
But to others among them He said...
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." -- John 8:43;48 "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word...
For the same reason He spoke in parables. He wasn't there to teach the crowds, but to teach His disciples. For the crowds, Christ provided miracles.
What peculiar thoughts. Christ meant something different by speaking in parables than He did by performing miracles? Weren't both a means of convincing those whom God had given eyes to see? Christ spoke in parables because Christ came to save the lost sheep of Israel, and every one of them will hear Him, and know Him as God and follow Him because God gives them ears to hear and a new heart to understand.
Miracles weren't to influence those who would never have faith; miracles were to further convince those to whom God gave faith.
I ask myself "Would Christ call ordinary crowds the light of the world?" Not all are teachers and not all are apostles. He picked His disciples and He taught them the secrets of the Kingdom of God.
So you imagine Christ came to earth to teach the secrets of the Kingdom of God to only His apostles???
No wonder you believe in the magick of the priesthood and an alchemy of the Lord's Supper. Read Luke 12...
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do... And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is." -- Luke 12:1-4;54"In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
So there's no division between Christ's words to believers and Christ's words to His disciples. They were one and the same. No "secret knowledge" imparted to the Apostles that is not given to every one who believes in Him.
I have never heard anyone in the Church talk about this. I have no clue how the Church sees it. I read it and I see it as I read it...I am only doing what every Protestant does every day: read as I see it.
That's not what Protestants do. Protestants do not dismiss Luke because he did not witness the Sermon on the Mount, as you have done. Protestants don't pick and choose indiscriminately, and then come to some "personal" conclusion. Protestants gauge every thought and belief on the word of God. And if we disagree, we come prepared to debate our differences so that the truth is more clearly articulated.
But now I realize the many Bible-believing Christians on this thread are not debating with a theology or a church or a religion or a set of beliefs, but just with one man and his peculiar take on the Bible.
Which is strange for one who supposedly believes that the EO church is the purest form of Christianity. Why not tell us what this "pure church" believes since you say you are a member of it rather than making it up as you go along?