He was a prophet though, I can tell. Because in these words, from out of the past are the things which we need to deal with today:

He was either a prophet, or he was one who noticed how events are recurring, cyclical, as opposed to linear and happening only at one single point in time.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Does the same hold true for when one has good intentions but fails to act? that the good intentions outweigh the lack of good action?

“If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country, maybe I could understand some of these illegal injunctions. Maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges, because they haven’t committed themselves to that over there.”

http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/pub...hy/multimedia/mountaintop_excerpt.htm

It was never mentioned once, in all the years I heard about King in school. I heard one of his anti-war speeches and was just completely blown away.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/popular_requests/voice_of_king.htm

Tim, I’ve noticed too that we don’t hear much of King’s more radical sayings. As a figure he’s been co-opted and sanitized by the mainstream so as not to disrupt existing power.

So it is with most great teachers.

Luke, Chapter 7:

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.