DISCOURSE: 1288 THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE HUMBLE Matthew 5:1. _And seeing the 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, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1289 CHRISTIAN MEEKNESS Matthew 5:5. _Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth_. WHILST it is acknowledged on all hands, that Christianity far surpasses all other religions in the sublimity of its doctrines, few are aware how much it excels them also in the purity of its pr... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1290 HUNGERING AND THIRSTING AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS Matthew 5:6. _Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled_. MEN naturally desire happiness: but they know not in what it is to be found. The philosophers of old wearied themselves in vain to f... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1291 THE REWARD OF MERCIFULNESS Matthew 5:7. _Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy_. THERE can be no doubt but that every Minister should set forth the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel with frequency and firmness. If he lay not the foundation well, he can never hope to h... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1292 PURITY OF HEART Matthew 5:8. _Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God_. THERE is nothing in which mankind more generally imagine happiness to consist than in the uncontrolled indulgence of their passions. It is probable that among those who looked for the establishmen... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1293 THE PEACE-MAKERS Matthew 5:9. _Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of God_. RELIGION is altogether a practical thing: it has its foundation indeed in principles; but it has a superstructure of dispositions and actions, which are necessary both to its... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1294 PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE Matthew 5:10. _Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rej... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1295 CHRISTIANS THE SALT OF THE EARTH Matthew 5:13. _Ye are the salt of the earth: but. if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men_. LITTLE do the world think how much they ar... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1296 CHRISTIANS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD Matthew 5:14. _Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine be... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1297 THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS CONFIRMED BY CHRIST Matthew 5:17. _Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1298 THE DANGER OF LITTLE SINS Matthew 5:19. _Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven_. I... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1299 EVANGELIC AND PHARISAIC RIGHTEOUSNESS COMPARED Matthew 5:20. _For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven_. IT would be a gratification to many to know the lowest... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1300 CHRIST’S EXPOSITION OF THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT Matthew 5:21. _Ye have heard that it was said by_ [Note: It should rather be “to.” See Whitby on the place.]_ them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that who... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1301 THE NECESSITY OF SEEKING RECONCILIATION WITH MEN Matthew 5:23. _Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come an... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1302 THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING RECONCILIATION WITH GOD Matthew 5:25. _Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say u... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1303 OUR LORD’S EXPOSITION OF THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT Matthew 5:27. _Ye have heard that it was said by_ [to] _them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart_.... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1304 THE NECESSITY OF MORTIFYING EVERY SIN Matthew 5:29. _If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut i... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1305 DIVORCES FORBIDDEN Matthew 5:31. _It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: hut I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall mar... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1306 SWEARING FORBIDDEN Matthew 5:33. _Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1307 RETALIATION FORBIDDEN Matthew 5:38. _Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: hut whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man trill sue thee at the law... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1308 LIBERALITY ENJOINED Matthew 5:42. _Give to him that asketh thee; and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away_. TO render good for evil is a duty of indispensable obligation; and many commentators consider it as particularly enjoined in the words which we have just re... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1309 LOVE TO ENEMIES ENJOINED Matthew 5:43. _Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and perse... [ Continue Reading ]
DISCOURSE: 1310 CHRISTIANS DO MORE THAN OTHERS Matthew 5:47. _What do ye more than others?_ OUR Lord is here rescuing the law from the false glosses with which the Scribes and Pharisees had obscured it. It is quite a mistake to imagine that he extended the law beyond its original meaning. The law w... [ Continue Reading ]