_POOR IN SPIRIT_ ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 5:3 It must have been an hour never to have been forgotten when Jesus, on that Mount, which was ever afterwards to be named, after His words, ‘The Mount of Beatitudes,’ ‘opened His mouth,’ and began H... [ Continue Reading ]
_COMFORT FOR THE MOURNERS_ ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.’ Matthew 5:4 Not all sorrow wins this blessedness. There is a sorrow which is hard, which cherishes resentment against God, which broods over itself and resolves to be hopeless; such sorrow brings no comfort. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE MEEK AND THEIR REWARD_ ‘Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.’ Matthew 5:5 What is the secret of meekness? Conquest of self. I. VICTORY OVER SELF.—Think of the example of Moses. Ruler, Legislator, Poet, and best of all, Saint! Who can help admiring him? But his greatest v... [ Continue Reading ]
_HUNGERING AND THIRSTING_ ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall he filled.’ Matthew 5:6 What does this mean for us? I. FOR OURSELVES.—Remember that the blessing, the high place in the Kingdom, the real attainment of what they long for, is for those who... [ Continue Reading ]
_MERCIFULNESS IN PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE_ ‘Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.’ Matthew 5:7 The mercifulness of the text is a principle and a grace. It comes from the happy sense of forgiveness. It is the mercifulness of one who not only seeks to obtain mercy, but who has obtain... [ Continue Reading ]
_PURITY OF HEART_ ‘Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.’ Matthew 5:8 The Beatitudes portray the ideal of the Christian life. They lay down the conditions of something more than happiness, something higher, more enduring—blessedness. I. PURITY OF HEART.—This is the simplest and... [ Continue Reading ]
_PEACE AND PEACEMAKERS_ ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’ Matthew 5:9 The Lord Jesus is the ‘Prince of Peace,’ because wherever He comes He makes people _ love_ peace, _ seek_ peace, and _ keep_ the peace. If He comes into your soul and reigns there, He... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PERSECUTED_ ‘Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 5:10 I. The saints have always been persecuted. II. The world hates them because they are not of the world. III. Their ‘names are in the Book of Life.’ IV.‘Theirs is... [ Continue Reading ]
_PROTECTION ON EARTH: REWARD IN HEAVEN_ ‘Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you: … great is your reward in heaven.’ Matthew 5:11 Revelation 7:2, portion for Epistle for All Saints’ Day, should be read in connection with this Beatitude. Our Lord’s first offers, His first promises and calls, te... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHRISTIAN IN SOCIETY_ ‘Ye are the salt of the earth.’ Matthew 5:13 Our present topic is the Christian in society. The words of the text were spoken to those whose social surroundings were far less favourable than ours. We may indeed be thankful that for us the world around us is not so vile... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE_ ‘Ye are the light of the world.… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ Matthew 5:14; Matthew 5:16 These words contain, in an image at once as simple and as beautiful as Nature could sup... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CITY ON THE HILL_ ‘A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.’ Matthew 5:14 How strange and exaggerated such language must have sounded to that rude and rough company which first heard it. Some turned away. Yet it all came true. Those disciples who sat on the Mount did go forth, did mould... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE_ ‘Ye are the light of the world.… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ Matthew 5:14; Matthew 5:16 These words contain, in an image at once as simple and as beautiful as Nature could sup... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE FAILURE OF THE PHARISEES_ ‘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.’ Matthew 5:20 Though many of the Pharisees, and more especially the scribes and other chief men amo... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE SIN OF ANGER_ ‘Ye have heard that it was said by 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 whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his b... [ Continue Reading ]
_REVERENCE FOR THE HOLY NAME_ ‘Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou … shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all,’ etc. Matthew 5:33 According to the Quaker view, our Blessed Lord forbids all oaths, whether promissory or evidenti... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRISTIAN TRUTHFULNESS_ ‘Let your communication be Yea, yea.’ Matthew 5:37 The main object of our Divine Lord here is to impress upon us the supreme and critical importance of Candour, Sincerity, Transparency, Accuracy, and Truthfulness in all our speech, conversation, and mental attitude. Let y... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS ENEMIES_ ‘I say unto you, Love your enemies.’ Matthew 5:44 It is one of the signs of the Divine originality of Christ that in the midst of a condition of society which throughout the world was based on national selfishness and racial hatred, He ordered the citizens of His k... [ Continue Reading ]
_MORAL PERFECTION_ ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ Matthew 5:48 If we are apt to grow self-complacent, to thank God we are not as other men are, but far better, it arises from the low standards we set before us. Now our Lord lifts up our thoughts far... [ Continue Reading ]