Matthew 5:1-2

And taught them.

The Disciples

I. Who they are, not the rich, gay, self-asserting, satisfied. It. Their peculiar felicity.

1. Secure.

2. Manifold.

3. Ever-enlarging.

III. Their beneficent influence.

1. One effect of such a character is to provoke resistance.

2. But there comes out a more pleasing effect, “salt,” “light.”

3. Is your character such as the Saviour describes? (Sermons by the Monday Cloth.)

The Preacher

Jesus Christ was every way ennobled and qualified for the work of the ministry.

I. Christ was an intelligent preacher. He

(1) had the spirit without measure (John 3:34);

(2) Knew how to speak a word in due season, when to humble, when to comfort. He

(3) understood what doctrine would best suit with them; as the husbandman can tell what sort of grain is proper for such a soil.

II. Christ was a powerful preacher. He

(1) spake with authority;

(2) could set men’s sins before them, and show them their very hearts.

(3) He preached to the conscience;

(4) breathed as much zeal as eloquence: He often touched upon the heart-strings.

III. Christ was a successful preacher.

1. He had the art of converting souls.

2. Many believed on Him.

IV. Christ was a lawful preacher.

(1) He had His unction from His Father, so

(2) His mission. (Thomas Watson.)

The Pulpit

Christ expounds on the mount. From whence observe that Christ’s ministers, according to His pattern, must embrace every opportunity of doing good.

I. Their commission.

(1) God hath entrusted them as ambassadors. As an ambassador waits for a day of audience, and then faithfully and impartially delivers the mind of his prince, so

(2) Christ’s ministers, having a commission delegated to them to negotiate for souls, should be glad when there is a day of audience, that they may

(3) impart the mind and will of Christ to His people.

II. Their titles.

1. God’s seeds-men (1 Corinthians 9:11). Therefore they must upon all occasions use the blessed seed of the Word.

2. Stars: therefore they must shine by word and doctrine, in the firmament of the Church.

3. Christ calls them the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), therefore they must be always giving forth their lustre. (Thomas Watson.)

The occasion

I. Christ’s ministers must catch at all occasions of doing good to others, in regard of the work they are about, and that is, saving of souls.

1. The soul is a flower of eternity, here in the bud, in heaven fully ripe and blown.

2. It is one of the richest pieces of embroidery God ever made; the understanding bespangled with light; the will invested with liberty; the affections, like musical instruments, tuned with the finger of the Holy Ghost.

3. The soul is Christ’s partner, the angels’ familiar. Oh, how zealously industrious should Christ’s ministers be to save these souls!

II. Christ’s ministers, seeing the multitude must ascend the mount, because so many emissaries of Satan wait to subvert souls.

1. Ministers must not only be pastors, but praeliatores; in one hand holding the

(1) bread of life, and feed the flock of God; in the other hand they must hold the

(2) sword of the Spirit, and fight against error.

III. Christ’s ministers should wait for all opportunities of soul service.

(1) Never did pilot meet with so many euroclydons and cross winds in a voyage as the

(2) spiritual pilots of God’s Church do, when they are transporting souls to heaven. (Thomas Watson.)

The Sermon

I. Some hearers have bad memories like leaking vessels; all the precious wine of holy doctrine poured in, runs out presently. Ministers cannot find a truth so fast as others can lose it.

(1) How many truths have they been robbed of which might have been so many death-bed cordials!

(2) If the Word preached slides so fast out of the memory, ministers had need go oftener up the preaching mount, that at least some truth may abide.

II. The ears of many hearers are stopped with cares of the world, that the Word preached will not enter.

(1) If a man be in a mill, though you speak never so loud to him, he doth not hear you for the noise of the mill.

(2) We preach to men about matters of salvation, but the mill of worldly business makes such a noise that they cannot hear.

(3) Therefore ministers need often ascend the mount, and lift up their voices like a trumpet, that the deaf ear may hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches.

III. Others have a stone in their hearts. Ministers must, if possible, pierce the heart of stone. When the earth is sun-scorched, it is so hard and crusted together that a shower of rain will not soften it; there must be shower after shower before it will be moist or fertile. So the hardened heart oft needs precept upon precept. Our doctrine must distil as dew, etc. (Deuteronomy 32:2). They that are teachers shall shine-not as lamps or tapers, but as stars; not as planets, but fixed stars in the firmament of glory for ever. (Thomas Watson.)

Introductory

I. The illustrious personage introduced to us.

1. He is wonderful in Person.

2. His extraordinary condescension.

3. His deep humiliation.

4. The work He came to accomplish.

II. The interesting objects which attract His attention. “The multitudes,” etc. Many circumstances rendered them interesting.

1. They were God’s creatures.

2. They were of the human race.

3. They were endowed with rational faculties.

4. They were immortal creatures.

5. They were the creatures He came to save.

III. The line of conduct which our Lord pursued.

1. “He went up into a mountain;” convenient for Him, and free from noise.

2. “He sat down.” The priests of the Mosaic economy sat down to deliver their instructions.

3. He opened His mouth and taught.”

(1) What did He teach? Purity of worship; pure morality.

(2) How did He teach? With simplicity; with authority; with tenderness. Give attentive ear to all our Lord has taught; be doers of the Word. (J. Jordan.)

Christ a Teacher

I. The character of Jesus as a Teacher. Greater than the prophets or the angels. He possessed infinite knowledge and wisdom, holiness and truth, goodness and love, condescension and patience. He enforced and ratified all by Divine power and authority.

II. The subjects of His instructions. They were all important, chiefly practical, perfect and abiding.

III. The claims of Christ as a Teacher. Profound reverence, intense attention, highest gratitude, prompt obedience. (Types and metaphors.)

A concise view of the beatitudes

They all agree in three things.

1. They are all spiritual.

2. They are all unpopular.

3. They are all present. (F. Wagstaff.)

I. Happiness. Nine of these verses begin with “blessed.” The meaning of that word. Jesus came to bring happiness (Luke 2:14). “How to be happy” is everybody’s question. Jesus answers it in these “‘ beatitudes.”

II. True happiness is within. Not in pleasure, wealth, etc.

III. This happiness is endowed with many promises.

IV. This happiness may continue in adverse circumstances (vers. 10-12).

V. Such happiness is diffusive (vers. 13-16). (W. O. Simpson.)

The Christian character

I. Christian character, or the proper disposition for Christ’s disciples.

II. The influence which such character is sure to exert.

III. The persecutions which such characters must expect to meet with.

IV. The effort we must make to secure the exertion of good influence. Learn

(1) That the world may honour the strong and self-asserting, but Christ honours the meek;

(2) that only the penitent and the humble can receive forgiveness;

(3) that those who are forgiven will want to be made pure and righteous;

(4) that they must not wander if earnest piety brings outward persecution; and

(5) that if we have won any graces and virtues we must earnestly watch over them, and nourish them, lest they should be lost.