THE BEATITUDES. -- Matthew 5:1-16. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ_ -- John 1:17. TIME. --A. D. 28. PLACE. --In Galilee. Supposed to have been on Mt. Hattin,. hill south of the sea, on the road to Nazareth. Here, when the Crusaders were in Palestine,. great battle was fought be... [ Continue Reading ]
HE OPENED HIS MOUTH AND TAUGHT THEM. This is. formula indicating. solemn and authoritative utterance. The King who shall reign over the coming kingdom now opens his mouth to declare its principles. When the Lord opens his mouth we should open our ears and hearts. The whole discourse that follows,.... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM. 3. BLESSED. There follow nine beatitudes, each of which pronounces. blessing upon those who have certain characteristics. The word "blessed" is first applied to God and means more than "happy" as it has sometimes been translated. Happiness comes from earthly things; b... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN. Not all mourners, for there is "a sorrow of this world that worketh death." Godly sorrow is meant,. mourning over sinfulness. No one will seek to escape from sin until he mourns over his sinfulness. Those who thus mourn have the promise. "A broken and contrite spirit he... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK. The mild, the gentle, the tranquil, opposed to the passionate and ambitious, the kind of men who succeeded in such. kingdom as the Jews expected. In an earthly kingdom the self-seeker, the man who pushes his way, and asserts his claims is the man who gets most. In the kingdom... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HUNGER, ETC. This implies the same sense of spiritual needs as verses. and 4. Hunger is. felt want, in this case. want of righteousness before God, the righteousness that comes from the forgiveness of sins. It was after the prodigal son "came to himself," and said, ". perish w... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL. That multitude with their martial ideas of the kingdom thought that the military virtues were those that would bring blessedness, but Christ pronounces his blessings on the opposite qualities. The merciful, those who instead of resenting injury are ready to forgive, shall... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART. The Jew, under the tuition of the Pharisees, cared little for the state of the heart so that outward forms were duly kept. Religion consisted chiefly in ablutions and the strict observance of ceremonials. They taught that there was guilt in actions but took no note of... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS. Not the men who should march under the banner of. Jewish king to conquer the nations, but the men who in the name of the Prince of Peace go forth to proclaim peace and good will among men. Christ is the great peacemaker, making peace between Jew and Gentile (Colossians... [ Continue Reading ]
III. THE JOY OF PERSECUTION. 10. BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE. The Jews expected the Messiah to be. great conqueror, his kingdom to be. conquering kingdom, and its citizens to be lords among the nations, but he pronounces. blessing on those who are persecuted, not... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED WHEN MEN REVILE YOU. This is. personal application of what has just preceded and is addressed to his disciples. Some of those who listened to him were reviled by the Jews, and persecuted unto death. The Jews were the first persecutors. FOR MY SAKE. In the preceding verse it is said "for r... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE, AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD. On account of persecution for Christ's sake. The reason why they may justly rejoice is given; GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN. Faith may enable them to make light of present troubles because of the blessings and glories that are coming. SO PERSECUTED THEY THE PROPH... [ Continue Reading ]
IV. THE SALT OF THE EARTH. 13. YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. The disciples, those who are citizens of the kingdom, and who may be persecuted for Christ's sake. Salt preserves from corruption. The disciples of Christ preserve the world from general corruption. Whatever becomes utterly corrupted is... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. The business of the church is not only to save, but to enlighten. Christ is light and his disciples must be light. They spread the light of truth and hope, and chase away the darkness of error and despair. A CITY SET ON. HILL. Anciently cities, for the sake of defen... [ Continue Reading ]
LIGHT. CANDLE AND PUT IT UNDER. BUSHEL. A lamp in the Revision, which is correct. Candles and candlesticks were not used in Scripture times. The seven-branched candlestick of the tabernacle was composed of seven olive oil lamps. It would be foolishness to light. lamp and put it under. bushel measur... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN SO, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. Like the city set on. hill, or the lighted lamp on. stand. We are told, 1. To let our light shine, 2. Before men, 3. By good works, 4. That they may glorify the Father in heaven. Christ is the Light; we will shine with reflected light if we walk in his light. We are n... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS AND THE LAW. -- Matthew 5:17-26. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Think not that. am come to destroy the law, or the prophets;. am not come to destroy, but to fulfil._ -- Matthew 5:17. TIME, AND PLACE. --Same as last lesson. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 16:15-18; Galatians 3:23-29; James 2:9-12... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE... TILL ALL BE FULFILLED. The Savior asserts in the most solemn manner that not the smallest portion of the law shall pass away until all be fulfilled. This implies that, when it is fulfilled, it shall pass. The types and shadows all found their fulfilment in the Lord when he d... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL BREAK ONE OF THESE LEAST COMMANDMENTS. The commandments of the law were the law of God until they were replaced by the new code given through Christ. He who violated the least of these, and taught others to do so, showed. spirit that would unfit him for exaltation in the k... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. SAY UNTO YOU. The "for" shows that this verse connects itself closely with the preceding, and that the Lord was alluding to the scribes and Pharisees. SHALL EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES. These claimed to exceed in righteousness any others in Israel. They were very pun... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE LAW. MENDED. 21. YE HAVE HEARD. They had heard these things that follow out of the law. They did not have books, or copies of the law, in their homes, but they heard it read every Sabbath, in course, in the synagogue. BY THEM OF OLD TIME. Rendered correctly in the Revision, "_ To_ them o... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT. SAY UNTO YOU. Jehovah had spoken the decalogue to Israel, but Christ assumes the right to amend it. Such. claim is based only on that of divinity. He speaks as the "brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of his person." He does not abolish the law, but he amends it, and gives i... [ Continue Reading ]
III. DUTY BEFORE WORSHIP. 23, 24. THEREFORE, IF THOU BRING THY GIFT TO THE ALTAR. This springs immediately out of the modification of the law, Thou shalt not kill, which required that there should be no anger or estrangement with. brother. Before the old dispensation was replaced by the new the hig... [ Continue Reading ]
AGREE WITH THINE ADVERSARY QUICKLY. By adversary is meant an opponent in. lawsuit who is supposed to have. just claim, in this case. creditor. The law of reconciliation, already given, requires that agreement shall be sought instead of litigation. Prudence also requires the same thing. If the suit... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT COME OUT FROM THENCE. From the prison into which he is cast when the case before the judge has gone against him. After the debtor was cast into prison he was held until the debt was paid, and if it were not, he remained in prison until he died. FARTHING. A small, insignificant coppe... [ Continue Reading ]