Sermon on the Mount It is instructive to find the Sermon on the Mount following close upon the works of mercy which would open men's hearts to receive the Saviour's words. It is a discourse about the changed life or _Metanoia_, showing its conditions; and about the Kingdom or _Basileia_, showing it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judge not_, &c. This is the form which the "lex talionis," or law of reciprocity, takes in the kingdom of heaven. The censorious spirit is condemned, it is opposed to the ἐπιείκεια, "forbearance," "fairness in judgment," that allows for faults, a characteristic ascribed to Jesus Christ Himself, 2... [ Continue Reading ]
(a) Judgment on others, Matthew 7:1-6. The passage occurs in St Luke's report of the Sermon on the Mount (ch. Luke 6:37-38), with a different context, and a further illustration of "full measure.... [ Continue Reading ]
_judgment_ The same Greek word is used Romans 2:2-3 of the divine sentence or decision: see that passage and context which are closely parallel to these verses: cp. also Mark 12:40, where the same word is translated "damnation.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the mote_ The English word is either connected with _mite_(the coin) from a Latin root (minutum), or mite (the insect) from an Anglo-Saxon root meaning "to cut," "sever," or from one meaning "to eat." The Greek word = a "dry particle" of dust, wool, &c. _beholdest … considerest_ It is the contrast... [ Continue Reading ]
_a beam is in thine own eye_ Which (1) ought to prevent condemnation of another for a less grave offence; and which (2) would obscure the spiritual discernment, and so render thee an incapable judge. The Pharisaic sin of hypocrisy (see next verse) was deeper and more fatal to the spiritual life than... [ Continue Reading ]
_out of_ Greek ἐκ = "from within," of the deep-seated root of sin which the Pharisee may discern only when he has cast out the beam from his own eye.... [ Continue Reading ]
(_b_) The Father's love for the children of the Kingdom shewn by answering prayer, 7 11. 6. The connection between this verse and the preceding section is not quite obvious. It seems to be this. Although evil and censorious judgment is to be avoided, discrimination is needful. The Christian must be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ask, and it shall be given_ The connection is again difficult. The verse may be the answer to the disciples" unspoken questions: (1) "How shall _we_discriminate?" or (2) "Who are fit to receive these divine truths?" The words of Christ teach, (1) that discernment will be given, among other "good th... [ Continue Reading ]
The triple formula covers every kind of want. The prayer shall be granted, the treasure found, the gate of heaven opened. St Luke 13:24-25. Observe the climax: ask seek knock; the fervour of the prayer must grow more and more intense.... [ Continue Reading ]
_bread … a stone … fish … a serpent_ The things contrasted have a certain superficial resemblance, but in each case one thing is good, the other unclean or even dangerous.... [ Continue Reading ]
_good things_ For this St Luke (Luke 11:13) has "the Holy Spirit," shewing that spiritual rather than temporal "good things" are intended.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore_ The practical result of what has been said both in regard to judgment and to prayer is mutual charity. The thought of the divine judgment teaches forbearance; the thought of the divine goodness teaches kindness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The broad and the narrow way_, Luke 13:24-25. The illustration seems to be drawn from a mansion having a large portal at which many enter, and a narrow entrance known to few. _strait_= narrow.... [ Continue Reading ]
(_c_) The narrow entrance to the Kingdom, 13, 14 These verses are linked to the preceding by the thought of prayer, for it is by prayer chiefly that the narrow entrance must be gained.... [ Continue Reading ]
_because_ To be taken after "enter ye" as in preceding verse, or it gives a reason why many go in at the wide gate. _narrow_ Literally, PRESSED, CONFINED.... [ Continue Reading ]
(_d_) The false guides to the narrow entrance, and the test of the true, 15 23 15. _false prophets_ who will not help you to find the narrow way. _in sheep's clothing_ Not in a literal sense, but figuratively, "wearing the appearance of guilelessness and truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thorns_ The Greek word means, probably, a kind of acacia, or perhaps "thistles." There is a Greek proverb οὐ γὰρ ἄκανθαι, "no thistles," i. e. "nothing useless." _thistles_ Rather, CALTROP, a prickly water-plant.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit_, &c. To this day in the East trees are valued only so far as they produce fruit.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in that day_ The day of judgment. This is a forecast far into the distant future, when it would be worth while to assume Christianity, when hypocrisy would take the form of pretending to be a follower of the now despised Jesus. (See Canon Mozley's sermon _On the reversal of human judgment_.) For t... [ Continue Reading ]
_I never knew you_ "Never recognised you as my disciples. While my name was on your lips, your hearts were far from me." Clement of Rome (_Ep._ii:4), referring to this passage, says: "let us then not only call Him -Lord," for that will not save us;" he then quotes the words of Matthew 7:21. _iniqui... [ Continue Reading ]
_whosoever heareth_ Cp. Matthew 7:26, EVERY ONE THAT HEARETH. Both classes of men hear the word. So far they are alike. In like manner the two houses have externally the same appearance. The great day of trial shews the difference. The imagery is from a mountain country where the torrent-beds, somet... [ Continue Reading ]
(_e_) A description of the true subjects of the Kingdom as opposed to the false. The wise and foolish builders, 24 27 Luke 6:47-49, where the phraseology differs a good deal from St Matthew. St Matthew, who living near the lake had often witnessed such sudden floods as are described, uses more vigo... [ Continue Reading ]
_the rain descended_, &c. In the original both the tense and the position of the verbs give great vivacity to the description.... [ Continue Reading ]
_having authority_ He was Himself a lawgiver. His teaching was not a mere expansion of the old law. Much less did he confine himself to the words of any particular Rabbi. _the scribes Sopherim_= either (1) "those who count;" because the Scribes counted each word and letter of the Scriptures; or (2)... [ Continue Reading ]