AT 5{The ministry and miracles of the Lord had attracted the multitude. He took an elevated place and sat down and taught His disciples in the hearing of the multitude. As the prophet, He tells them the character that suited His kingdom. It is His own character that comes out in it all.
The believing remnant of the Jews, the disciples in that day, were brought into the Church at Pentecost. The believing remnant of the tribulation period will share the kingdom in the millennial age. Believers now are a heavenly people. We are children of the Father; members of the body of Christ; temples of the Holy Spirit. The principles contained in the sermon on the mount apply to us also, but we need to notice the above distinction from those who had an earthly calling.
Matt. 5:17-4817Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For 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 be fulfilled. 19Whosoever 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. 20For 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. 21Ye 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: 22But 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 brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25Agree 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. 26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29And 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. 30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, 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. 31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32But 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 marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 33Again, 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: 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44But 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 persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:17‑48) is the connection between the principles of the kingdom and the law.
Let us look at them a little in detail.
Matt. 5:3,3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This is accepting a despised place; it is not seeking great things for self in a scene that is contrary to God-these possess the kingdom.
Matt. 5:44Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4). "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." This is mourning before God and in sympathy with Him over the sinful condition of men. God comforts them with promise of blessing in which they shall share. (See Mark 7:34; 8:1234And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. (Mark 7:34)
12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. (Mark 8:12); John 11:33, 3533When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, (John 11:33)
35Jesus wept. (John 11:35).)
Matt. 5:77Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7). "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." This is consideration for others. It is the deep fountain of God's nature in the believer, for "God is love", and He is "rich in mercy". (1 John 4:88He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8); Eph. 2:44But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Ephesians 2:4).) In us it is, "bowels of mercies." (Col. 3:1212Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Colossians 3:12).)
Matt. 5:88Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8). "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." We get here the pure motive that keeps God in view. The pure in heart see God's ways in everything.
Matt. 5:99Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9). "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." This is indeed the activity of the divine nature; God's character among men, carrying peace with them, their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (Eph. 6:1515And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15)) Thus they would win the title, "sons of God".
Matt. 5:1010Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10). "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Here we have the treatment from others of those who do the will of God, and walk in practical righteousness before Him. The soul that walks with God cannot do what it knows is wrong. It thus brings persecution upon itself from those affected by its integrity. (Psa. 25:19-2119Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. (Psalm 25:19‑21).) Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 5:11, 1211Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11‑12). "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Notice the change to "ye". It is suffering for Christ; it is precious to Him. He sees it all, and encourages the sufferer with His promise, "great is your reward in heaven." To do well and suffer for it, is indeed acceptable with God, and brings the soul its sure reward (1 Peter 3:14-1714But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. (1 Peter 3:14‑17)), but to suffer for Christ's sake is still more precious (1 Peter 4:12-1612Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (1 Peter 4:12‑16)); "the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you"; "on your part He is glorified". Thus we are encouraged to bear testimony and to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Matt. 5:1313Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Matthew 5:13). "Ye are the salt of the earth, etc." As the salt, the believer strengthens and upholds all that God has instituted; it is preserving what is good. If the believer goes with the evil, his influence is lost, and his own communion is marred. It is not a question of losing eternal life- that could not be. It is our influence, as walking in the fear of God.
Matt. 5:14-1614Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither 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. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14‑16). "Ye are the light of the world." "The world lieth in the wicked one" (1. John 5:1919Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19)), and is in darkness, while the believer is brought out of it. (Eph. 5:88For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:8).) They are to bear testimony, like a candle in a candlestick gives light to all in the room, and like a city set on a hill that cannot be hid. Then the warning: if it is put under a measure, the benefit is lost, the things of the world have covered up the testimony. May we ponder verse 16, so that our words and works may glorify the Father which is in heaven. (2 Thess. 2:16, 1716Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2:16‑17).)
This is the first mention of the Father's name, "which is in heaven," as suited to an earthly people. In John 20, when the Lord rose from the dead, He could say, "My God and your God", "My Father and your Father.”
(To be Continued.)