Matthew 5

It is not profession but fruit that glorifies God; God expects to have his glory from us this way (1 Corinthians 9:7): Who plants a vineyard and eats not of the fruit of it? Trees in the forest may be barren, but trees in the garden are fruitful: we must bring forth the fruits o…

The promise does not say, whoever has a giant faith, that can remove mountains, that can stop the mouth of lions, shall be saved; but whoever believes, be his faith never so small. Though Christ sometimes chides a weak faith, yet that it may not be discouraged, he makes a promis…

You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart. 2. The threats and prohibitions of the moral law reach the heart: the law of God forbids not only the act of sin, but the desire and inclination: not only does it forbid adultery, but lusting (Matthew 5:28). Not only stealin…

7. We take God's name in vain, when we swear by his name. Many seldom name God's name but in oaths; for this sin the land mourns (Matthew 5:34). Swear not at all; that is, rashly and sinfully, so as to take God's name in vain; not but that in some cases it is lawful to take an o…

Such as boast of their sinful exploits, will have little cause to rejoice or hang up their trophies when they come to hell. 11. The evil tongue is the swearing tongue (Matthew 5:34). Swear not at all. The Scripture allows an oath for the ending of a controversy, and to clear the…

Men may be wise in some things, but in other things may betray imprudence and weakness. But God is the exemplar and pattern of wisdom, and the pattern must be perfect (Matthew 5:48). God's wisdom appears in two things: first, his infinite intelligence; second, his exact working.

But Saint Augustine brings in God replying thus to him, because you do not say my prayer, therefore I will not hear yours. The malicious man is not like to enjoy either earth or Heaven; not the earth, for the meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:4). Nor is he like to enjoy He…

This may cause veneration. 2. God is the best Father, because he is perfect; (Matthew 5:48) Your Father which is in Heaven is perfect. He is perfectly good: Earthly fathers are subject to infirmities: Elijah (though a prophet) was a man of like passions (James 5:17), but God is…

Solomon was first anointed with oil, and then he was king (1 Kings 1:39). First God anoints us with the holy oil of his Spirit, and then he sets the crown of happiness upon our head; pureness of heart, and seeing God are linked together (Matthew 5:8). Quest. How may sanctificati…

There is a two-fold adultery. 1. Mental (Matthew 5:28). Whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.

These men's sins are greater than others. If the breakers of God's law sin, what do they that teach men to break them? (Matthew 5:19). 2. Such as destroy others by their bad example.

Resp. 1. He may be adorned with civility, he may be morally righteous, he may be prudent, just, temperate, he may be free from penal statutes; this is good, but not enough to bring a man to heaven. 2. He may hang out the flag of a glorious profession, yet fall short of the kingd…

1. Branch. It reproves such as do not God's Will; they have the knowledge of God's will, (knowledge they count an ornament) but though they know God's Will, yet they do it not. (1.) They know what God would have them avoid; they know they should not swear (Matthew 5:34), Swear n…

(2.) The meditation of the heavenly kingdom would much promote holiness in us: heaven is an holy place (1 Peter 1:4), an inheritance undefiled; it is described by transparent glass to denote its purity (Revelation 21:21). The contemplating heaven would put us upon the study of h…

Male de me loquuntur sed mali, said Seneca. Besides, is it not better that men reproach us for being good, than that God damn us for being wicked (Matthew 5:11)? Blessed are you when men shall revile you.

So it is said, that Archelaus reigned, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] (Matthew 2:22), in the room or stead of Herod his Father. So [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] (Matthew 5:38) is an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. And this word also is used in expressing the death of Christ…

1. That the actions and works themselves by which he is judged be found perfect: not only to have some conformity to the Law, that will not be sufficient, but they must exactly and fully quadrate therewithal. They must be throughly righteous, and they must not be chargeable with…

Now because the bringing in of a Surety to stand in the place of the man himself, is the proper foundation on which the Gospel Covenant is built; hence it is also a truth, that some men shall be judged by the Gospel, that is, according as they are found in Christ related to him,…

Q. What rules are to be observed for our better understanding the commandments of the Law? A. Every commandment of the Law is spiritual, reaching not only to the outward man, but also to the heart, soul, and conscience (Romans 7:14; Matthew 5:22, 28). Q. What is another rule?

Let such men therefore take patiently what God lays upon them: for it is not their misery or mishap alone, but has been common to God's children in all ages. Again, Christ himself pronounces them blessed, who suffer persecution for righteousness sake; for, though they be exiles…

And thus was Abraham warranted to sacrifice his Son; namely, by virtue of a special, and personal commandment to himself alone. But if Abraham had not had this particular commandment, the sacrificing of Isaac had been unlawful and abominable; for, the killing of a man is a heino…

But life everlasting is called a reward in the Scripture, because it is the free gift of God, promised by GOD to his children in Christ; for this end, to allure and draw them on in obedience. And it must not seem strange, that we say a reward is a free gift: for so it may be, as…

Haman hated Mordecai in his heart: yea, his heart boiled in malice against him: yet the Story says; That nevertheless he refrained himself till he came home, Esther 5:10. And therefore Christ says, that except our righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharise…

Objection 1. But to defend their opinion, they object some places of scripture; as Matthew 5:39, Resist not evil, saith Christ: therefore (say they) a man may not wear a weapon, nor use a sword; lest those make him to resist, and so to break this commandment of Christ. Answer.

So says he here, that you love one another as I have loved you; see John 3:16. Hence the commandment of love becomes a new commandment; not only because it was newly revived by Christ in an especial manner, when the doctrine of the duties of it was cast under Pharisaical corrupt…

It pleases God to give sufficient evidence to the accomplishment of his promise. For the manner of the proceeding of the Lord Christ from that Tribe, the Apostle expresseth it by [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], He sprang; [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] is usually taken in an active sense,…

Yes, the whole prosperity of the Church did always depend thereon; as its neglect was always accompanied with severe tokens of God's displeasure. Besides our Savior affirmeth of himself that he came not ⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩ Matthew 5:17, to dissolve or destroy the Law, which…

Yet as a law and rule of obedience it was never disannulled, nor would God suffer it to be. Yes, one principal design of God in Christ was that it might be fulfilled and established (Matthew 5:17, 18; Romans 3:31). For to reject this Law, or to abrogate it, had been for God to h…

And that it does intend an earnest desire, we shewed in the consideration of the word foregoing. And the word is never used in the New Testament, but either in a bad sense, to express the impetuous acting of lust, as (Matthew 5:28; Galatians 5:17; Romans 1:1), or a most fervent…

There are two places in the New Testament which are usually pleaded in opposition to this liberty and duty. The first is in the words of our Savior (Matthew 5:33, 34, 35, 36, 37): "You have heard that it has been said of old time, You shall not forswear yourself, but you shall p…

Judgment is taken sometimes for punishment itself (Psalms 9:16; James 2:13; 1 Peter 4:17; 2 Peter 2:3). But most commonly it is used for the sentence of judicial condemnation and trial, determining the offender to punishment; and so 'tis most commonly used to express the general…

And thereon the especial kinds of offerings and sacrifices are enumerated, which in general were all Corbans. So every thing that is brought to the Altar is called [in non-Latin alphabet], (Matthew 5:23, 24), when you bring your gift; that is, to offer gifts, sacred gifts of all…

He left not himself of old without witness, in that he did good and gave Rain from Heaven (Acts 14:17). Our Savior also makes it an argument of his goodness that he causes his Rain to fall (Matthew 5:45). And whatever thoughts we have of the commonness of it, and whatever acquai…

So is a person when he comes to have his own heart discovered to him; and he that never was ashamed of himself, never yet saw himself as he ought to see. (2.) It abases a man, it lowers and takes down a man's spirit in him, which is naturally very high, and lifted up in him: it…

But we must own it still, as a fault in us, a fault worthy of death, whenever we miss of doing any thing, that is demanded as a duty, in the Old Covenant: there is a sin, in every transgression of the law; a sin to be confessed, bewailed, abhorred. Yea, and our Lord Jesus Christ…

Answer. He is to pray for them all. Matthew 5:44. Pray for them which hurt you, and persecute you. 1 Timothy 2:1. I exhort that prayers, intercessions, etc. be made for all men, for kings, etc.

Many use these words long and often, yet find no assurance of pardon: and the cause is, because they have no desire of God's mercy, nor willingness to forgive others, which if indeed they had, then no doubt the forgiveness of their sins should by this means be sealed to them. Wh…

True indeed: yet are they a cause of slandering God's name among men: for as we honor him by our good works, so we dishonor him by our offenses. Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him. Matthew 5:6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

It is said of Zachary and Elizabeth, they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Luke 1:6). A good Christian is God's temple; his body is the outward court of the temple, and his soul the sanctuary, or holy of holies…

In assigning his earnestness and zeal for their good, you may take notice of three things, which I shall explain in their order. A compellation of their persons, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] [Beloved;] a term usual in the Apostles' writings, the same word is used (1 Peter 2:11),…

All true believers have a state of true perfection in this life. Matthew 5:48: Be you perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Genesis 6:9: Noah was a just and perfect man in his time, and walked with God.

Isaiah 42:3: Christ will not quench the smoking flax, which as yet by reason of weakness gives neither light nor heat. Christ says in Matthew 5:6: Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied — where by persons hungering and thirsting…

Secondly to the Church, when any person has openly offended the congregation by any crime and is therefore excommunicate. Thirdly to our private neighbor, when we have upon any occasion offended and wronged him — Matthew 5:23: If you bring your gift to the altar and there rememb…

And, Let no man ask another man, but return to his own heart; if he find charity there, he has security for his passage from life to death. Hilary on Matthew 5: The kingdom of heaven which our Lord professed to be in himself, his will is that it must be hoped for without any dou…

To be of a meek, forgiving spirit is Christlike, Godlike. Then shall you be the children of your Father who is in heaven, 'for he makes his sun to rise upon the evil and upon the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust' — Matthew 5:45. How eminently also did this Spir…

This is the true and the principal way to justify religion, and to stop the mouths of all ignorant and malicious cavillers against it. This is the way to maintain the honor of God (Matthew 5:16): Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify y…

It was said of those brethren in iniquity, Simeon and Levi, that instruments of cruelty were in their habitations, for in their anger they slew a man, Cursed be their wrath, for it was cruel (Genesis 49:5, 6). And our Lord Jesus Christ in his exposition of the sixth Commandment,…

It may be you are not so good as the young man in the Gospel, or the scribes and Pharisees; and yet they are gone to their own place. Oh, your righteousness must exceed theirs, if ever saved (Matthew 5:20). Oh, you must exceed those, whom perhaps you have not yet equaled.

2. There was a stated holiness in the time of the Law in some places. And thus some have observed, that we find but three places that were holy in this respect, the land of Canaan, called the holy land (Zechariah 2:12), the city of Jerusalem, called the holy city (Matthew 5:4 an…