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.

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.

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…

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…

4. Consider how many the Lord has given grace to already, and how He has given it freely, surprisingly, and unexpectedly; if you could bring forth any proof that never one got good of God, you might have a pretext for your discouragement and scaring, but when as many as are befo…

Is there anything more like Popery working in a mystery, yea more Popish than to say that the motions of corruption in Believers are no sins, that a man or woman may attain to perfection in holiness here, and yet to carry on this with that subtlety, as confidently to aver that i…

(4) From a sincere aim and respect to all the commandments of God (Psalm 119:6; Acts 24:16; 1 John 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Philippians 4:12; Revelation 22:14-15). (5) From the positive marks that Christ puts on his children as marks of true blessedness (Matthew 5:3-11; Ps…

2. A blotting out of the book of life, and time-reprobation here asserted by Mr. Moor, is the highest indignity done to the unchangeable love and grace of God, and gross Arminianism. Objection 9: Praying for their brethren could not be doubted of, but the doubt was to pray for o…

He was then a banished man from the congregation, and it was a weary sad time to him, his soul panted like a chased deer, for the rivers of water, his soul was thirsty for God! Oh when shall I come, and appear before him? this is such a longing desire, when a man wants Christ; A…

[reconstructed: Eighthly], the last virtue is a single one, and that is love of enemies. I say to you, love your enemies (Matthew 5:44), that you may be the children of your heavenly Father. Love your enemies.

Christ came into the World that he might be the Light of the World; Ministers are set to be Lights unto the Churches, and are also said to be the Light of the World. Matthew 5:14. Christ is the bright and Morning Star; Ministers are Stars [in] Christ's Hand.

Our dutie. above all things to seeke for grace and peace. The reason; true happinesse, which all men desire, consists in peace, and is founded in grace: they are said to be happie & blessed that mourne, & suffer persecution for justice sake, Mat. 5. because in the middest of the…

(Philippians 4:8): What you have seen in me, that do. (Matthew 5:16): Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works. Secondly, practice in the minister is a part of his teaching.

Paul calls the Cretans liars and slow bellies (Titus 1:12). But (Matthew 5:22) may be objected, where he is said to be in danger of a council, that says, You fool. Answer: The place is to be understood of them that charge men with folly, with a mind to reproach them, and in way…

In the mount of the Lord there is no hurt done (Isaiah 11:9), they turn their spears and swords, into mattocks and scythes (Isaiah 2:4). And they which do no wrong, but are content to suffer wrong (and that for a good cause,) are in this respect blessed (Matthew 5:10). The third…

In the example of the Galatians, we see what is the common fashion of men, namely, to extenuate their faults, and to make small matters of great offences. The Pharisees taught, that sundry of God's commandments, were small and little commandments (Matthew 5:19). To them that mak…

A meek and quiet spirit, is before God, a thing much set by. Thirdly, God has made excellent promises to them that are of a meek and humble spirit, that he will guide them in judgment, and teach them his ways (Psalm 25:9), that they shall be hid in the day of the Lord's wrath (Z…

Now as Catechisms gathered out of plain and easy places are necessary for the simple, so Commentaries are as necessary for the understanding of such places as are more abstruse and difficult. Our Savior Christ (the great Doctor of the Church) has by his own practice given us a p…

Well, he speaks of the Sun, Moon, and stars, and the reason is, because these are excellent testimonies of the fatherly kindness of God towards men. Christ therefore shows, that God's goodness does in special manner appear, because he makes his Sun to shine upon the good and bad…

We have need to observe this diligently, because all consolations whatever are but earthly and transitory, if all be not referred to Christ. Let us then fasten our eyes upon him, if we will enjoy any prosperity or happiness: for he has promised that felicity shall accompany us,…

Where he adds, the Priest and the Prophet; he continues the amplification of their sin whereof we spoke before: so that the common people were not only drunk, but even the Priests themselves, who should have been lights to have given direction to others: for they are compared to…

Now it was very needful that this consolation should be added, for had they not recovered new strength, it is likely enough they had been subject to the tyranny of their enemies forever: God meant to arm them then, that they might be able to repulse the outrages done to them: so…

Matthew 5:1-12 1. And when Jesus had seen the multitudes,

Matthew 5:13-16 13. You are the salt of the earth: but if salt shall become tasteless,