The Upper Room Daily Reflections
– Sunday, 26 January 2014 “Prayers of Gratitude” and Monday, 27 January 2014 “A
Sense of the Sacred”
Today’s
Reflection:
IN THE QUIET of silent prayer I accept the gift of communion
with the Holy One. I wait to receive this gift, which comes like a flower
blossoming. I cannot force the flower to bloom any faster than it will. I can
only express gratitude for the beauty that unfolds.
My prayers of gratitude take many forms. At times I listen for
the word of God. At times I speak words of praise, thanksgiving, confession,
intercession, and supplication. And at times I am silent, without words,
welcoming Christ and his transforming work within.--J. David Muyskens-Forty
Days to a Closer Walk with God: The Practice of Centering Prayer
From page 14 of Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God: The
Practice of Centering Prayer by J. David Muyskens. Copyright © 2006 by J. David
Muyskens. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books.
http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Write your own prayer of gratitude. Thank you Jesus for your
Presence in everything all the time! Amen!
Today’s Scripture:
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every
sickness among the people.--Matthew 4:23, NRSV
This Week: pray for those who are bullied.
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WE HAVE LOST the sense of the sacred in what we do. We often
think of creating things that are sacred as being somber. Surely the sacred
cannot be funny, or exciting, or real-people-like. That is too ordinary. The
ordinary cannot be sacred. The routine cannot be sacred.
In our capacity to create, we are experiencing a gift from the
Creator. When we create to give away, we are extending relationship. When we
create stories, we are giving a gift, to ourselves, to others, and to God.--Ray
Buckley-Dancing with Words: Storytelling as Legacy, Culture, and Faith
From page 38 of Dancing with Words: Storytelling as Legacy,
Culture, and Faith by Ray Buckley. Copyright © 2003 by Discipleship Resources.
All rights reserved. Used by permission of Discipleship Resources. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/
Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Think of the last time you encountered the sacred.
Today’s Scripture:
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD
require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with
your God?--Micah 6:8, NRSV
This Week: pray for someone who makes you uncomfortable.
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As you read the daily devotional today, you join MILLIONS of
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Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember:
This week we remember:
Agnes (January 21).
Agnes was young and beautiful. She was also, more importantly, a
Roman Christian during Diocletian's persecution against Jesus' followers. When
the girl refused the advances of numerous suitors, charges of being Christian
were brought against her. When at her trial she refused to offer worship of
pagan gods, the judge threatened her with various forms of torture. Agnes
remained true to her faith.
This twelve or thirteen year old girl was then sent to a brothel
to be used by any men who wanted her. According to tradition no man could
violate her because of her pure spirit. The girl was then beheaded (or burned,
or executed by sword, depending on which version of the story). She is buried
at the church of Sant'Agnese on the Piazza Navona in Rome.
Since the fourth century, Agnes has been venerated for her
chastity and faithfulness. Her emblem is the lamb, symbol of innocence and
purity (and also similar to her name in Latin).
Agnes is the patron saint of young girls.
If Agnes had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would
have been a Lover. Agnes is remembered on January 21.
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This week we remember:
Agnes (January 28).
January 28
Commemoration of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
A SECOND commemoration of St. Agnes occurs on this day in the
ancient Sacramentaries of Pope Gelasius and St. Gregory the Great; as also in
the true Martyrology of Bede. It was perhaps, the day of her burial, or of a
translation of her relics, or of some remarkable favour obtained through her
intercession soon after her death.
Prudence Crandall
January 28
Prudence Crandall was born in Rhode Island in 1803, raised
Quaker, and educated at a Society of Friends school. In 1831 she opened a
private girls school in Canterbury, Connecticut. The school thrived until
Crandall admitted Sarah Harris, a twenty-year old African-American woman who
wanted to be a teacher. The community was appalled and parents twithdrew their
white daughters from the school.
Undeterred from doing what she considered the right thing,
Crandall recruited African American young women students for her next school,
opened in 1833 solely for "young ladies and little misses of color."
Local citizens used vagrancy laws against students to intimidate from attending
the school. In 1834 Connecticut passed "the Black law," making it
illegal to provide black students with free education. Crandall refused to
close her school, was arrested and faced three trials. The final trial was
dismissed for insufficient evidence, but when a mob attacked the school and her
students were threatened, Prudence closed her school.
Prudence Crandall married Rev. Calvin Phileo in 1834 and left
Connecticut, but continued teaching and championing equal rights for women and
people of color. Prudence died on January 28, 1890 in Kansas. Her school is now
the Prudence Crandall Museum.
If Prudence Crandall had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she
probably would have been a Sage. Prudence Crandall is remembered on January 28.
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Isaiah 9: The Righteous Reign of the Coming King
1 [a] But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish.
In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of
Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the
land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 [b] The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great
light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has
shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its
joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the
harvest,
as people exult when
dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across
their shoulders,
the rod of their
oppressor,
you have broken as on
the day of Midian.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 9:1 Ch 8.23 in Heb
b. Isaiah 9:2 Ch 9.1 in Heb (New Revised Standard Version
Catholic Edition)
Yeshayah 9:1 (23) Nevertheless there will be no gloom in her in
anguish. In Et HaRishon (the former time) He brought into contempt Artzah
Zevulun and Artzah Naphtali, but acharon (afterward, in the future) did bring
to honor Derech HaYam (Way to the Sea, land between Sea of Galilee and the
Mediterranean), beyond Yarden, in the Galil HaGoyim.
2 (1) The people that walked in choshech have seen an Ohr gadol;
they that dwell in the eretz tzalmavet, upon them hath the Ohr dawned.
3 (2) Thou shalt multiply the Goy (Nation), and increase its
simchah; they joy before Thee according to the simchat baKatzir, and as men
rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 (3) For Thou hast broken the ol (yoke) of his burden, and the
mateh (staff) of his shoulder, the shevet hanogesh (rod of the task master) of
him, as in the yom of Midyan [See Judges 7:25). (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
Psalm 27: Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be
afraid?
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 27:1 Or refuge
4 One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek
after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my
life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his
temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on
a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all
around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts
of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and
answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I
seek.
9 Do not hide your
face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my
help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
(New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)
Tehillim 27:1 (Of Dovid) Hashem is my ohr and Yishi (my
Salvation); whom shall I fear? Hashem is the ma’oz (stronghold) of my life; of
whom shall I be afraid?
4 One thing have I asked of Hashem, that will I seek after: that
I may dwell in the Bais Hashem all the days of my life, to behold the
gracefulness of Hashem, and to inquire in His Heikhal.
5 For in the Yom Ra’ah (day of evil) He shall keep me safe in
His Sukkah; in the shelter of His Ohel shall He conceal me; He shall set me up
upon a Tzur (rock).
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies around
about me; therefore will I offer in His Ohel sacrifices with shouts of joy; I
will sing, yea, I will make music unto Hashem.
7 Shema, Hashem, when I call with my voice; chaneini also upon
me, and answer me.
8 When my lev said of Thee, Seek ye My face, my lev said unto
Thee, Thy face, Hashem, will I seek.
9 Hide not Thy face far from me; turn not Thy eved away in
anger; Thou hast been my ezer; leave me not, neither forsake me, Elohei Yishi
(G-d of my Salvation). (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
1 Corinthians 1: Divisions in the Church
10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no
divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same
purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are
quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.[b] 12 What I mean is that each of
you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to
Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified
for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God[c] that I
baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that
you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of
Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For
Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with
eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who
are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Gk brothers
b. 1 Corinthians 1:11 Gk my brothers
c. 1 Corinthians 1:14 Other ancient authorities read I am
thankful (New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)
Kehillah in Corinth I 1:10 Now I exhort you, Achim b’Moshiach,
b’Shem Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, that you all speak the same
thing and that there not be among you machlokot (divisions of dissension
11:18), but that you may have achdus (unity) in the same mind and in the same
way of thinking.
11 For it was made clear to me about you, Achim b’Moshiach of
mine, by the ones of Chloe, that there is merivah (strife) among you.
12 Now I say this, because each of you says, "I am of
Sha’ul," or, "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Kefa," or
"I am of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach!"
13 Has Moshiach been divided? Surely Sha’ul was not for you the
one talui al HaEtz (“being hanged on the Tree” Dt 21:23)? Surely it was not in
the name of Sha’ul that the Moshiach’s tevilah in the mikveh mayim was given to
you?
14 Modeh Ani Hashem that to not one of you I gave Moshiach’s
tevilah except Crispus and Gaius (Ro16:23),
15 Lest anyone should say that in my name you were given the
Moshiach’s tevilah.
16 Now I gave Moshiach’s tevilah also to Stephanas’ household;
as to the rest, I do not know if I gave Moshiach’s tevilah to anyone else.
17 For Moshiach did not send me to give Moshiach’s tevilah in
the mikveh mayim, but to preach the Besuras HaGeulah, not by means of the
lomdes (cleverness, erudition) of the rhetoric of Bnei Adam, lest the gevurah
(power) of HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem (the Tree of the Curse of G-d—Dt 21:23) of
Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach be buttel (cancelled out).
18 For the message of HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem (the Tree of the
Curse of G-d—Dt 21:23) is narrishkait to the ones perishing. But to us who are
being delivered in Yeshu’at Eloheinu, it is the gevurat Hashem (the power of
G-d). (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
Matthew 4: Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
12 Now when Jesus[a] heard that John had been arrested, he
withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the
sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken
through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the
sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great
light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven has come near.”[b]
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the
sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will
make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed
him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee
and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their
nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father,
and followed him.
Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People
23 Jesus[c] went throughout Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues and proclaiming the good news[d] of the kingdom and curing every
disease and every sickness among the people.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 4:12 Gk he
b. Matthew 4:17 Or is at hand
c. Matthew 4:23 Gk He
d. Matthew 4:23 Gk gospel (New Revised Standard Version Catholic
Edition)
Mattityahu 4:12 Now, having heard that Yochanan was arrested,
Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach departed into the Galil.
13 And having left behind Natzeret, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach
headquartered in Kfar-Nachum by the sea, in the environs of Zvulun and Naftali.
14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Yeshayah HaNavi,
15 ARTZAH ZVULUN VARTZAH NAFTALI (To the land of Zvulun and to
the land of Naftali, Isa 8:23-9:1 [9:1-2]), the way to the sea beyond the
Yarden, Galil HaGoyim,
16 the people sitting in CHOSHECH RAU OHR GADOL (darkness saw a
great light), YOSHVEI V’ERETZ TZALMAVET (the ones living in the land of the
shadow of death), a light has dawned among them.
17 From then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to proclaim, saying,
LAlter LiTeshuvah (Immediate Repentance ), for the Malchut HaShomayim has come
near.
18 And walking beside Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Rebbe,
Melech HaMoshiach saw two achim, Shimon, the one being called Kefa (Petros),
and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were daiyagim
(fishermen).
19 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says, Come, follow me, and I
will make you daiyagei adam (fishers of men).
20 And immediately, leaving their nets, they followed Rebbe, Melech
HaMoshiach.
21 And having gone on from there, he saw two other achim, Yaakov
Ben Zavdai and Yochanan his brother, in the sirah (boat) with Zavdai their
father, repairing their nets, and he summoned them.
22 Immediately, leaving the sirah (boat) and their father, they
followed Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach [Mt 19:29].
23 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went about in all the Galil,
exercising the ministry of moreh (teacher) in their shuls and of darshan
(preacher) of the Besuroh Tovoh (Good Tiding of a Joyous Event), the Besuras
HaGeulah (the Good News of Redemption) of the Malchut Hashem, and Rebbe, Melech
HaMoshiach went about bringing refuah (healing) to every disease and every
illness of the people. (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
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Micah 6: God Challenges Israel
1 Hear what the Lord says:
Rise, plead your case
before the mountains,
and let the hills hear
your voice.
2 Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,
and you enduring
foundations of the earth;
for the Lord has a controversy with his people,
and he will contend
with Israel.
3 “O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied
you? Answer me!
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and redeemed you from
the house of slavery;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
what Balaam son of
Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the
saving acts of the Lord.”
What God Requires
6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before
God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year
old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of
rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body
for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord
require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly
with your God?
Psalm 15: Who Shall Abide in God’s Sanctuary?
A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your
holy hill?
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth
from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to
their friends,
nor take up a reproach
against their neighbors;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those
who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a
bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
1 Corinthians 1: Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who
are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it
is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of
the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is
the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God
decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who
believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim
Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but
to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and
the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and
God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters:[a] not many of
you were wise by human standards,[b] not many were powerful, not many were of
noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is
low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things
that are, 29 so that no one[c] might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the
source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and
righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is
written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in[d] the Lord.”
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk brothers
b. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk according to the flesh
c. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Gk no flesh
d. 1 Corinthians 1:31 Or of
Matthew 5: The Beatitudes
1 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and
after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and
taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children
of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and
utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be
glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted
the prophets who were before you.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 5:1 Gk he
b. Matthew 5:11 Other ancient authorities lack falsely
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John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary for
Micah 6:1-8
VI God charges his people with ingratitude, ver. 1-5. The way to
please God, ver. 6-8. He sets their sins in order before them, ver. 9-15.
Verse 1. Arise - This is God's command to Micah. Contend thou -
Argue the case between God and thy people; and speak as if thou wouldst make
the mountains hear thee, to testify for me.
Verse 2. Foundations of the earth - The mountains properly so
called; the sin of Israel is so notorious, that the whole creation may be
summoned as a witness against them.
Verse 3. What have I done - What injustice or unkindness? What
grievous, burdensome impositions have I laid upon thee. Wearied thee - Speak,
what it is hath caused thee to be weary of me?
Verse 4. And Miriam - A prophetess to be assistant to her brothers,
and to be an example and a counsellor to the women.
Verse 5. Shittim - This is the place where Balak began by the
women of Midian to debauch Israel as Baalim had counselled, and so continued to
do, even to Gilgal, all along the borders of his dominion. The righteousness -
His mercy, justice and veracity.
Verse 6. Wherewith - One whose heart was touched by the
preceeding expostulation, may be supposed to make this enquiry.
Verse 7. Thousands - Ever so many. Ten thousands of rivers -
Were it possible to give them.
Verse 8. He - God hath already told you in his word, with what
you ought to come before him. To do justly - To render to every one their due,
superiors, equals, inferiors, to be equal to all, and oppress none, in body,
goods or name; in all your dealings with men carry a chancery in your own
beasts, and do according to equity. To love mercy - To be kind, merciful and
compassionate to all, not using severity towards any. Walk humbly with thy God
- Keep up a constant fellowship with God, by humble, holy faith.
Psalm 15
PS 15 The scope of this short, but excellent psalm, is to shew
us the way to heaven. Here is a question proposed, ver. 1. The answer to it,
ver. 2-5. A psalm of David.
Verse 1. Who - Who shall so dwell in thy church here, as to dwell
with thee for ever in heaven?
Verse 2. Uprightly - Loving, and serving God, and loving his
neighbour not in word only, but in truth; and this constantly. Worketh - Makes
it his business to do justly, to give to every one his due, first to God, and then
to men. Speaketh - His words and professions to God and men, agree with the
thoughts and purposes of his heart.
Verse 3. He - He that doth not speak evil of his neighbour.
neighbour - That is, any man. Nor taketh - Into his mouth, doth not raise it,
neither spread or propagate it; or believe it without sufficient reason.
Verse 4. Vile - An ungodly man. honoureth - He highly esteems
and loves them, though they be mean as to their worldly condition, and though
they may differ from him in some opinions or practices of lesser moment.
Sweareth - A promissory oath. Hurt - To his own damage. As if a man solemnly
swear, that he will sell him such an estate at a price below the full worth; or
that, he will give a poor man such a sum of money, which afterwards he finds
inconvenient to him. Changeth not - His purpose, but continues firm and
resolved to perform his promise.
Verse 5. To usury - In such a manner as is contrary to God's
law: of which see otherwise, Exod. xxii, 25 Levit xxv, 36, 37, &c. Reward -
Or, a bribe for him who hath a bad cause. Moved - He shall abide with God here,
and when he dies be for ever with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Verse 18. To them that perish - By obstinately rejecting the
only name whereby they can be saved. But to us who are saved - Now saved from
our sins, and in the way to everlasting salvation, it is the great instrument
of the power of God.
Verse 19. For it is written - And the words are remarkably
applicable to this great event. Isaiah xxix, 14
Verse 20. Where is the wise? &c. - The deliverance of Judea
from Sennacherib is what Isaiah refers to in these words; in a bold and
beautiful allusion to which, the apostle in the clause that follows triumphs
over all the opposition of human wisdom to the victorious gospel of Christ.
What could the wise men of the gentiles do against this? or the Jewish scribes?
or the disputers of this world? - Those among both, who, proud of their
acuteness, were fond of controversy, and thought they could confute all
opponents. Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world - That is, shown
it to be very foolishness. Isaiah xxxiii, 18
Verse 21. For since in the wisdom of God - According to his wise
disposals, leaving them to make the trial. The world - Whether Jewish or
gentile, by all its boasted wisdom knew not God - Though the whole creation
declared its Creator, and though he declared himself by all the prophets; it
pleased God, by a way which those who perish count mere foolishness, to save
them that believe.
Verse 22. For whereas the Jews demand of the apostles, as they
did of their Lord, more signs still, after all they have seen already; and the
Greeks, or gentiles, seek wisdom - The depths of philosophy, and the charms of
eloquence.
Verse 23. We go on to preach, in a plain and historical, not
rhetorical or philosophical, manner, Christ crucified, to the Jews a
stumblingblock - Just opposite to the "signs" they demand. And to the
Greeks foolishness - A silly tale, just opposite to the wisdom they seek.
Verse 24. But to them that are called - And obey the heavenly
calling. Christ - With his cross, his death, his life, his kingdom. And they
experience, first, that he is the power, then, that he is the wisdom, of God.
Verse 25. Because the foolishness of God - The gospel scheme,
which the world judge to be mere foolishness, is wiser than the wisdom of men;
and, weak as they account it, stronger than all the strength of men.
Verse 26. Behold your calling - What manner of men they are whom
God calls. That not many wise men after the flesh - In the account of the
world. Not many mighty - Men of power and authority.
Verse 28. Things that are not - The Jews frequently called the
gentiles, "Them that are not," 2 Esdras vi. 56, 57. In so supreme
contempt did they hold them. The things that are - In high esteem.
Verse 29. That no flesh - A fit appellation. Flesh is fair, but
withering as grass. May glory before God - In God we ought to glory.
Verse 30. Of him - Out of his free grace and mercy. Are ye Engrafted
into Christ Jesus, who is made unto us that believe wisdom, who were before
utterly foolish and ignorant. Righteousness - The sole ground of our
justification, who were before under the wrath and curse of God. Sanctification
- A principle of universal holiness, whereas before we were altogether dead in
sin. And redemption - That is, complete deliverance from all evil, and eternal
bliss both of soul and body.
Verse 31. Let him glory in the Lord - Not in himself, not in the
flesh, not in the world. Jer. ix, 23, 24
Matthew 5:1-12
Verse 1. And seeing the multitudes - At some distance, as they
were coming to him from every quarter. He went up into the mountain - Which was
near: where there was room for them all. His disciples - not only his twelve
disciples, but all who desired to learn of him.
Verse 2. And he opened his mouth - A phrase which always denotes
a set and solemn discourse; and taught them - To bless men; to make men happy,
was the great business for which our Lord came into the world. And accordingly he
here pronounces eight blessings together, annexing them to so many steps in
Christianity. Knowing that happiness is our common aim, and that an innate
instinct continually urges us to the pursuit of it, he in the kindest manner
applies to that instinct, and directs it to its proper object. Though all men
desire, yet few attain, happiness, because they seek it where it is not to be
found. Our Lord therefore begins his Divine institution, which is the complete
art of happiness, by laying down before all that have ears to hear, the true
and only true method of acquiring it. Observe the benevolent condescension of
our Lord. He seems, as it were, to lay aside his supreme authority as our
legislator, that he may the better act the part of: our friend and saviour.
Instead of using the lofty style, in positive commands, he, in a more gentle
and engaging way, insinuates his will and our duty, by pronouncing those happy
who comply with it.
Verse 3. Happy are the poor - In the following discourse there
is,
1. A sweet invitation to true holiness and happiness, ver. 3-12.
2. A persuasive to impart it to others, ver. 13-16.
Verse 3. A description of true Christian holiness, ver. 17;
chap.vii, 12. (in which it is easy to observe, the latter part exactly answers
the former.)
Verse 4. The conclusion: giving a sure mark of the true way,
warning against false prophets, exhorting to follow after holiness. The poor in
spirit - They who are unfeignedly penitent, they who are truly convinced of
sin; who see and feel the state they are in by nature, being deeply sensible of
their sinfulness, guiltiness, helplessness. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven
- The present inward kingdom: righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Ghost, as well as the eternal kingdom, if they endure to the end. Luke vi, 20.
Verse 4. They that mourn - Either for their own sins, or for
other men's, and are steadily and habitually serious. They shall be comforted -
More solidly and deeply even in this world, and eternally in heaven.
Verse 5. Happy are the meek - They that hold all their passions
and affections evenly balanced. They shall inherit the earth - They shall have
all things really necessary for life and godliness. They shall enjoy whatever
portion God hath given them here, and shall hereafter possess the new earth,
wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Verse 6. They that hunger and thirst after righteousness - After
the holiness here described. They shall be satisfied with it.
Verse 7. The merciful - The tender-hearted: they who love all
men as themselves: They shall obtain mercy - Whatever mercy therefore we desire
from God, the same let us show to our brethren. He will repay us a thousand
fold, the love we bear to any for his sake.
Verse 8. The pure in heart - The sanctified: they who love God
with all their hearts. They shall see God - In all things here; hereafter in
glory.
Verse 9. The peace makers - They that out of love to God and man
do all possible good to all men. Peace in the Scripture sense implies all blessings
temporal and eternal. They shall be called the children of God - Shall be
acknowledged such by God and man. One would imagine a person of this amiable
temper and behaviour would be the darling of mankind. But our Lord well knew it
would not be so, as long as Satan was the prince of this world. He therefore
warns them before of the treatment all were to expect, who were determined thus
to tread in his steps, by immediately subjoining, Happy are they who are
persecuted for righteousness' sake. Through this whole discourse we cannot but
observe the most exact method which can possibly be conceived. Every paragraph,
every sentence, is closely connected both with that which precedes, and that
which follows it. And is not this the pattern for every Christian preacher? If
any then are able to follow it without any premeditation, well: if not, let
them not dare to preach without it. No rhapsody, no incoherency, whether the
things spoken be true or false, comes of the Spirit of Christ.
Verse 10. For righteousness' sake - That is, because they have,
or follow after, the righteousness here described. He that is truly a righteous
man, he that mourns, and he that is pure in heart, yea, all that will live
godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution, 2 Tim. iii, 12. The world will
always say, Away with such fellows from the earth. They are made to reprove our
thoughts. They are grievous to us even to behold. Their lives are not like
other men's; their ways are of another fashion.
Verse 11. Revile - When present: say all evil - When you are
absent.
Verse 12. Your reward - Even over and above the happiness that
naturally and directly results from holiness.
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