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Scripture Texts: Matthew 5: Seeing the crowds, Yeshua walked up the hill. After he sat down, his talmidim came to him, 2 and he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
3 “How blessed are the poor in spirit!
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 “How blessed are those who mourn!
for they will be comforted.
5 “How blessed are the meek!
for they will inherit the Land![Matthew 5:5 Psalm 37:11]
6 “How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness!
for they will be filled.
7 “How blessed are those who show mercy!
for they will be shown mercy.
8 “How blessed are the pure in heart!
for they will see God.
9 “How blessed are those who make peace!
for they will be called sons of God.
10 “How blessed are those who are persecuted
because they pursue righteousness!
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “How blessed you are when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me! 12 Rejoice, be glad, because your reward in heaven is great — they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Scripture Matthew 5:1-12
Verse 1
[1] And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
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
[2] And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
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. 3.
Happy are the poor — In the following discourse there is, 1. A sweet invitation to true holiness and happiness, verse 3-12. Matthew 5:3-12. 2. A persuasive to impart it to others, verse 13-16. Matthew 5:13-16. 3. A description of true Christian holiness, verse 17; chap. ii,12, Matthew 5:17; Matthew 7:12. (in which it is easy to observe, the latter part exactly answers the former.) 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 6:20.
Verse 4
[4] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
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
[5] Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
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
[6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
They that hunger and thirst after righteousness — After the holiness here described. They shall be satisfied with it.
Verse 7
[7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
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
[8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
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
[9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
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
[10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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 Timothy 3:12. 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.
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Daily Devotionals:
Monday, June 27, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 5:1-12
- Write verses 3-5 in your own words.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 5:1-12
- Write verses 6-8 in your own words.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 5:1-12
- Write verses 9-12 in your own words.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 5:1-12
- Read your entire paraphrase.
- What new insights are there?
Friday, July 1, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 5:1-12
- How does living like the Beatitudes challenge you today?
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 5:1-12
- How do the Beatitudes compare to the Ten Commandments?
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 5:1-12
- Pray for those persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino Del Rio South
San Diego, California 92108, United States
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