In the beatitudes Jesus has listed the qualifications of those who are citizens of the Kingdom of heaven. Although he commonly calls it the Kingdom of heaven, it does not have only a future reference in which they will enjoy the bliss of his unbroken fellowship and be free from all sin. This Kingdom is a […]
The words spoken by Jesus thus far in the Sermon on the Mount might give some of us listeners the impression that he was teaching something radically new. The scribes and Pharisees taught the law. Jesus had made no mention of the law. Many in our day believe that the law was for the Old […]
In the previous verses Jesus had explained His own attitude to the law of God. We must bear this attitude in mind as we now listen to his interpretation of various commandments. The proper interpretation of the law is essential to a person’s righteousness. Jesus has condemned the righteousness of the Pharisees. What then is […]
What is the proper interpretation of the seventh commandment? What docs it forbid and what does it allow? Is a different interpretation of this commandment necessary for different times? These questions are important in every age and especially in our own. We will do well to study Jesus’ interpretation of this commandment. He introduces his discussion […]
Each one of the Beatitudes is a striking statement of spiritual wisdom. Each one sounds contradictory to the unbeliever. In the Beatitudes Christ plumbs the spiritual depths of the truth which governs the Kingdom of Heaven. When we bear in mind that these Beatitudes describe the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we would almost […]
“Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled”. Although the unbelieving world believes that the people of God are quite colorless, Jesus reveals that they are capable of strong feelings. Hunger and thirst are strong sensations. Contrary to common belief, Christians do not hunger and thirst after the love […]
How beautifully Jesus introduces the Sermon on the Mount! The words used are as well-known as any other part of Scripture. Don’t let your familiarity with these words close your eyes to their simple beauty. Jesus grips his audience immediately. What a Preacher! In the beatitudes our Lord is not merely using catchy phrases to gain […]
Everybody loves the Sermon on the Mount. The unbeliever often quotes it with approval and the believer, naturally, accepts it as the Word of God. The Modernist views Christianity as consisting of the teachings of Jesus. Other teachers have founded religions and have contributed much to tho cultural and moral well·being of those who followed them. […]
Judges 9 presents the story of Abimelech, Gideon’s son. This is a relatively unfamiliar story. It is never taught in Sunday School and it is not a very popular topic for preaching. This is possibly because it is so gruesome, so horribly sad, and because it seems to have no redeeming value. It is a […]
Of all the strange and unexpected details in the story of Jonah the true miracle is the revival in Nineveh. The morally clueless (4:11) people of that great city repented of their notorious wickedness and found grace in the sight of God. We want to see more of that kind of miracle in our day […]