Hosea 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Lord has torn you down to build you up. He pierces your calloused heart to breathe His love into your life. He shocks your soul to repentance that you might not wither to the ashes of hell. He calls out to His sheep: You with ears to hear, hear.
I am neither Prophet nor preacher – qualified not for either office or its responsibilities. I am only a voice from the pew, a sinner like you – first and mostly convicted by the same scripture by which I cut to your hearts of stone as fellow fallen believers, dependant on Christ as our Lord.
Therefore, by disagreeing with some you have heard preached – with some you have heard taught, even by most respected men of God (though all are fallible), I yield for your benefit to the teaching on the Beatitudes by another: Matthew Henry (1662-1714).
Matthew Henry – Commentary excerpt on Matthew 5 – The Beatitudes.
None will find happiness in this world of the next who do not seek it from Christ by the rule of his word.
vs. 3-12 Our Savior here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian.
- The poor in spirit are happy. These bring their minds to their condition, when it is a low condition. They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer. The Kingdom of grace is of such: the kingdom of glory is for them.
- Those that mourn are happy. That godly sorrow which worketh true repentance, watchfulness, a humble mind, and continual dependence for acceptance on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, with constant seeking the Holy Spirit, to cleanse away the remaining evil, seems here to be intended. Heaven is the joy of our Lord: a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears. Such mourners shall be comforted by their God.
- The meek are happy. The meek are those who quietly submit to God; who can bear insult; are silent, or return a soft answer; who in their patience, keep possession of their own souls, when they can scarcely keep possession of anything else. These meek ones are happy, even in this world. Meekness promotes wealth, comfort, and safety, even in this world.
- Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are happy. Righteousness is here put for all spiritual blessings. These are purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ, confirmed by the faithfulness of God..
- The merciful are happy. We must not only bear our own afflictions patiently, but we must do all we can to help those who are in misery. We must have compassion on the souls of others, and help them; pity those who are in sin, and seek to snatch them as brands out of the burning.
- The pure in heart are happy: for they shall see God. Here holiness and happiness are fully described and put together. The heart must be purified by faith, and kept for God…
- The peace-makers are happy. They love, and desire and delight in peace; and study to be quiet. They keep the peace that it be not broken, and recover it when it is broken. If the peace-makers are blessed, woe to the peace-breakers!
- Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake are happy. This saying is peculiar to Christianity; and it is more largely insisted upon than any of the rest…Blessed Jesus! how different are thy maxims from those of men of this world! … With these enjoyments and hopes, we may cheerfully welcome low or painful circumstances.
Here is proper teaching and conviction of the words of Jesus from the Beatitudes. And of verses 13-16, Henry teaches:
Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, lying in ignorance and wickedness, were as a vast heap, ready to putrify; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If they are not such as they should be, they are as salt that has lost its savor.
And in conclusion (though not nearly complete application of Matthew 5), of verses 17-20:
Let none suppose that Christ allows his people to trifle with any commands of God’s holy law. No sinner partakes of Christ’s justifying righteousness, till he repents of his evil deeds. The mercy revealed in the gospel leads the believer to still deeper self-abhorrence.
A call to follow
- Do I speak too severely to the church?
- Are my words too harsh for a brother?
- Do Henry’s teachings point too severely toward our great wickedness?
- Is Jesus’ call to you for perfection in the Law and in your heart too much to bear?
Indeed we must take up our cross and follow him.
Matthew 7:28 – 8:1
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
Will you?
