Matthew 5:14 (ESV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. That we are to be the light of the world is clearly seen, not only by this statement from our Lord, but also by other inspired writers of the New Testament (Ephesians 5:8; Philippians 2:15). […]
It is nice and pleasant to think about the love of God. It is very comforting to contemplate His mercy and long-suffering. To spend time reflecting on the grace of God and all that we have as a result of that grace is good for the soul. However, how often do you think about the […]
Matthew 5:13 (ESV) 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. What is so valuable about salt? It’s not very precious, from the standpoint of […]
Matthew 5:10 (ESV) 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Most people in this world have experienced some type of persecution. Jesus did not say that everybody who is persecuted for any reason is going to be blessed, but those who are persecuted specifically for […]
Matthew 5:9 (ESV) 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. The opposite of this beatitude would be, “Cursed are the troublemakers: for they shall be called the children of Satan.” All those who divide and make trouble are of the devil, not of God. Jesus once said to the […]
Matthew 5:8 (ESV 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. The Jews were well acquainted with the idea of purity. The law of Moses taught them to be physically pure. They meticulously washed themselves daily before each meal, even to the point where the Pharisees condemned others who would eat […]
Matthew 5:7 (ESV) 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Mercy is another one of those Bible words that is easy to define but hard to execute. Webster’s Dictionary says that mercy means, “Compassion or forbearance SHOWN especially to an offender.” The American Heritage Dictionary says, “Compassionate TREATMENT, especially of those under […]
The intent of a gospel preacher is certainly not to offend people. Paul wrote, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). Words can motivate someone to do the right thing, or they can drive people away, depending on how […]
Matthew 5:5 (ESV) 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Meekness is one the most essential qualities of a Christian. The fact is one cannot be a Christian without it. Being a Christian means being like Christ, and He was a man of great and unsurpassed meekness (Matthew 11:28). This beatitude […]
Matthew 5:4 (ESV) 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. What makes you sad? We all experience sadness from time to time. Some events even put us in a state of mourning. So, what kind of things cause you to mourn? The answer to these questions can say much about where […]