Matthew / 5

  • Persecution and Reward

    Matthew 5:10–12

    Matthew Henry writes: “There is no evil so black and horrid, which, at one time or other, has not been said falsely against Christ’s disciples and followers.” Rejoice and be glad if you are being slandered for obeying Jesus ...Read More

  • Purity and Peacemaking

    Matthew 5:8–9

    By the Holy Spirit, we are “sons of God” and partake of His nature (2 Peter 1:3–4). Since our Father loves peace so much that He sent His Son to reconcile Himself to His people, we have not ...Read More

  • Righteousness and Mercy

    Matthew 5:6–7

    Our passion for righteousness and mercy is one way we can measure our fervor for the Lord. There are innumerable ways we can pursue both of these actions. Thus, we are unable to complain to God that there have been ...Read More

  • Meekness and Mourning

    Matthew 5:4–5

    Meekness rejects any thought of self-sufficiency. It is antithetical to our aggressive, dog-eat-dog world that teaches people never to be satisfied with what they have and therefore to pursue more and more “stuff,” even if it means they lack the ...Read More

  • The Poor in Spirit

    Matthew 5:1–3

    Elsewhere, Jesus speaks these same words to the poor (Luke 6:20), because those who have nothing are often able to see their need for salvation most clearly. Still, one does not need to lack possessions to see the kingdom ...Read More

  • Matthew’s Gospel

    Matthew 5:17

    Take the time to look over Matthew in preparation for our study this year. Find one passage that you have not spent much time examining. Meditate on that text today and ask the Lord to help you focus on His ...Read More

  • Perfectly Perfect

    Matthew 5:48

    To say God is the most perfect being is not simply to take an attribute like human goodness, for example, and assume that His goodness is exactly like ours, only developed to its highest degree. While human goodness and divine ...Read More

  • The Ethics of Jesus

    Matthew 5:21–26

    While Jesus reveals the thoroughness that is required for true obedience to God’s law, He does not say anger and homicide are equally deserving of capital punishment. While both can cut us off from God, murder carries with it ...Read More

  • A Vow’s Intent

    Matthew 5:33–37

    All of us have made promises that we do not intend to keep. We make vows all the while knowing that we have a way out if we want it. As we have seen today, however, such activity violates the ...Read More