- Foreword
- Preface
- Chapter 1—On the Mountainside
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- “He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:2, 3.
- “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”—Matthew 5:4.
- “Blessed are the meek.”—Matthew 5:5.
- “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”—Matthew 5:6.
- “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”—Matthew 5:7.
- “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”—Matthew 5:8.
- “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”—Matthew 5:9.
- “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:10.
- “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you.”—Matthew 5:11.
- “Ye are the salt of the earth.”—Matthew 5:13.
- “Ye are the light of the world.”—Matthew 5:14.
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- “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”—Matthew 5:17.
- “Whosoever ... shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:19.
- “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:20.
- “Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment.”—Matthew 5:22, R. V.
- “Be reconciled to thy brother.”—Matthew 5:24.
- “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”—Matthew 5:28.
- “If thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee.”—Matthew 5:30, R. V.
- “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?”—Matthew 19:3.
- “Swear not at all.”—Matthew 5:34.
- “Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”—Matthew 5:39, R. V.
- “Love your enemies.”—Matthew 5:44.
- “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”—Matthew 5:48.
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- “Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them.”—Matthew 6:1, margin.
- “When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are.”—Matthew 6:5.
- “When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do.”—Matthew 6:7.
- “When ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites.”—Matthew 6:16.
- “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.”—Matthew 6:19.
- “If ... thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”—Matthew 6:22.
- “No man can serve two masters.”—Matthew 6:24.
- “Be not anxious.”—Matthew 6:25, R. V.
- “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”—Matthew 6:33.
- “Be not therefore anxious for the morrow.... Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”—Matthew 6:34, R. V.
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- “After this manner therefore pray ye.”—Matthew 6:9.
- “When ye pray, say, Our Father.”—Luke 11:2.
- “Hallowed be Thy name.”—Matthew 6:9.
- “Thy kingdom come.”—Matthew 6:10.
- “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”—Matthew 6:10.
- “Give us this day our daily bread.”—Matthew 6:11.
- “Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.”—Luke 11:4.
- “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”—Matthew 6:13, R. V.
- “Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory.”—Matthew 6:13.
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- “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”—Matthew 7:1.
- “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye?”—Matthew 7:3.
- “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs.”—Matthew 7:6.
- “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”—Matthew 7:7.
- “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”—Matthew 7:12.
- “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life.”—Matthew 7:14.
- “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.”—Luke 13:24.
- “Beware of false prophets.”—Matthew 7:15.
- “It fell not; for it was founded upon the rock.”—Matthew 7:25, R. V.
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”—Matthew 5:7.
The heart of man is by nature cold and dark and unloving; whenever one manifests a spirit of mercy and forgiveness, he does it not of himself, but through the influence of the divine Spirit moving upon his heart. “We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 , R.V.MB 21.3
God is Himself the source of all mercy. His name is “merciful and gracious.” Exodus 34:6. He does not treat us according to our desert. He does not ask if we are worthy of His love, but He pours upon us the riches of His love, to make us worthy. He is not vindictive. He seeks not to punish, but to redeem. Even the severity which He manifests through His providences is manifested for the salvation of the wayward. He yearns with intense desire to relieve the woes of men and to apply His balsam to their wounds. It is true that God “will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:7), but He would take away the guilt.MB 22.1
The merciful are “partakers of the divine nature,” and in them the compassionate love of God finds expression. All whose hearts are in sympathy with the heart of Infinite Love will seek to reclaim and not to condemn. Christ dwelling in the soul is a spring that never runs dry. Where He abides, there will be an overflowing of beneficence.MB 22.2
To the appeal of the erring, the tempted, the wretched victims of want and sin, the Christian does not ask, Are they worthy? but, How can I benefit them? In the most wretched, the most debased, he sees souls whom Christ died to save and for whom God has given to His children the ministry of reconciliation.MB 22.3
The merciful are those who manifest compassion to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed. Job declares, “I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.” Job 29:12-16.MB 22.4
There are many to whom life is a painful struggle; they feel their deficiencies and are miserable and unbelieving; they think they have nothing for which to be grateful. Kind words, looks of sympathy, expressions of appreciation, would be to many a struggling and lonely one as the cup of cold water to a thirsty soul. A word of sympathy, an act of kindness, would lift burdens that rest heavily upon weary shoulders. And every word or deed of unselfish kindness is an expression of the love of Christ for lost humanity.MB 23.1
The merciful “shall obtain mercy.” “The soul of blessing shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Proverbs 11:25 , margin. There is sweet peace for the compassionate spirit, a blessed satisfaction in the life of self-forgetful service for the good of others. The Holy Spirit that abides in the soul and is manifest in the life will soften hard hearts and awaken sympathy and tenderness. You will reap that which you sow. “Blessed is he that considereth the poor.... The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and Thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.” Psalm 41:1-3.MB 23.2
He who has given his life to God in ministry to His children is linked with Him who has all the resources of the universe at His command. His life is bound up by the golden chain of the immutable promises with the life of God. The Lord will not fail him in the hour of suffering and need. “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19. And in the hour of final need the merciful shall find refuge in the mercy of the compassionate Saviour and shall be received into everlasting habitations.MB 24.1