- 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.
“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.
That is, he shall have no place therein. For he who willfully breaks one commandment, does not, in spirit and truth, keep any of them. “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10.MB 51.2
It is not the greatness of the act of disobedience that constitutes sin, but the fact of variance from God's expressed will in the least particular; for this shows that there is yet communion between the soul and sin. The heart is divided in its service. There is a virtual denial of God, a rebellion against the laws of His government.MB 51.3
Were men free to depart from the Lord's requirements and to set up a standard of duty for themselves, there would be a variety of standards to suit different minds and the government would be taken out of the Lord's hands. The will of man would be made supreme, and the high and holy will of God—His purpose of love toward His creatures—would be dishonored, disrespected.MB 51.4
Whenever men choose their own way, they place themselves in controversy with God. They will have no place in the kingdom of heaven, for they are at war with the very principles of heaven. In disregarding the will of God, they are placing themselves on the side of Satan, the enemy of God and man. Not by one word, not by many words, but by every word that God has spoken, shall man live. We cannot disregard one word, however trifling it may seem to us, and be safe. There is not a commandment of the law that is not for the good and happiness of man, both in this life and in the life to come. In obedience to God's law, man is surrounded as with a hedge and kept from the evil. He who breaks down this divinely erected barrier at one point has destroyed its power to protect him; for he has opened a way by which the enemy can enter to waste and ruin.MB 52.1
By venturing to disregard the will of God upon one point, our first parents opened the floodgates of woe upon the world. And every individual who follows their example will reap a similar result. The love of God underlies every precept of His law, and he who departs from the commandment is working his own unhappiness and ruin.MB 52.2