- 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.
“When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do.”—Matthew 6:7.
The heathen looked upon their prayers as having in themselves merit to atone for sin. Hence the longer the prayer the greater the merit. If they could become holy by their own efforts they would have something in themselves in which to rejoice, some ground for boasting. This idea of prayer is an outworking of the principle of self-expiation which lies at the foundation of all systems of false religion. The Pharisees had adopted this pagan idea of prayer, and it is by no means extinct in our day, even among those who profess to be Christians. The repetition of set, customary phrases, when the heart feels no need of God, is of the same character as the “vain repetitions” of the heathen.MB 86.1
Prayer is not an expiation for sin; it has no virtue or merit of itself. All the flowery words at our command are not equivalent to one holy desire. The most eloquent prayers are but idle words if they do not express the true sentiments of the heart. But the prayer that comes from an earnest heart, when the simple wants of the soul are expressed, as we would ask an earthly friend for a favor, expecting it to be granted—this is the prayer of faith. God does not desire our ceremonial compliments, but the unspoken cry of the heart broken and subdued with a sense of its sin and utter weakness finds its way to the Father of all mercy.MB 86.2