Author: alstonvillesda@gmail.com

The True Motive in Service “When ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites.”—Matthew 6:16. The fasting which the word of God enjoins is something more than a form. It does not consist merely in refusing food, in wearing sackcloth, in

The True Motive in Service “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

The True Motive in Service “When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are.”—Matthew 6:5. The Pharisees had stated hours for prayer; and when, as often came to pass, they were abroad at the appointed time, they would

Chapter Four – The True Motive in Service “Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them.”—Matthew 6:1, margin. The words of Christ on the mount were an expression of that which had been

  The Spirituality of the Law “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”—Matthew 5:48. The word “therefore” implies a conclusion, an inference from what has gone before. Jesus has been describing to His

The Spirituality of the Law “Love your enemies.”—Matthew 5:44. The Saviour’s lesson, “Resist not him that is evil,” was a hard saying for the revengeful Jews, and they murmured against it among themselves. But Jesus now made a still stronger

  The Spirituality of the Law “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. Occasions of irritation to the Jews were constantly arising from their

The Spirituality of the Law “Swear not at all.”—Matthew 5:34. The reason for this command is given: We are not to swear “by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the

The Spirituality of the Law “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?”—Matthew 19:3. Among the Jews a man was permitted to put away his wife for the most trivial offenses, and the woman was then at

The Spirituality of the Law “If thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee.”—Matthew 5:30, R. V. To prevent disease from spreading to the body and destroying life, a man would submit to

The Spirituality of the Law “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”—Matthew 5:28. The Jews prided themselves on their morality and looked with horror upon the sensual practices of

The Spirituality of the Law “Be reconciled to thy brother.”—Matthew 5:24. The love of God is something more than a mere negation; it is a positive and active principle, a living spring, ever flowing to bless others. If the love

The Spirituality of the Law “Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment.”—Matthew 5:22, R. V. Through Moses the Lord had said, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart…. Thou shalt not

  The Spirituality of the Law “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. The scribes and Pharisees had accused not only Christ but

The Spirituality of the Law “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

Chapter Three – The Spirituality of the Law “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”—Matthew 5:17. It was Christ who, amid thunder and flame, had proclaimed the law upon Mount Sinai. The glory of God, like devouring fire, rested

The Beatitudes “Ye are the light of the world.”—Matthew 5:14. As Jesus taught the people, He made His lessons interesting and held the attention of His hearers by frequent illustrations from the scenes of nature about them. The people had