shed at Calvary. There is nothing ef this in this Sermon. But this Sermon cannot be considered as exclusively Christian though it was spoken to the disciples. If the Spirit of God had meant the application to be exclusively for the church, He surely would have brought the discourse to attention after the first mention of the church in Matthew six teen. Church doctrine is mainly set forth in the Epistles, wherein we are shown that the Christian has a heavenly call ing. The Sermon on the Mount is largely earthly in its application. But one should not say that the Sermon is exclusively Jewish. It has applications now for those who are the children of the Kingdom and who will one day reign with the Lord Jesus upon the earth. Many of the principles set forth in this Sermon are re-emphasized in the Epistles, thus we know that they have a present applica tion. Study 2 Tim. 3:16,17. Characteristics of Kingdom Subjects vv. 3-12 The writer of these notes once saw the Sermon on the Mount written with such careful shading that the face of Christ looked out upon the beholder. The inscription was framed and hung in the parlor of an undertaker’s establishment casting a benign influence upon the place. It surely may be said that the Lord Jesus Himself is the fullest mani festation o f the nine “blesseds” which are found in today’s lesson. He only has perfectly fulfilled the demands of this Sermon, even as of the Commandments of the Law (Ex. 20).
Oct. 12, 1952 CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE DIFFERENT Matt. 5:1-12 Pointers on the Lesson
of the cross (8-10). In connection with this difficult pas sage, it should be stated that Jesus was not tempted to sin. Being God, He could not sin (Heb. 4:15). See also James 1:13. Why then was He tempted? It was not to see whether He would sin, but to prove that He could not sin.
The so-called Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) fits perfectly into the plan of the Gospel according to Mat thew. This Gospel sets forth Jesus as King. It is the royal gospel. John the Baptist had announced, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (3:2). The King was present and ready to set up His Kingdom provided He would be ac cepted. Then Jesus Himself said, “ Re pent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (4:17). If the Kingdom was not yet established, it would not be for lack of the right king. He was present and ready. He, being on earth, His Kingdom was at hand. The next thing in order was for the King to make a manifesto of the constitution of the Kingdom, and this we have in Matthew five, six and seven. The Hearers of the Manifesto vv. 1, 2 The “ Sermon on the Mount” is not for the unsaved. In giving it, Christ sep arated Himself from the multitudes and spoke only to His disciples. To them “He opened his mouth, and taught them” (v. 2). This Sermon does not reveal the way of salvation. It rather speaks of the characteristics of those who are already saved. Salvation, we know, is through the blood of Christ
Helps for the Children Jesus Chooses God’s Way Matt. 3:13-4:11
Memory Verse: “ Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God” (Psa. 143:10). When the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was about thirty years old, He commenced to do the work which God, the Father, had sent Him into the world to do. As an example to those who later would accept Him as their personal Sa viour, He was baptized by John the Baptist. As He came up out of the water, the Spirit of God in the form of a dove lighted upon Him, and God’s voice was heard saying, “ This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Satan always tempts those who obey the will of God. The Lord Jesus immediately after His baptism was taken by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness where Satan sorely tempted Him for forty days and forty nights. During that time, God’s Son had not eaten. The devil came to Him and said, “ If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” The Lord Jesus did not argue with Satan; He quoted a Bible verse to him, for God’s Word is the greatest weapon that can drive Satan away. Again Satan tempted God’s Son by taking Him into Jerusalem and placing Him upon one of the high pinnacles of the temple. Satan told Jesus to throw Himself down before the people if He’ was the Son of God. This time Satan quoted a Bible verse, but he left out a very im portant part of that verse. Satan, often uses Scriptures, but he always misuses them. Many false churches today use Bible verses, but they choose only a part of the verse and so dishonor God by their teachings. After Satan had tempted Jesus the third time and had been answered by Bible verses, he left the Saviour and angels came and cared for Him. Does it not make your prayers more real when you are in temptation when you know that your Saviour was tempted by Satan just as you are tempted? Does it not make you want to hide more of God’s Word in your heart when you know how it can drive Satan away? When we say “ No” to Satan when he tempts-us to say and do and think things that would displease our Lord, we are obeying God, and God will give us the courage and the desire to please Him. Each day our prayer should be, “ Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God.”
Men in high places and low are jittery , whole popu lations seem to be swayed by some influence which the experts can’t figure out. Author Merrill T . Unger has made an extensive study o f this problem and presents the whole evidence in Biblical Demonology, the most comprehensive book on the subject avail able today. Every pastor, evangelist and B ible teacher should have it. 300 pages, textbook size $4.00 At your local bookstore or
Dr. Wilbur Smith: “Biblical Demonolo gy” is the most im portant book deal ing with the Bibli cal doctrine of demons that has yet appeared in the English language.
S E P T E M B E R , 1 9 5 2
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