December, 1933
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
441
gradually becoming thus, but to those who already are. The being is far more than the doing, because the doing rises from the being. And it is worthy of notice that no one, other than our Lord Himself, ever reached the high standard set here. He gave this address in order to reveal the imperative need of the new birth, be cause of the hopeless condition of all men by natural generation. Honest men are convicted of their insufficiency by the mere reading of this address, because no honest man can stand in its light without being self-condemned. III. T h e C o ndition of t h e C itize n s (10-12). The condition will be one of persecution, but this should not seem astonishing. The faithful ones who went- before, and who stood for God upon earth, were given the same treatment by their contemporaries. In the Revised Version, verse 10 reads more correctly, “ Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” And now “blessed are ye” when the same thing comes to you. The persecution is that which the world has ever given those who stand for the righteousness of God. Instead o f being discouraged and dis heartened by it, the persecution should be a cause of rejoicing, because of its issues. A man at hard labor rejoices in what the labor will bring, not in the labor itself; so the persecuted one rejoices in what will eventuate. It is to be carefully noted that the reward comes to those who are mis treated falsely, without a cause in them selves, and for the Lord’s sake, not their own. IV. T h e M a n ife st a tio n by t h e C itize n s (43-48). They are to manifest what they are by their treatment of that which would other-
wise awaken only revenge and reprisals. The old economy ,had in it a measure of recognition o f the old nature by permitting hatred to enemies; the new economy has no place for hatred. The new is of God, partaking of His nature, and hence nothing but love can be there, love to all, friend, neighbor, and enemy alike. They are therefore to be as God is, the perfect One, showing what He is in His nature by every move in His program. This reveals the startling fact that the judgment o f God upon all sin and sinners in a com ing day will be only the reverse side of His essential nature, which is love. It is such love as this that is to be in and to be manifested by the citizens of His kingdom. Nowhere else in Scripture is found such an announcement of the imperative need of being born again, born with God’s nature, without which no love can be shown. Lesson Questions Vs. 1, 2. To whom was Jesus speaking when He delivered the Sermon on the Mount? What was the purpose o f the ad dress? In order to live after the pattern found here, what is first necessary (John 3:16, 36) ? Vs. 3-6. Who are the poor' in spirit? they that mourn? the meek? and the hun gry? Are these qualities easily attained? Is character the result o f conduct, or con duct the result o f character? What is God’s cure for a bad character (2 Cor. S :17) ? If the Sermon on the Mount were observed by all the world, what would its moral state be? Why is this an impossi bility? Vs. 7-12. What warning did Christ give His disciples concerning the world’s re ception o f them as citizens o f His king dom? What is equally true of any Chris tian who lives godly in this present evil
world (2 Tim. 3: 12)? Give a scriptural example of'one who suffered for Christ’s sake, and show what his attitude was (Phil. 1:12, 13). Vs, 43-48. What is the governing prin ciple of the new economy? How does it differ from that o f the old? What should be the reaL motive of our loving other people (Eph. 4:32)? Jesus Teaches the People M a t t h e w 5 :1-12 Memory Verse : “ Teach me thy way, O Lord” (Psa. 27:11). Approach: When Jesus began preach ing to the people, great crowds followed Him. They wondered who He was and what He had to teach them. Before Jesus
began to tell them His great message, He looked ar o und Him to see how the people lived. Lesson Story: He saw how selfish and proud and cruel and quarrelsome and im pure their lives were. He felt sorry for them. He had come to tell them about
the great love o f God, a love so great that God sent them the best He had,'His only Son, to save them from their sins. They were not ready to listen to this wonderful message. Many of them had not heard John the Baptist cry, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And many, even if they had heard John the Baptist, were not ready to change their lives and believe. So, first of all, Jesus taught His disciples what sort of people were to enter the kingdom of heaven. He said that they were to be humble and meek and merciful A p i s » ® *
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