II The Sermon on the Mount
How to Live II
The Sixth “Blessed.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
“What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?...”
“These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the Throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His Temple: and He that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them... and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
The Seventh “Blessed.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
St. Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.”
It is only as we strive day by day to remember to be loving and peaceful, that we shall attain to the honour of being called a “Peacemaker.”
The Eighth “Blessed.”
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Let us think of the long Roll of Martyrs who have given their lives for Christ’s sake! This blessedness can only be known, and the Prize obtained, by firm faith in God!
Those who have esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of the world have already entered into the recompense of the reward.
CHRIST ADDRESSING THE MULTITUDES.
They had seen the promises of God afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And this country is a heavenly one, and God is not ashamed to be called their God, and He has prepared for them a city. Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!
The Ninth “Blessed.”
“Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.”
“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
These troubles of His followers, which Jesus our Lord mentions, are all summed up in the words “for My sake.”
And here, it seems to me, is a key which will open the prison doors of many a trial.
Our Lord tells us that whosoever will come after Him must take up his cross and follow Him.
“For My sake!” He says to us so tenderly.
“Take My yoke upon you,” He says again.
And what was His yoke? It was doing the Heavenly Father’s Will. Bearing that heavy, bitter Cross to redeem the world which God loved so much that He gave His Son. Leaving His glory in Heaven for thirty-three years, that He might show us how much the Father loved us, and to encourage us to work and bear for His sake.
“God, for Christ’s sake,” has forgiven us: and if in this world there comes to us reproach of suffering, “for His sake,” shall we not meet it joyfully and patiently, remembering the words of this last Beatitude, “Great is your reward in Heaven”?
If there was one man more than another who was persecuted for Christ’s sake, it was the Apostle Paul. Have you ever read the list of his sufferings?
“In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in death oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
“Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the Churches.”
And then, in another letter, he says “I can do all things through Christ, Which strengtheneth me.”
All things! Then there is not a temptation, or a sorrow, or a disappointment, or a task, that is not included in that “all things” which the strength of Christ will enable us to do, and bear.
The Last Beatitude.
The last Beatitude—which means blessed—ends up with the word Rejoice!
Those who follow and serve Jesus Christ here, have the present possession of exceeding joy; and as they follow Him, He leads them into the Exceeding Joy of the Great Reward in Heaven!