“I used to float, now I just fall down
I used to know but I’m not sure now
What I was made for
What was I made for?”
— Billie Eilish lyrics, “What was I made for?”
Lust is a Matter of the Heart (Matthew 5:27-30)
“Sex is sinful to the degree that, instead of drawing you closer to other human beings in their humanness, it unites bodies but leaves the lives inside them hungrier and more alone than before.”
— Frederick Buechner
Jesus Fulfills the Law (Matthew 5:21-26)
Q. 135. What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?
A. The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavours, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defence thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labor, and recreation; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild, and courteous speeches and behavior: forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.
— Westminster Larger Catechism
The Role of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20)
“[Jesus] is saying that our attitude to the law of God is an index of our attitude to God himself. If we treat the law lightly and encourage others to do so, we show that we are strangers to the promise of the new covenant in Christ. But if we love and keep even the least of the Lord’s commandments, and we encourage others to do so as well, that is a sure mark that we love Christ and belong to his kingdom.”
— Sinclair Ferguson
Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)
“The Lord who said, ‘Ye are the light of the world,’ also said, ‘I am the light of the world.’ These two statements must always be taken together, since the Christian is only ‘the light of the world’ because of his relationship to Him who is Himself ‘the light of the world.’”
—D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Suffering for the Sake of Righteousness (Matt. 5:1-12)
“The church does not become good because we have some capable members, some powerful members, some influential members, some rich members, or some accomplished members. No. What should a church glorify in? It should glorify in the suffering of Christ, the body that suffers for the sake of Christ, the life of the martyrs. What a church glorifies in, who it glorifies in, what kind life it glorifies in, will demonstrate whether it is a faithful church that is filled with longing for the end times.”
— Wang Yi, Pastor, Early Rain Covenant Church, Chengdu, China (arrested and in state custody since December, 2018)
Beatitudes of Engagement (Matthew 5:1-12)
The Merciful:
“[those] who come to the aid of others” — St. Augustine
“[those] who are not only prepared to put up with their own troubles but who also take on other people’s troubles.” — John Calvin
“The Gospel Merciful are the understanding; those who under-stand; those who put themselves under others to support them.” — Frederick Dale Bruner
Are You Teachable? (Matthew 5:1-12)
“You will never find a greater antithesis to the spirit and outlook [of the world] than that which you find in this verse: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.’”
—Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-2)
“Give what you command, O Lord, and then command whatever you will.”
—Augustine of Hippo