Category Archives: Sermon on the Mount

“Poverty of spirit” by D.A. Carson

“Poverty of spirit is the personal acknowledgment of spiritual bankruptcy. It is the conscious confession of unworth before God. As such, it is the deepest form of repentance.

It is exemplified by the guilty publican in the corner of the Temple: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” It is not a man’s confession that he is ontologically insignificant, or personally without value, for such would be untrue; it is, rather, a confession that he is sinful and rebellious and utterly without moral virtues adequate to commend him to God.

I suspect that there is no pride more deadly than that which finds its roots in great learning, great external piety, or a showy defense of orthodoxy. My suspicion does not call into question the value of learning, piety, or orthodoxy; rather, it exposes professing believers to the full glare of this beatitude.

Pride based on genuine virtues has the greatest potential for self-deception; but our Lord will allow none of it. Poverty of spirit he insists on—a full, honest, factual, conscious, and conscientious recognition before God of personal moral unworth. It is, as I have said, the deepest form of repentance.

It is not surprising, then, that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit. At the very outset of the Sermon on the Mount, we learn that we do not have the spiritual resources to put any of the Sermon’s precepts into practice.

We cannot fulfill God’s standards ourselves. We must come to him and acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy, emptying ourselves of our self-righteousness, moral self-esteem, and personal vainglory. Emptied of these things we are ready for him to fill us.

Much of the rest of the Sermon on the Mount is designed to remove these self-delusions from us, and foster within us a genuine poverty of spirit. The genuineness and depth of this repentance is a prime requirement for entering into life.”

–D.A. Carson, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World: An Exposition of Matthew 5–10 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1999/2018), 18–19.

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“When Jesus confronts the world” by D.A. Carson

“When Jesus confronts the world some kind of explosion can be expected; for Jesus and the world are very different, frankly opposite in their purpose, character, values, and aims.

The world is essentially self-centered; Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). The world is in active rebellion against God; Jesus always pleases His Father (John 8:29).

The world is time-bound and temporary (cf. 1 John 2:15-17); not so Jesus or His kingdom or the person who does His will. The world needs saving, and Jesus comes to save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).

The world needs judging, and Jesus is the Son of man who comes when least expected and passes the entire world under review (Matt. 24:36-25:46). Jesus and the world are bound to clash with each other.”

–D.A. Carson, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1978/1987), 153.

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“The Sermon on the Mount sears and burns” by D.A. Carson

“The more I read these three chapters– Matthew 5,6, and 7– the more I am both drawn to them and shamed by them. Their brilliant light draws me like a moth to a spotlight; but the light is so bright it sears and burns. No room is left for forms of piety which are nothing more than veneer and sham. Perfection is demanded. Jesus says, ‘Be perfect…as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (5:48).”

–D.A. Carson, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World: An exposition of Matthew 5-10 (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1987), 11.

[HT: Pritesh Garach]

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“We ought to mix water with our wine” by John Calvin

“We should regard material possessions simply as props to help us, until we see the Father face to face. He is our bliss and happiness. By all means let us laugh, but in the manner of those who are ready to weep should that be God’s will. Our joy should be joined with sadness, and with compassion for those who suffer. No one should live apart from others, and all should rejoice whenever God’s name is honoured. Yes, rejoice, even when we have reason to feel sad and gloomy.

Conversely, it may be that we are fine, in the best of spirits. But supposing there is some dire trouble in the church or God’s name is blasphemed, held up to shame or ridicule — that should give us cause or grief grief deeper even than the joy we felt. At such a time we ought to moderate the happiness which earthly blessings bring. We ought, as the proverb says, to mix water with our wine.”

–John Calvin, Sermons on the Beatitudes, trans. by Robert White (Carlisle, PA.: Banner of Truth, 1562/2006), p. 80.

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“Mere fiddlers” by John Calvin

“Was there ever a more detestable conspiracy? Prophets and teachers of the church whose task is to instruct –mere fiddlers, playing sweet songs which tickle the ears of their audience but which achieve nothing! Meantime the flatterers are lavish in their praise: ‘Ah! An outstanding teacher! An excellent man! What more could we ask for?’ So while some crave compliments and others tell them what they want to hear, our Lord Jesus Christ gives the lie to all such notions: Woe to you when men speak well of you.”

–John Calvin, Sermons on the Beatitudes, trans. by Robert White (Carlisle, PA.: Banner of Truth, 1562/2006), p. 81.

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“The happiness we are to seek is from above” by John Calvin

“The happiness we are to seek is from above. While we are on earth, we must prepare to do battle. But there is also the promise of rest which will be ours, of victory and the glory which goes with it. That promise calls us to look away from the world and to lift our minds to the realm above.”

–John Calvin, Sermons on the Beatitudes, trans. by Robert White (Carlisle, PA.: Banner of Truth, 1562/2006), p. 66.

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“When only the Father sees me” by Sinclair Ferguson

“It is in secret, not in public, that what we really are as Christians becomes clear. It is not my visible service so much as my hidden life of devotion that is the index of my spirituality. That is not to despise my public life, but to anchor its reality to the ocean bed of personal fellowship with God.

I may speak or pray with zeal and eloquence in public. I may appear to others to be master of myself when in company. But what happens when I close the door behind myself and only the Father sees me?”

–Sinclair Ferguson, In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life (Orlando: Reformation Trust, 2007), 159.

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Prayer after the Sermon by John Calvin

“Almighty God and heavenly Father,

You have promised to hear and answer our requests which we make to you in the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. We are further taught by Him and His apostles to gather together in His name, with the promise that He will be among us and will intercede for us before You, that we may receive and obtain all things on which we are agreed on earth.

You bid us pray, first, for those whom you have set up over us, our leaders and governors. Next, for the needs of all Your people, and of all men everywhere. Therefore, trusting in Your holy truth and in Your promise, and being assembled here before You in Jesus’ name, we lovingly beseech You, our God and Father, in Your infinite mercy, freely to pardon our transgressions, and so to lift our thoughts and desires to You that we may heartily call upon You according to Your good will and pleasure.

We therefore pray, heavenly Father, for all princes and lords, Your servants to whom you have committed the rule of justice. Most particularly do we pray for the rulers of this city, that you will endue them with Your Spirit, who alone is gracious and sovereign, and daily increase His gifts in them, that they, acknowledging Your Son Jesus Christ to be King of kings and Lord of lords, with full power in heaven and on earth, may seek to serve Him and exalt His reign in all their dominions, and may according to Your will, guide and govern their subjects, who are the work of Your hands and the sheep of Your pasture. And may we, Your people, here and everywhere, being kept in peace and tranquility, serve You in holiness and righteousness. And, free from the fear of our enemies, may be give You praise all our days.

We pray also, true Father and Saviour, for all whom You have ordained as pastors to Your people, who have the care of souls and the administration of Your holy gospel. May You lead and direct them by Your Holy Spirit, that they may be found faithful and true ministers of Your glory, always striving to gather and bring home the erring and wayward sheep to the Lord Jesus Christ, our chief Shepherd and principal Bishop, that they might daily prosper and grow in Him in all righteousness and holiness. Grant, moreover, that all churches may be delivered from the mouths or ravening wolves and hirelings, who follow their own purposes and ambitions, and have no care fore the honour of Your holy name and the welfare of Your flock.

Next we pray, most gracious God and merciful Father, for all men generally. Since you desire all men to acknowledge You as Saviour of the world, through the redemption won by our Lord Jesus Christ, may those who do not know Him, being in darkness and captive to ignorance and error– may they by the light of Your Holy Spirit and the preaching of Your gospel, be led into the way of salvation, which is to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. May those whom You have already visited with Your grace, and enlightened by the knowledge of Your Word, grow in all goodness, enriched by Your spiritual blessing, so that together we may all worship You with heart and voice, giving honour and homage to Christ, our Master, King and Lawgiver.

Likewise, O God of all comfort, we commend to You all whom You visit and chastise with cross and tribulation, whether it be through poverty or prison, sickness or exile, or affliction of body or mind. May You make known to them Your fatherly love, and assure them that their chastisement is for amendment of life. And may they with willing heart turn to You and, being converted, receive Your comfort, being delivered from every distress.

Finally, O God and Father, grant also that we, who are gathered here in Jesus’ name to hear His Word, may, without dissembling or hypocrisy, acknowledge that by nature we are lost, that we deserve Your punishment, and daily heap up condemnation to ourselves by our wretched and unruly lives. Help us to see that in us there is nothing good, and that flesh and blood can never inherit Your kingdom. May be gladly and with steadfast trust submit to your Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer. And may He so live in us that, our old Adam being put to death, we may rise to a new and better life, to the praise and glory of Your name.”

–John Calvin, Sermons on the Beatitudes, trans. by Robert White (Carlisle, PA.: Banner of Truth, 1562/2006), p. 83-85.

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“They are like firebrands” by John Calvin

“We should grieve when victory goes to the devil, who is the prince of discord, and when God, who is the author of peace, is shut out. That thought should make us want to put an end to quarrelling. That also is why, contrariwise, God curses all who stir up dissension and conflict among men.

They are like firebrands, who by their gossip incite former friends to hate each other; and when mutual suspicion is aroused, they sneak in and fan the flames. It is as if there were an open wound, and someone were to come and, instead of applying good ointment as a cure, rubbed in poison or venom, making it flare up even worse.”

–John Calvin, Sermons on the Beatitudes, trans. by Robert White (Carlisle, PA.: Banner of Truth, 1562/2006), p. 54-55.

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“The witness we owe to Jesus our Lord” by John Calvin

“The word ‘righteousness’ should always be ringing in our ears, since righteousness is what we stand for. And righteousness, above all, means defending the honour of God’s name, and imprinting forever on our hearts the witness we owe to Jesus our Lord.”

–John Calvin, Sermons on the Beatitudes, trans. by Robert White (Carlisle, PA.: Banner of Truth, 1562/2006), p. 63.

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