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compassion shown to others is vividly portrayed in the parable of Matt. 18: 21-35 and
the divine judgment on those who deal harshly with others.
No.9.
The Sermon on
the Mount (cont'd) (5: 8 - 12).
pp. 125 - 130
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5: 8).
This does not only mean a mind that is free from sin, but rather single-mindedness,
whose first desire is continually to the Lord and His claims. We remember the warning
of double-mindedness (James 1: 8). One of the features of our great and certain hope is
that "we shall see Him as He is" and this will be true of all the callings of the redeemed.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matt. 5: 9,
N.I.V.).
It is true to say that the "worthy walk" always leads to peace and not enmity or
division. In other words, peace leads to unity, and unity is very important in the
outworking of the purposes of God, hence the three divine unities of Eph. 4:, the
sevenfold unity of the Spirit, of the Faith and of the Body.
God's work can proceed with unity; it is hindered by division, hence Satan's aim to
constantly divide the people of God. The One Who is the Lord and Head of the Body is
the Prince of Peace, Whose kingdom is one of peace. Each member's spiritual
experience starts with peace (Rom. 5: 1) and continues with it, for peace is an important
part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22, 23). Peacemaking begins at home, in the mind,
and then spreads to all God's family.
The eighth Beatitude deals with men's attitude towards the believer:
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven" (Matt. 5: 10, N.I.V.).
And this attitude will often be one of hostility:
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you . . . but because ye
are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth
you . . . if they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you . . ." (John 15: 18-20).
The Lord has warned us beforehand of the opposition and hatred of an unbelieving
world. Most people dislike those whose principles differ greatly from their own, and
specially those whose principles are much higher than their own. Such are a standing
reproach to those who are not righteous, and it is exasperating to be constantly reminded
that one's life is not what it ought to be.