The Beatitudes
Thomas Watson
Introduction
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a
mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his
mouth, and taught them. Mt
5:1,Mt 5:2
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T |
he blessed
evangelist St Matthew, the penman of this sacred history, was at first by
profession a publican or gatherer of toll; and Christ, having called him from
the custom-house, made him a gatherer of souls. This holy man in the first
chapter sets down Christ's birth and genealogy. In the second, his dignity; a
star ushers in the wise men to him, and as a king he is presented with gold and
frankincense and myrrh (vv 9-11). In the third
chapter the evangelist records his baptism; in the fourth, his temptations; in
the fifth, his preaching, which chapter is like a rich mine. Every vein has
some gold in it.
There are
four things in this chapter which offer themselves to our view,
1. The
Preacher
2. The
Pulpit
3. The
Occasion
4. The
Sermon
1. The
Preacher. Jesus Christ. The best of preachers. `He went up.' He in whom there
was a combination of virtues, a constellation of beauties. He whose lips were
not only sweet as the honey-comb, but did drop as the honey-comb. His words, an
oracle; his works, a miracle; his life, a pattern; his death, a sacrifice. `He
went up into a mountain and taught., Jesus Christ was every way ennobled and
qualified for the work of the ministry.
(i) Christ was an intelligent preacher. He had `the Spirit
without measure' {Joh 3:34} and knew how to speak a word in due season,
when to humble, when to comfort. We cannot know all the faces of our hearers.
Christ knew the hearts of his hearers. He understood what doctrine would best
suit them, as the husbandman can tell what sort of grain is proper for
such-and-such a soil.
(ii) Christ
was a powerful preacher. `He spake with authority'. {Mt 7:29} He could set men's sins before them and
show them their very hearts. `Come, see a man which told me all things that
ever I did'. {Joh 4:29} That is the best
glass, not which is most richly set with pearl, but which shows the truest
face. Christ was a preacher to the conscience. He breathed as much zeal as
eloquence. He often touched upon the heart-strings. What is said of Luther is
more truly applicable to Christ. He spake `as if he had been within a man'. He
could drive the wedge of his doctrine in the most knotty
piece. He was able with his two-edged sword to pierce an
heart of stone. `Never man spake like this man' {Joh 7:46}
(iii) Christ
was a successful preacher. He had the art of converting souls. `Many believed
on him.', {Joh 10:42} yea, persons of rank and quality. `Among
the chief rulers many believed'. {Joh 12:42} He who had `grace poured into his lips', {Ps 45:2} could pour grace into his hearers' hearts.
He had the key of David in his hand, and when he pleased did open the hearts of
men, and make way both for himself and his doctrine to enter. If he did blow
the trumpet his very enemies would come under his banner. Upon his summons none
dare but surrender.
(iv) Christ
was a lawful preacher. As he had his unction from his Father, so his mission.
`The Father that sent me bears witness of me'. {Joh 8:18} Christ, in
whom were all perfections concentrated, yet would be solemnly sealed and
inaugurated into his ministerial as well as mediatory office. If Jesus Christ
would not enter upon the work of the ministry without a commission, how
absurdly impudent are they who without any warrant dare invade this holy
function! There must be a lawful admission of men into the ministry. `No man
taketh this honour to himself, but he that is called
of God, as was Aaron'. {Heb 5:4} Our Lord Christ, as he gave apostles and prophets who were
extraordinary ministers, so pastors and teachers who were initiated and made in
an ordinary way; {Eph 4:11} and he will
have a ministry perpetuated; `Lo I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world'. {Mt 28:20} Sure, there is as much need of ordination
now as in Christ's time and in the time of the apostles, there being then
extraordinary gifts in the church which are now ceased.
But why
should not the ministry lie in common? `Hath the Lord spoken only by Moses?'. {Nu 12:2} Why should not one preach as well as
another? I answer; Because God (who is the God of order) has made the work of
the ministry a select, distinct office from any other. As in the body natural
the members have a distinct office, the eye is to see, the hand to work; you
may as well say, why should not the hand see as well as the eye? Because God
has made the distinction. He has put the seeing faculty into the one and not
the other. So here, God has made a distinction between the work of the ministry
and other work.
Where is
this distinction? We find in Scripture a distinction between pastor and people.
`The elders (or ministers) I exhort...Feed the flock of God which is among
you'. {1Pe 5:2} If anyone may preach, by the same rule all
may, and then what will become of the apostle's distinction? Where will the
flock of God be if all be pastors?
God has cut
out the minister his work which is proper for him and does not belong to any
other. `Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...give thyself
wholly to them', or, as it is in the Greek, `Be thou wholly in them'. {1Ti 4:1,13-15} This charge is peculiar to the
minister and does not concern any other. It is not spoken to the tradesman that
he should give himself wholly to doctrine and exhortation. No, let him look to
his shop. It is not spoken to the ploughman that he should give himself wholly
to preaching. No, let him give himself to his plough. It is the minister's
charge. The apostle speaks to Timothy and, in him, to the rest who had the
hands of the presbytery laid on them. And `Study to shew thyself approved..., a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth'. {2Ti 2:15} This is spoken peculiarly to the minister. Everyone that can read the
word aright cannot divide the word aright. So that the work of the ministry
does not lie in common; it is a select, peculiar work. As none might touch the
ark but the priests, none may touch this temple-office but such as are called
to it.
But if a man
has gifts, is not this sufficient? I answer, No! As grace is not sufficient to
make a minister, so neither are gifts. The Scripture puts a difference between
gifting and sending. `How shall they preach unless they be sent?'. {Ro 10:15} If gifts were enough to constitute a minister,
the apostle should have said, `How shall they preach unless they be gifted?, but he says `unless they be sent?' As in other
callings, gifts do not make a magistrate. The attorney that pleads at the bar
may have as good gifts as the judge that sits upon the bench, but he must have
a commission before he sit as judge. If it be thus in matters civil, much more
in ecclesiastical and sacred, which are, as Bucer
says, `things of the highest importance'. Those therefore that usurp the
ministerial work without any special designation and appointment discover more
pride than zeal. They act out of their sphere and are guilty of theft. They
steal upon a people, and, as they come without a call, so they stay without a
blessing. `I sent them not, therefore they shall not profit this people at
all'. {Jer 23:32} And so
much for the first, the preacher.
2. The
pulpit where Christ preached. `He went up into a mountain.'
The law was
first given on the mount, and here Christ expounds it on the mount. This mount,
as is supposed by Jerome and others of the learned, was Mount Tabor. It was a
convenient place to speak in, being seated above the people, and in regard of
the great confluence of hearers.
3. The occasion
of Christ's ascending the mount: `Seeing the multitude.'
The people
thronged to hear Christ, and he would not dismiss the congregation without a
sermon, but 'seeing the multitude he went up'. Jesus Christ came from heaven as
a factor for souls. He lay leiger here awhile;
preaching was his business. The people could not be so desirous to hear as he
was to preach. He who treated faint bodies with compassion, {Mt 15:32} much more pitied dead souls. It was his
`meat and drink, to do his Father's will. {Joh 4:34} `And seeing the multitude', he goes up into
the mount and preaches. This he did not only for the consolation of his
hearers, but for the imitation of his ministers.
From whence
observe that Christ's ministers according to Christ's pattern must embrace
every opportunity of doing good to souls. Praying and preaching and studying
must be our work. `Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season'. {2Ti 4:2} Peter, seeing the multitude, lets down the
net and, at one draught, catches three thousand souls. {Ac 2:41} How zealously industrious have God's
champions been in former ages in fulfilling the work of their ministry, as we
read of Chrysostom, Augustine, Basil the Great, Calvin, Bucer
and others, who for the work of Christ `were nigh unto death'. The reasons why
the ministers of Christ (according to his pattern) should be ambitiously
desirous of all opportunities for soul-service are:
(i) Their commission: God has entrusted them as ambassadors. {2Co 5:20} Now you know an ambassador waits for a day of audience, and as soon as a day is granted, he faithfully and impartially delivers the mind of his prince. Thus Christ's ministers, having a commission delegated to them to negotiate for souls, should be glad when there is a day of audience, that they may impart the mind and will of Christ to his people.
(ii) Their titles: Ministers are called God's sowers. {1Co 9:11} Therefore they must upon all occasions be scattering the blessed seed of the Word. The sower must go forth and sow; yea, though the seed fall upon stones, as usually it does, yet we must disseminate and scatter the seed of the Word upon stony hearts, because `even of these stones God is able to raise up children' to himself.
Ministers are called stars. Therefore they must shine by word and doctrine in the firmament of the church. Thus our Lord Christ has set them a pattern in the text: `Seeing the multitude, he went up into the mountain.' Here was a light set upon an hill, the bright morning star shining to all that were round about. Christ calls his ministers `the light of the world'. {Mt 5:14} Therefore they must be always giving forth their lustre. Their light must not go out till it be in the socket, or till violent death as an extinguisher put it out.
(iii) Christ's ministers must catch at all occasions of doing good to others, in regard of the work which they are about, and that is saving of souls. What a precious thing is a soul! Christ takes, as it were, a pair of scales in his hands and he puts the world in one scale and the soul in the other, and the soul outweighs (Matthews 16: 26). The soul is of a noble origin, of a quick operation; it is a flower of eternity; here, in the bud; in heaven, fully ripe and blown. The soul is one of the richest pieces of embroidery that ever God made, the understanding bespangled with light, the will invested with liberty, the affections like musical instruments tuned with the finger of the Holy Ghost. The soul is Christ's partner, the angels, familiar. Now if the souls of men are of so noble an extract and made capable of glory, oh how zealously industrious should Christ's ministers be to save these souls! If Christ spent his blood for souls, well may we spend our sweat. It was Augustine's prayer that Christ might find him at his coming either praying or preaching. What a sad sight is it to see precious souls as so many pearls and diamonds cast into the dead sea of hell!
(iv) The ministers of Christ, 'seeing the multitude', must ' ascend the mount', because there are so many emissaries of Satan who lie at the catch to subvert souls. How the old serpent casts out of his mouth floods of water after the woman to drown her! {Re 12:15} What floods of heresy have been poured out in city and country, which have overflowed the banks not only of religion but civility. Ignatius calls error `the invention of the devil', and Bernard calls it `a sweet poison'. Men's ears, like sponges, have sucked in this poison. Never were the devil's commodities more vendible in England than now. A fine tongue can put off bad wares. The Jesuit can silver over his lies, and dress error in truth's coat. A weak brain is soon intoxicated. When flattery and subtlety meet with the simple, they easily become a prey. The Romish whore entices many to drink down the poison of her idolatry and filthiness, because it is given in `a golden cup'. {Re 17:4} If all who have the plague of the head should die, it would much increase the bill of mortality. Now if there be so many emissaries of Satan abroad, who labour to make proselytes to the church of Rome, how it concerns them whom God has put into the work of the ministry to bestir themselves and lay hold on all opportunities, that by their spiritual antidotes they may `convert sinners from the error of their way and save their souls from death!'. {Jas 5:20} Ministers must not only be `pastores', but `proeliatores' (fighters, warriors). In one hand they must hold the bread of life and `feed the flock of God'; in the other hand, they must hold the sword of the Spirit and fight against those errors which carry damnation in their front.
(v) The ministers of Christ should wait for all opportunities of soul-service, because the preaching of the Word meets so many adverse forces that hinder the progress and success of it. Never did a pilot meet with so many Euroclydons and crosswinds in a voyage, as the spiritual pilots of God's church do when they are transporting souls to heaven.
Some hearers
have bad memories. {Jas 1:25} Their memories are like leaking vessels.
All the precious wine of holy doctrine that is poured in runs out immediately.
Ministers cannot by study find a truth so fast as others can lose it. If the
meat does not stay in the stomach, it can never breed good blood. If a truth
delivered does not stay in the memory, we can never be, as the apostle says,
`nourished up in the words of faith'. {1Ti 4:6} How often does the devil, that fowl of the
air, pick up the good seed that is sown! If people suffer at the hands of
thieves, they tell everyone and make their complaint they have been robbed; but
there is a worse thief they are not aware of! How many sermons has the devil
stolen from them! How many truths have they been robbed of, which might have
been so many deathbed cordials! Now if the Word preached slides so fast out of
the memory, ministers had need the oftener to go up the preaching mount, that
at last some truth may abide and be as `a nail fastened by the masters of
assemblies'.
The ears of
many of our hearers are stopped with earth. I mean the cares of the world, that
the Word preached will not enter, according to that in the parable, `Hearing
they hear not'. {Mt 13:13} We read of Saul, his eyes were open, yet
`he saw no man'. {Ac 9:8} A strange
paradox! And is it not as strange that men's ears should be open, yet `in
hearing hear not?' They mind not what is said: `They sit before thee as my
people sitteth...but their heart goeth after their
covetousness'. {Eze 33:31} Many sit and stare the minister in the
face, yet scarce know a word he says. They are thinking of their wares and
drugs and are often casting up accounts in the church. If a man be in a mill,
though you speak never so loud to him, he does not hear you for the noise of
the mill. We preach to men about matters of salvation, but the mill of worldly
business makes such a noise that they cannot hear; `in hearing they hear not'.
It being thus, ministers who are called 'sons of thunder' had need often ascend
the mount and `lift up their voice like a trumpet' {Isa 58:1} that the deaf ear may be syringed and
unstopped, and may hear `what the Spirit saith unto the churches'. {Re 2:7}
Others, as
they have earth in their ears, so they have a stone in their hearts. They make
`their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law'. {Zec 7:12} The
ministers of Christ therefore must be frequently brandishing the sword of the
Spirit and striking at men's sins, that, if possible, they may at last pierce
the heart of stone. When the earth is scorched with the sun, it is so hard and
crusted together, that a shower of rain will not soften it. There must be
shower after shower before it will be either moist or fertile. Such an hardened piece is the heart of man naturally. It is so
stiffened with the scorchings of lust, that there
must be `precept upon precept'. {Isa 28:10} Our doctrine must `distil as the dew, as
the small rain on the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass'. {De 32:2}
(vi) Christ's ministers, according to the example of their Lord and Master, should take all occasions of doing good, not only in regard of God's glory, but their own comfort. What triumph is it, and cause of gladness, when a minister can say on his deathbed, `Lord, I have done the work which thou gayest me to do', I have been trading for souls! When a minister comes to the mount of glory, the heavenly mount, it will be a great comfort to him that he has been so often upon the preaching mount. Certainly if the angels in heaven rejoice at the conversion of a sinner, {Lu 15:7,Lu 15:10} how shall that minister rejoice in heaven over every soul that he has been instrumental to convert! As it shall add a member to Christ's body, so a jewel to a minister's crown. `They that are wise', or as the original carries it, `They that are teachers shall shine (not as lamps or tapers, but) as stars; {Da 12:3} not as planets, but as fixed stars in the firmament of glory for ever.,
And though `Israel
be not gathered', yet shall God's ministers `be glorious in the eyes of the
Lord'. {Isa 49:5} God will reward them not according to their
success, but their diligence. When they are a 'savour
of death' to men, yet they are a 'sweet savour' to
God. In an orchard the labourer that fells a tree is
rewarded as well as he that plants a tree. The surgeon's bill is paid though
the patient die.
First, let
me crave liberty to speak a word to the Elishas, my
reverend and honoured brethren in the ministry. You
are engaged in a glorious service. God has put great renown upon you. He has
entrusted you with two most precious jewels, his truths and the souls of his
people. Never was this honour conferred upon any
angel to convert souls! What princely dignity can parallel this? The pulpit is
higher than the throne, for a truly constituted minister represents no less
than God himself. `As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's
stead, be ye reconciled to God'. {2Co 5:20} Give me leave to say as the apostle, `I
magnify my office'. {Ro 11:13} Whatever our persons are, the office is sacred. The ministry is the
most honourable employment in the world. Jesus Christ
has graced this calling by his entering into it. Other men work in their trade;
ministers work with God. `We are labourers together
with God'. {1Co 3:9} O high honour! God and his ministers have one and the same work.
They both negotiate about souls. Let the sons of the prophets wear this as
their crown and diadem.
But while I
tell you of your dignity, do not forget your duty. Imitate this blessed pattern
in the text, `the Lord Jesus who, seeing the multitudes, went up and taught'.
He took all occasions of preaching Sometimes he taught in the temple; {Mr 14:49} sometimes
in a ship, {Mr 4:1} and here,
upon the mount. His lips were a tree of life that fed many. How often did he
neglect his food, that he might feast others with his doctrine! Let all the
ministers of Christ tread in his steps! Make Christ not only your Saviour, but
your example. Suffer no opportunities to slip wherein you may be helpful to the
souls of others. Be not content to go to heaven yourselves, but be as the
Primum Mobile, which draws other orbs along with it. Be such shining lamps that
you may light others to heaven with you. I will conclude with that of the
apostle: `Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord'. {1Co 15:58}
Secondly,
let me turn myself to the flock of God. If ministers must take all
opportunities to preach, you must take all opportunities to hear. If there were
twice or thrice a week a certain sum of money to be distributed to all comers,
then people would resort thither. Now think thus with yourselves; when the Word
of God is preached, the bread of life is distributed, which is more precious
than `thousands of gold and silver'. {Ps 119:72} In the Word preached, heaven and salvation
is offered to you. In this field the pearl of price is hid. How should you
`flock like doves' to the windows of the sanctuary! {Isa 60:8} We read the gate of the temple was called
`beautiful'. {Ac 3:2} The gate of
God's house is the beautiful gate. Lie at `these posts of wisdom's doors'. {Pr 8:34 }
Not only
hear the Word preached, but encourage those ministers who do preach by liberal
maintaining of them. Though I hope all who have God's Urim
and Thummim written upon them, can say, as the apostle, `I seek not yours, but
you', {2Co 12:14} yet that scripture is still canonical, `So
hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the
gospel'. {1Co 9:14} Are not labourers in a vineyard maintained by their labours? says Peter Martyr. And the apostle puts the
question, `Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not the fruit of it? {1Co 9:7} Hypocrites love a cheap religion. They like
a gospel that will put them to no charges. They are content so they may have
golden bags, to have wooden priests. How many by saving their purses have lost
their souls! Julian the Apostate robbed the ministers, pretending conscience. I
need not tell you how vengeance pursued him. Is it not pity the fire on God's
altar should go out for want of pouring on a little golden oil? David would not
offer that to God which cost him nothing. {2Sa 24:24}
Encourage
God's ministers by your fruitfulness under their labours.
When ministers are upon the `mount', let them not be upon the rocks. What cost
has God laid out upon this city! Never, I believe, since the apostles, times
was there a more learned, orthodox, powerful ministry than now. God's ministers
are called stars. {Re 1:20} In this city every morning a star appears,
besides the bright constellation on the Lord's Day. Oh you that feed in the
green pastures of ordinances, be fat and fertile; you that are planted in the
courts of God, flourish in the courts of God. {Ps 92:13} How sad will it be with a people that shall
go laden to hell with Gospel blessings! The best way to encourage your
ministers is to let them see the travail of their souls in your new birth. It
is a great comfort when a minister not only woos souls, but wins souls. `He
that winneth souls is wise'. {Pr 11:30} This is a minister's glory. `For what is
our joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye?'. {1Th 2:19} A successful preacher wears two crowns, a
crown of righteousness in heaven, and a crown of rejoicing here upon earth.
`Are not ye our crown?'
Encourage
your ministers by praying for them. Their work is great. It is a work that will
take up their head and heart, and all little enough. It is a work fitter for
angels than men. `Who is sufficient for these things?'. {2Co 2:16} Oh pray for them! Christ indeed, when he
ascended the mount and was to preach, needed none of the people's prayers for
him. He had a sufficient stock by him, the divine nature to supply him, but all
his under-officers in the ministry need prayer. If Saint Paul, who abounded in
the graces of the Spirit and supernatural revelations, begged prayer, {1Th 5:25} then surely other ministers need prayer who
do not pretend to any such revelations.
And pray for
your ministers that God will direct them what to preach, that he will cut out
their work for them. `Go preach...the preaching that I bid thee'. {Jon 3:2} It is a great matter to preach suitable
truths; there are `acceptable words'. {Ec 12:10}
Pray that
God will go forth with their labours, or else `they
toil and catch nothing'. God's Spirit must fill the sails of our ministry. It
is not the hand that scatters the seed which makes it spring up, but the dews
and influences of heaven. So it is not our preaching, but the divine influence
of the Spirit that makes grace grow in men's hearts. We are but pipes and
organs. It is God's Spirit blowing in us that makes the preaching of the Word
by a divine enchantment allure souls to Christ. Ministers are but stars to
light you to Christ. The Spirit is the loadstone to draw you. All the good done
by our ministry is `due to the Lord's excellent and effectual working' (Bucer). Oh then pray for us, that God will make his work
prosper in our hands. This may be one reason why the Word preached does not
profit more, because people do not pray more. Perhaps you complain the tool is
dull, the minister is dead and cold. You should have whetted and sharpened him
by your prayer. If you would have the door of a blessing opened to you through
our ministry, you must unlock it by the key of prayer.
There
is Blessedness in Reversion