VER 1. AND SEEING THE MULTITUDES, HE WENT UP INTO A MOUNTAIN: AND WHEN HE WAS SET, HIS DISCIPLES CAME UNTO HIM. 2. AND HE OPENED HIS MOUTH, AND TAUGHT THEM, SAYING, 3. "BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT: FOR THEIR IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." Pseudo-Chrys.: Every man in his own trade or profession rejoi... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 4. "BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN; FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED." Ambrose: When you have done thus much, attained both poverty and meekness, remember that you are a sinner, mourn your sins, as He proceeds, "Blessed are they that mourn." And it is suitable that the third blessing should be of those... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 5. "BLESSED ARE THE MEEK: FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH." [ed. note, b: Verses 4 and 5 are transposed in the Vulgate.] Ambrose, in Luc. c. v. 20: When I have learned contentment in poverty, the next lesson is to govern my heart and temper. For what good is it to me to be without worldly thi... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 6. "BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH DO HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS: FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED." Ambrose: As soon as I have wept for my sins, I begin to hunger and thirst after righteousness. He who is afficted with any sort disease, hath ho hunger. Jerome: It is not enough that we desire right... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 7. "BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL: FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY." Gloss.: Justice and mercy are so united, that the one ought to be mingled with the other; justice without mercy is cruelty; mercy without justice, profusion - hence He goes on to the one from the other. Remig.: The merciful is he who h... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 8. "BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART: FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD." Ambrose, in Luc., vi, 22: The merciful loses the benefit of his mercy, unless he shews it from a pure heart; for if he seeks to have whereof to boast, he loses the fruit of his deeds; the next that follows therefore is, "Blessed are th... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 9. "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD." Ambrose: When you have made your inward parts clean from every spot of sin, that dissentions and contentions may not proceed from your temper, begin peace within yourself, that so you may extend it to others. Aug.,... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 10. "BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE: FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN." Chrys.: "Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake," that is for virtue, for defending others, for piety, for all these things are spoken of under the title of righteo... [ Continue Reading ]
VER11. "BLESSED ARE YE, WHEN MEN SHALL REVILE YOU, AND PERSECUTE YOU, AND SHALL SAY ALL MANNER OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY, FOR MY SAKE. 12. REJOICE, AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD: FOR GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN: FOR SO PERSECUTED THEY THE PROPHETS WHICH WERE BEFORE YOU." Rabanus: The preceding blessin... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 13. "YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH: BUT IF THE SALT HAVE LOST HIS SAVOUR, WHEREWITH SHALL IT BE SALTED? IT IS THENCEFORTH GOOD FOR NOTHING, BUT TO BE CAST OUT, AND TO BE TRODDEN UNDER FOOT OF MEN." Chrys.: When He had delivered to His Apostles such sublime precepts, so much greater than the prece... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 14. "YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY THAT IS SET ON A HILL CANNOT BE HID." Gloss: As the doctors by their good conversation are the salt with which the people is salted; so by their word of doctrine they are the light by which the ignorant are enlightened. Pseudo-Chrys.: But to live well... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 17. "THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO DESTROY THE LAW, OR THE PROPHETS: I AM NOT COME TO DESTROY, BUT TO FULFIL. 18. FOR VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, TILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS, ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE SHALL IN NO WISE PASS FROM THE LAW, TILL ALL BE FULFILLED. 19. WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL BREAK ONE OF THESE... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 20. "FOR I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT EXCEPT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, YE SHALL IN NO CASE ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 21. YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID BY THEM OF OLD TIME, THOU SHALT NOT KILL; AND WHOSOEVER SHALL KILL SHALL BE IN DANGER OF T... [ Continue Reading ]
VER23. "THEREFORE IF THOU BRING THY GIFT TO THE ALTAR, AND THERE REMEMBEREST THAT THY BROTHER HATH OUGHT AGAINST THEE; 24. LEAVE THERE THY GIFT BEFORE THE ALTAR, AND GO THY WAY; FIRST BE RECONCILED TO THY BROTHER, AND THEN COME AND OFFER THY GIFT." Aug., Serm. in Mont., i, 10: If it be not lawful t... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 25. "AGREE WITH THINE ADVERSARY QUICKLY, WHILES THOU ART IN THE WAY WITH HIM; LEST AT ANY TIME THE ADVERSARY DELIVER THEE TO THE JUDGE, AND THE JUDGE DELIVER THEE TO THE OFFICER, AND THOU BE CAST INTO PRISON. 26. VERILY I SAY UNTO THEE, THOU SHALT BY NO MEANS COME OUT THENCE, TILL THOU HAST PAID... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 27. "YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID BY THEM OF OLD TIME, 'THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY:' 28. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT WHOSOEVER LOOKETH ON A WOMAN TO LUST AFTER HER HATH COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH HER ALREADY IN HIS HEART." Chrys., Hom. xvii: The Lord having explained how much is contained in th... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 29. "AND IF THEY RIGHT EYE OFFEND THEE, PLUCK IT OUT, AND CAST IT FROM THEE: FOR IT IS PROFITABLE FOR THEE THAT ONE OF THY MEMBERS SHOULD PERISH, AND NOT THAT THY WHOLE BODY SHOULD BE CAST INTO HELL. 30. AND IF THEY RIGHT HAND OFFEND THEE, CUT IT OFF, AND CAST IT FROM THEE: FOR IT IS PROFITABLE... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 31. "IT HATH BEEN SAID, 'WHOSOEVER SHALL PUT AWAY HIS WIFE, LET HIM GIVE HER A WRITING OF DIVORCEMENT:' 32. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL PUT AWAY HIS WIFE, SAVING FOR THE CAUSE OF FORNICATION, CAUSETH HER TO COMMIT ADULTERY: AND WHOSOEVER SHALL MARRY HER THAT IS DIVORCED COMMITTETH A... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 33. "AGAIN, YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT HATH BEEN SAID BY THEM OF OLD TIME, 'THOU SHALT NOT FORSWEAR THYSELF, BUT SHALT PERFORM UNTO THE LORD THINE OATHS:' 34. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, SWEAR NOT AT ALL; NEITHER BY HEAVEN; FOR IT IS GOD'S THRONE; 35. NOR BY THE EARTH; FOR IT IS HIS FOOTSTOOL: NEITHER BY JER... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 38. "YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT HATH BEEN SAID, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH:' 39. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT YE RESIST NOT EVIL: BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL SMITE THEE ON THY RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER ALSO. 40. AND IF ANY MAN WILL SUE THEE AT THE LAW, AND TAKE AWAY THY COAT, LET HIM HA... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 43. "YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT HATH BEEN SAID, 'THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR, AND HATE THINE ENEMY.' 44. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU; 45. THAT YE MAY BE THE CHILDREN O... [ Continue Reading ]