Verse 1

The Lord JESUS

Lord JESUS in this Chapter concludes his Sermon on the Mount, and a very blessed close he makes of it, in comparing the wise hearers of it to those who build on the Rock, and the foolish to those who build on the Sand.

Verses 1-11

I pass over the several most blessed things which the Lord Jesus here treats of, as being in themselves so plain, and by Him so beautifully expressed, as to render all explanation unnecessary. But I detain the Reader at the close of the passage, to beg his special, and particular attention to that unequalled argument the LORD JESUS condescends to make use of, in representing the great predisposing grace of our heavenly Father to bless his children, under the figure of the solicitude of an earthly parent. It is as if JESUS had said; is a poor worm of the earth, one of the fallen sinful sons of Adam, so prompt to listen to the cries of his children because he is a father, as to give them the best things the moment they ask them; think then how earnest the Great Father of mercies must be to give his Holy Spirit to his children, and who hath already given the greatest of all blessings, and unasked as it was, when giving them his only begotten Son. John 14:16-17.

Verse 12

This golden rule needs no comment. Oh! that all the followers of the Lord JESUS made it their rule with all men. It is said of one of the heathen emperors, Alexander Severus, that he was so great an admirer of this maxim, that he caused it to be written for public use, and often mentioned it in honor of Christ and the Christian religion. What a reproach to Christians who act not up to it!

Verses 13-23

Nothing can be more interesting than what the Lord JESUS hath here said. And no form of words can be more decisive to mark the godly man from the hypocrite. I only detain the Reader to observe, how very awful those words of CHRIST are concerning false Teachers, in the great day of account. Preaching or prophesying in the name of CHRIST, and doing even miracles in the name of CHRIST, these are no proofs of the regeneration of the preacher's own heart. And very awful will it be then found; if there be no union with CHRIST here, there can he no communion with CHRIST to all eternity. And observe, that the LORD JESUS doth not say that this will be the portion of a few, but many! Oh! for grace to be found among the blessed few who have CHRIST formed in their hearts, The hope of glory!

Verses 24-29

Here the LORD closeth his discourse, and plainly sheweth whose are his from the men of the world. CHRIST is the Rock of Ages, the Precious Corner Stone JEHOVAH hath laid in Zion. And all that believe in him shall never perish, but have everlasting life. While on the contrary, those who build on the sand of their own attainments, when the storms of life come upon them, sink under the unequal pressure, and are buried in the everlasting ruins of their own confusion, and shall never come to the habitations of the blessed. The close of the LORD'S' sermon was, as might be expected. They were astonished at his doctrine. He spake as never man spake, and his word was with power.

REFLECTIONS.

READER! having gone over the whole of this blessed Sermon of CHRIST, let us sum up the contents, and beg of God the HOLY GHOST to write all the gracious truths contained in it in our hearts, And while we hear the LORD giving to his Church the whole Gospel of Salvation, oh! what a blessed consideration is it, that JESUS himself hath fulfilled all, and is all to his redeemed. Never may the Church of JESUS forget this, but receive Christ as the Father's gift, and the complete salvation of JEHOVAH to the end of the earth!

Precious, blessed Lord JESUS! so may my soul hear these sayings of thine, and embrace them, that building upon thee as the foundation, the superstructure, and the whole, both of Law and the Prophets, when the Lord shall arise to shake terribly the earth, I may be found firm on the rock, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail. Despised as thou hast been, and still art, by Jews and false Christians, and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; yet to me be thou more precious than the mountains of spices. In thy person, work and offices; in thy character and relations; in thy complete righteousness and salvation; be thou my Lord, my hope, and everlasting portion. Lord grant that I may never build on the sandy performance of anything of my own, or mix up with thy complete work the hay and the stubble of any legal righteousness, which can stand no wind of the day of God's wrath; but be thou the all in all, of all grace here, and of glory forever. Amen.