The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-31
THE sUNDAY-sCHooL LESSON.
April I, 1900, Matthew Nv, 1916, r.
The Beatitudes.


When the Sermon or the Mount is contrast
ed with other forms of eIoquence. its superiority
is at once apparent. They for crises Their
fame and usefulness. comparatively. passed
with the occasion that gave them birth
They have gone TO the oblivion OF con-
gressional parliamentary records. \ few
OF them only find place I'm neglected volumes Of
masterpieces of eloquence." The glory
of Jesus inaugural sermon is that IL addresses
itself to the universal human heart. IL has a
development of it's running parallel to that
OF the race 1t unfolds itself in practical help
fulness for every emergency. Its principles are
so fundamental as to be always practicable.
That is the secret OF its perennial power.
IL spoken nearly two thousand years ago
to the unsynagogued congregation. That assem-
bly, dissolved; but in each successive generation
a new and ever-increasing throng has come to-
gcther. AS from the sounding-board of the open
heavens, the old sermon has struck the ear of
each congregation. The sermon Jesus
preached is no dream of ideal eloquence- Ii
lives in every dialect. II is the most potent COM
position in written speech Millions know IL by
heart. Millions live by IL. The likeness
of some of Jesus sayings to the aphorlsms OF
the rabbits may be admitted. But when such
rabbinical maxims put back into their con-
text they are usually found TO be a lower
plane. and often moving in a direction opposite
to the teaching of Jesus. He used modes of
speech current in his day. but made them
vehicles OF diviner wisdom. Jesus stands
the original and unceasing teacher of the race.
He speaks with authority the universal human
heart, Illuminating. inspiring. empowering it.
He could say not only, II speak TRUTH" but Il
Truth He is original Source. not transmit
ter; Fountain, not conduit. Impossible that the
stream. 1t proceeded from His lips should be
perturbed or corrupted. He is the
instituter OF system of doctrine or the for
mulator of ritual He inspires life in the
soul, sets up kingdom within. consisting not
In sacrifice and oblation, but righteousness and
its concomitants. peace and JOY. So He said:
The words 1 speak unto you are spirit, are
life."
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES. E.
Sermon the Mount: Platform OF the new
dispensation. -Whedon. A magnificent porch to
the temple of Lords ministry.-Olshausen-
Designed to set forth the fundamental principles
of the new covenant-Eddy. Heavenly summary
the life practice of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Charter of the kingdom OF God.-Pressense. See
ing these mutitudes. he went up into the noun
tain A mountain. a lofty part of the earth
nearer TO heaven, is suited to the most holy
acknowledged. Opened his mouth Man is the
mouth of creation; Christ is the mouth of hui
manity.-Lange. The evangelsts have tran
scribed at length two discourses of our Lord as
models of all: That which delivered prac-
tically at the commencement Of His ministry,
another delivered privately close
Bengel Blessed: This first word. often
peated, indicates the scope OF Christ's teaching.
Ibid. Seven absolute beatitudes Expressing
state of pious such). Two relative Gin their
relations to mem. All in most beautiful order.
Ibid. Four benedictions proper receptive
ness of heart. Two benedctions on positive
traits of character. A triad of benedictions on
Christian doing.-whedon. The Heavenly Teacher
prevailed. His whole subsequent life and dis
courses may be called a commentary on this
sermon.-Olshausen. Blessed: The fundamental
formula of the gospel.-Stier. Exordium Sweet
Invitation to the fellowship of true righteousness
and of blessedness in it-Ibd.
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
Our great familiarity with the beatitudes is
in sense disadvantage. We have them too
much by rote They are words with a pleasing
sound. We need to find the spirit under the let
ter. Jesus purpose In this sermon was
to unfold the principles of the kingdom of
heaven. Each beatitude. therefore, has a spe-
cihc meaning pertaining TO that kingdom. 1t Is
not the poor in general those who mourn on
account of bereavement. those who, in a
common sense, humble; not such that are
felicitated. Only those in particular are con-
graduated who are conscious of the emptiness
and poverty of their souls. In such there is
room for the kingdom Those who on account Of
this sorrowful and penitent are in the way
of divine comfort. Still another subjective phase
is depicted in the word meek" The contrast
is TO the self-satisfed pharisaical spirit, which
makes the Savors work a supererogation
Again. a holy appetite Indispensable. Empti-
ness, pentence. humility. desire-these are the
conditions of the entrance of the kingdom
which comforts. enriches and fills Again,
the sutton for divine mercy must himself be dis