Teachings of Christ
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that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Isaiah 57:15
.
“Blessed are they that mourn.”
Matthew 5:4
. This does not mean
those who complain and murmur, and who go about with a sour,
downcast look. It means those who are truly sorry for their sins, and
who ask God for pardon.
All such He will freely forgive. He says, “I will turn their mourning
into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their
sorrow.”
Jeremiah 31:13
.
“Blessed are the meek.”
Matthew 5:5
. Christ says, “Learn of Me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart.”
Matthew 11:29
. When He was
wrongfully treated, He returned good for evil. In this He has given us
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an example, that we should do as He has done.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.”
Righteousness is right-doing. It is obedience to the law of God; for in
that law the principles of righteousness are set forth. The Bible says,
“All Thy commandments are righteousness.”
Psalm 119:172
.
That law Christ, by His example, taught men to obey. The righ-
teousness of the law is seen in His life. We hunger and thirst after
righteousness when we want to have all our thoughts, our words, and
our actions, like Christ’s.
And we may be like Christ if we really desire to be. We may have
our lives like His life, our actions in harmony with the law of God.
The Holy Spirit will bring God’s love into our hearts, so that we shall
delight to do His will.
God is more willing to give us His Spirit than parents are to give
good things to their children. His promise is, “Ask, and it shall be
given you.”
Luke 11:9
;
Matthew 7:7
. All that hunger and thirst after
righteousness “shall be filled.”
“Blessed are the merciful.”
Matthew 5:7
. To be merciful is to treat
others better than they deserve. So God has treated us. He delights to
show mercy. He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.
So He teaches us to treat one another. He says, “Be ye kind one to
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s
sake hath forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32
.
“Blessed are the pure in heart.”
Matthew 5:8
. God cares more for
what we really are than for what we say we are. He does not care how
beautiful we may look, but He wants our hearts pure. Then all our
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