Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
The disciples must know they will not escape reproach and persecution; men will revile them, invent the worst lies, call them seditious and guilty of murder. But those charges are false, born of malice, and brought for Christ's sake, the same He Himself endured.
AI summary
Secondly, Suppose thy holy walking stirs up the wrath of imgodly ones against thee ; know, there may be more mercy in their hatred, than in their love. Commonly, the saints get good by the wrath of the wicked against them, not so oft by their favour and friendship ; their displeasure awakens their care, and makes them more accurate; thus David prayed God 'to...
Commenting on Ephesians 6:10-20
Christ crowns His sermon with blessings because He came to bless us, and His pronouncement makes us truly blessed. The world is wrong about happiness: it calls the rich and powerful blessed, but He calls the poor in spirit blessed instead, overturning every carnal notion of what makes a man happy.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 5:3-12