to ask ourselves; and, next to that, Am I in my calling? They had followed Christ before, as common
disciples, Joh 1:37; now they must leave their calling. Those who would follow Christ aright, must,
at his command, leave all things to follow him, must be ready to part with them. This instance of
the power of the Lord Jesus encourages us to depend upon his grace. He speaks, and it is done.
Verses 23–25
Wherever Christ went, he confirmed his Divine mission by miracles, which were emblems of
the healing power of his doctrine, and the influences of the Spirit which accompanied it. We do
not now find the Saviour's miraculous healing power in our bodies; but if we are cured by medicine,
the praise is equally his. Three general words are here used. He healed every sickness or disease;
none was too bad; none too hard, for Christ to heal with a word. Three diseases are named; the
palsy, which is the greatest weakness of the body; lunacy, which is the greatest malady of the mind;
and possession of the devil, which is the greatest misery and calamity of both; yet Christ healed
all, and by thus curing bodily diseases, showed that his great errand into the world was to cure
spiritual maladies. Sin is the sickness, disease, and torment of the soul: Christ came to take away
sin, and so to heal the soul.
Chapter 5
Chapter Outline
Christ's sermon on the mount. (1, 2)
Who are blessed. (3–12)
Exhortations and warnings. (13–16)
Christ came to confirm the law. (17–20)
The sixth commandment. (21–26)
The seventh commandment. (27–32)
The third commandment. (33–37)
The law of retaliation. (38–42)
The law of love explained. (43–48)Verses 1, 2
None will find happiness in this world or the next, who do not seek it from Christ by the rule
of his word. He taught them what was the evil they should abhor, and what the good they should
seek and abound in.
Verses 3–12