In Matthew 5:1-2 we read, “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying…” From this point through verse 16 Christ speaks exclusively to His disciples. What men term the Beatitudes are the spiritual principles of Christianity. The Kingdom at hand had been announced by the King’s forerunner in Matthew 3, and by the King Himself in chapter four. Having established the Kingdom He now sets before its subjects the manifesto, or what we might call its lawful rule. The sermon as a whole (chapters 5, 6, & 7) specifically apply to the variety of His audience and its need. He spoke and applied a word to His servants, to the afflicted soul, and to the multitude. Christ never spoke an unintended word, what an example for preachers and teachers of the Word of God to follow. The occasion of this sermon was delivered when our Lord is described as “seeing the multitudes.” He waited until the congregation around him had reached its largest size and was most impressed with his miracles; and then He took advantage of the opportunity. The sight of a vast multitude of people ought always to move us to pity, for it represents a mass of ignorance, sorrow, sin and necessity, far too great for us to estimate. The Savior looked upon the people with an omniscient eye which saw their sad condition, he saw the multitude in an emphatic sense, and his soul was stirred within Him at the sight. He viewed them with practical sympathy and as lost humanity. No one cared for them, they were the sheep without a shepherd, or like shocks of wheat ready to peel. Jesus therefore hastened to the rescue. He notices no doubt, with pleasure, the eagerness of the crowd to hear, and this drew him on to speak. “Every man in his own trade or profession rejoices when he sees an opportunity of exercising it; even so the preacher, when he sees a great congregation his heart rejoices and he is glad of the occasion to teach.” Almost two centuries ago an eminent servant of God who faithfully preached the Gospel of God’s grace made the following statement…”If men become negligent of hearing and our audience dwindles down to a handful, it will be a great distress to us if we have to remember that, when the many were anxious to hear, we were not diligent to preach to them. He, who will not reap when the fields are white unto the harvest, will have only himself to blame if in other seasons he is unable to fill his arms with sheaves. Opportunities should be promptly used whenever the Lord puts them in our way. It is good fishing where there are plenty of fish, and when the birds flock around the fowler it is time for him to spread his net.”
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