Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

I suggest that the following is a possible way of understanding the sequence. The first question which must be answered is, why is this statement put here?

In verses 3--12 our Lord and Saviour has been delineating the Christian character. Here at verse 13 He moves forward and applies His description.

That, then, is what is meant by being `poor in spirit'. It means a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and of self-reliance.

whether between individuals or nations, that selfishness and self-centredness that turns in upon self and deifies self, that horrible thing that is the cause of all unhappiness ultimately.

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If a person is not meek he is not likely to be a peacemaker.

From there on we are looking at the result of that satisfaction, the result of being filled. We become merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers.

It does not mean only feeling pity; it means a great desire, and indeed an endeavour, to do something to relieve the situation.

What does our Lord mean by `pure in heart'? It