Introduction to the Word for Worship
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. (Matthew 5:1, ESV)
Jesus withdraws to teach. The crowds are not excluded, but he directs his teaching towards his disciples. He sits down like a rabbi to teach them; that was the accepted method. And he chooses a mountainside for the purpose. . . . The main point about the mountain here is the parallel to Mount Sinai. Moses went up Mount Sinai to get the law from God to give to the people of Israel. And now Moses’ great successor ascends a mountain to receive from his Father and transmit to his disciples the law of the kingdom. We have a new law for a new people given on a new mountain by a new Moses. That is the context of the Sermon.
-John Stott
The Collect of the Day
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical Body of your Son: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
The Word:
(Click on the links below to read Sunday's passages)
First Reading: Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 149 (posted below the Playlist)
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12
(click below on the Spotify Playlist to listen)
Psalm 149
1 Praise the Lord. O sing unto the Lord a new song; *
let the congregation of the faithful praise him.
2 Let Israel rejoice in the one who made him, *
and let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp.
4 For the Lord has pleasure in his people *
and gives victory to those who are oppressed.
5 Let the faithful be joyful with glory; *
let them rejoice upon their beds.
6 Let the praises of God be in their mouth *
and a two-edged sword in their hands,
7 To inflict vengeance on the nations, *
and to rebuke the peoples,
8 To bind their kings in chains, *
and their nobles with links of iron,
9 That they may execute judgment upon them, as it is written; *
this is the honor of all his servants. Praise the Lord.
(from the New Coverdale Psalter as found in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer)
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