Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse IX · §50 · John Wesley

Righteousness is love

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Seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Righteousness is the fruit of God's reigning in the heart. And what is righteousness but love? The love of God and of all mankind, flowing from faith in Jesus Christ, and producing humbleness of mind, meekness, gentleness, long-suffering, patience, deadness to the world, and every right disposition of heart toward God and toward man. And by these it produces all holy actions, whatever are lovely or of good report (Philippians 4:8), whatever works of faith and labor of love are acceptable to God and profitable to man.

1771 text

Seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Righteousness is the fruit of God’s reigning in the heart. And what is righteousness but love? The love of God and of all mankind, flowing from faith in Jesus Christ, and producing humbleness of mind, meekness, gentleness, long-suffering, patience, deadness to the world; and every right disposition of heart, toward God and toward man. And by these it produces all holy actions, whatsoever are lovely or of good report; whatsoever works of faith and labour of love are acceptable to God and profitable to man.

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About this text

The ninth sermon on the Sermon on the Mount, on Matthew 6:24-34: no one can serve God and mammon, so take no anxious thought and seek first the kingdom of God.

EditionPrinted in Wesley's 1771 Works, which do not say when he preached it

Wesley's own sermon in updated English wording. The 1771 panel is the text of the Works Wesley himself had printed in 1771. It is public domain.

Reference

Sermon 29 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:24-34.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We put this English text into updated wording with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open the 1771 text under any part to compare.

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