Matthew 5:17-26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:24

Leave there thy gift before the altar ,.... This might easily be done, and the business soon dispatched, at some seasons; particularly, at their public feasts, as the passover, pentecost, and feast of tabernacles, when all the Israelites were together: and go thy way ; make what haste thou canst, first be reconciled to thy brother : use all means to reconcile him; acknowledge the offence; ask his pardon; assure him that thou wishest well to him, and not ill; and then come and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:25

Agree with thine adversary quickly ,.... These words are not to be understood in an allegorical sense, as if "the adversary" was the justice of God, demanding payment of debts; "the way", this present life; "the judge", God himself; "the officer", the devil; "the prison", the pit of hell; and "the uttermost farthing", the least sin, which will never be remitted without satisfaction: but the design of them is to prevent lawsuits about debts, which may be in dispute; it being much better for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:26

Verily, I say unto thee ,.... This may be depended upon, you may assure yourself of it, that thou shalt by no means come out thence , from prison, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing , or "last farthing"; or as the Ethiopic version reads it, "till thou hast exactly paid all"; which seems to express the inexorableness of the creditor, and the impossibility of the debtor's release. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:17

Think not that I am come to destroy the law - Do not imagine that I am come to violate the law καταλυσαι , from κατα , and λυω , I loose, violate, or dissolve - I am not come to make the law of none effect - to dissolve the connection which subsists between its several parts, or the obligation men are under to have their lives regulated by its moral precepts; nor am I come to dissolve the connecting reference it has to the good things promised. But I am come, πληρωσαι , to complete -... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:18

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven - In the very commencement of his ministry, Jesus Christ teaches the instability of all visible things. "The heaven which you see, and which is so glorious, and the earth which you inhabit and love, shall pass away; for the things which are seen are temporal, προσκαιρα , are for a time; but the things which are not seen are eternal αιωνια , ever-during," 2 Corinthians 4:18 . And the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. One jot or one tittle - ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:19

Whosoever - shall break one of these least commandments - The Pharisees were remarkable for making a distinction between weightier and lighter matters in the law, and between what has been called, in a corrupt part of the Christian Church, mortal and venial sins. See on Matthew 22:36 ; (note). Whosoever shall break. What an awful consideration is this! He who, by his mode of acting, speaking, or explaining the words of God, sets the holy precept aside, or explains away its force and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:20

Except your righteousness shall exceed - περισσευση , Unless your righteousness abound more - unless it take in, not only the letter, but the spirit and design of the moral and ritual precept; the one directing you how to walk so as to please God; the other pointing out Christ, the great Atonement, through and by which a sinner is enabled to do so - more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, who only attend to the letter of the law, and had indeed made even that of no effect by their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:21

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time - τοις αρχαιοις , to or by the ancients. By the ancients, we may understand those who lived before the law, and those who lived under it; for murder was, in the most solemn manner, forbidden before, as well as under, the law, Genesis 9:5 , Genesis 9:6 . But it is very likely that our Lord refers here merely to traditions and glosses relative to the ancient Mosaic ordinance; and such as, by their operation, rendered the primitive... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:22

Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause - ὁ οργιζομενος - εικη , who is vainly incensed. "This translation is literal; and the very objectionable phrase, without a cause, is left out, εικη being more properly translated by that above." What our Lord seems here to prohibit, is not merely that miserable facility which some have of being angry at every trifle, continually taking offense against their best friends; but that anger which leads a man to commit outrages against... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:23

Therefore if thou bring thy gift - Evil must be nipped in the bud. An unkind thought of another may be the foundation of that which leads to actual murder. A Christian, properly speaking, cannot be an enemy to any man; nor is he to consider any man his enemy, without the fullest evidence: for surmises to the prejudice of another can never rest in the bosom of him who has the love of God in his heart, for to him all men are brethren. He sees all men as children of God, and members of Christ,... read more

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