Matthew 5:21-26 NIV

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:24

Leave there thy gift before the altar - This is as much as to say, "Do not attempt to bring any offering to God while thou art in a spirit of enmity against any person; or hast any difference with thy neighbor, which thou hast not used thy diligence to get adjusted." It is our duty and interest, both to bring our gift, and offer it too; but God will not accept of any act of religious worship from us, while any enmity subsists in our hearts towards any soul of man; or while any subsists in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:25

Agree with thine adversary quickly - Adversary, αντιδικος , properly a plaintiff in law - a perfect law term. Our Lord enforces the exhortation given in the preceding verses, from the consideration of what was deemed prudent in ordinary law-suits. In such cases, men should make up matters with the utmost speed, as running through the whole course of a law-suit must not only be vexatious, but be attended with great expense; and in the end, though the loser may be ruined, yet the gainer has... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:26

The uttermost farthing - Κοδραντην . The rabbins have this Greek word corrupted into קרדיונטסס kordiontes , and קונטריק , kontrik , and say, that two פרוטות prutoth make a kontarik , which is exactly the same with those words in Mark 12:42 , λεπτα δυο, ο εστι κοδραντης , two mites, which are one farthing. Hence it appears that the λεπτον lepton was the same as the prutah . The weight of the prutah was half a barley-corn, and it was the smallest coin among the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:21

Verse 21 21.You have heard that it was said. This sentence, and those which immediately follow, are connected with what we have just considered: for our Lord explains more fully, by minute instances, by what tortuous methods (396) the Pharisees debase the law, so that their righteousness is mere filth. It is a mistake, however, to suppose that this is an ἐπανόρθωσις , or correction (397) of the Law, and that Christ raises his disciples to a higher degree of perfection, than Christ could raise a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:22

Verse 22 22.But I say to you His reply is not opposed to the command of Moses, (Exodus 20:13; Leviticus 24:21; Numbers 35:16;) but to the interpretation usually put upon it by the scribes. Now, as the Pharisees boasted of antiquity, (for it is always the custom to plead the prescription of a long period in defense of errors,) (398) Christ reminds the people of his authority, to which all antiquity ought justly to give way. Hence we conclude, that truth is of greater weight than custom or the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:23

Verse 23 Matthew 5:23.Therefore, if thou shalt bring thy gift This clause confirms, and at the same time explains, the preceding doctrine. It amounts to this, that the precept of the law, which forbids murder, (Exodus 20:13,) is obeyed, when we maintain agreement and brotherly kindness, with our neighbor. To impress this more strongly upon us, Christ declares, that even the duties of religion are displeasing to God, and are rejected by him, if we are at variance with each other. When he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:25

Verse 25 25.Be agreed with thy adversary Christ appears to go farther, and to exhort to reconciliation not only those who have injured their brethren, but those also who are unjustly treated. (401) But I interpret the words as having been spoken with another view, to take away occasion for hatred and resentment, and to point out the method of cherishing good-will. For whence come all injuries, but from this, that each person is too tenacious of his own rights, that is, each is too much disposed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17-48

The second part of the sermon: the mount of the Beatitudes and Mount Sinai: the new Law and the old. I. CHRIST THE FULFILLER OF THE LAW . 1 . He came not to destroy. They must not misunderstand the purpose of his teaching. The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; both speak of Christ. The commandments are as binding now upon the Christian conscience as when they were first delivered amid the thunders of Mount Sinai. "We establish the Law," says the apostle of faith ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17-48

Sermon on the mount: 3. Exceeding righteousness. A teacher who compels the public to look at an unfamiliar truth, the reformer who introduces a new style of goodness, will be misinterpreted just in proportion to the advance he makes upon former ideas. Our Lord renounced explicitly, and with warmth, the goodness of the Pharisees, and the cry was at once raised against him as a destroyer of the Law, a libertine, a companion or' loose people. He thus found himself called on publicly to... read more

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:25

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:26

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:25

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17-48

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17-48

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