Matthew 5-7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:12

Rejoice - In the testimony of a good conscience; for, without this, suffering has nothing but misery in it. Be exceeding glad - Αγαλλιασθε , leap for joy. There are several cases on record, where this was literally done by the martyrs, in Queen Mary's days. Great is your reward in heaven - In the Talmudical tract Pirkey Aboth, are these words: "Rabbi Tarpon said, The day is short: the work is great: the laborers are slow: the Reward Is Great: and the father of the family is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:13

Ye are the salt of the earth - Our Lord shows here what the preachers of the Gospel, and what all who profess to follow him, should be; the salt of the earth, to preserve the world from putrefaction and destruction. See the note on Leviticus 2:13 . But if the salt have lost his savor - That this is possible in the land of Judea, we have proof from Mr. Maundrell, who, describing the Valley of Salt, speaks thus: "Along, on one side of the valley, toward Gibul, there is a small precipice... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:14

Ye are the light of the world - That is, the instruments which God chooses to make use of to illuminate the minds of men; as he uses the sun (to which probably he pointed) to enlighten the world. Light of the world, עולם נר ner olam , was a title applied to the most eminent rabbins. Christ transfers the title from these, and gives it to his own disciples, who, by the doctrines that he taught them, were to be the means of diffusing the light of life throughout the universe. A city that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:15

Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel - A bushel μοδιος : - a measure both among the Greeks and Romans, containing a little more than a peck English. From some ancient writers we learn, that only those who had bad designs hid a candle under a bushel; that, in the dead of the night, when all were asleep, they might rise up, and have light at hand to help them to effect their horrid purposes of murder, etc. See Wetstein, Kypke, Wolf, etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine - Or more literally, Thus let your light shine, Ουτω λαμψατω το φως . As the sun is lighted up in the firmament of heaven to diffuse its light and heat freely to every inhabitant of the earth; and as the lamp is not set under the bushel, but placed upon the lamp-stand that it may give light to all in the house; Thus let every follower of Christ, and especially every preacher of the Gospel, diffuse the light of heavenly knowledge, and the warmth of Divine love... 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's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:16

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

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

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

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

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

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