Matthew 5:17-20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:17

Verse 17 Matthew 5:17.Think not. With regard to the perfection of his life, Christ might justly have maintained that he came to fulfill the law: but here he treats of doctrine, not of life. As he afterwards exclaimed, that “the kingdom of God is come, ” (Matthew 12:28,) and raised the minds of men with unusual expectation, and even admitted disciples by baptism, it is probable, that the minds of many were in a state of suspense and doubt, and were eagerly inquiring, what was the design of that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:18

Verse 18 18.Till heaven and earth pass Luke expresses it a little differently, but to the same import, that it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than for one point of the law to fail The design of Christ, in both passages, was to teach, that the truth of the law and of every part of it, is secure, and that nothing so durable is to be found in the whole frame of the world. Some persons indulge in ingenious refinements on the word till, ( ἓως ἂ ν ,) as if the passing away of the heaven and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:19

Verse 19 19.Whoever then shall break Christ here speaks expressly of the commandments of life, or the ten words, which all the children of God ought to take as the rule of their life. He therefore declares, that they are false and deceitful teachers, who do not restrain their disciples within obedience to the law, and that they are unworthy to occupy a place in the Church, who weaken, in the slightest degree, the authority of the law; and, on the other hand, that they are honest and faithful... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:20

Verse 20 Matthew 5:20.Unless your righteousness shall be more abundant. He takes a passing notice of the Scribes, who were laboring to throw a stain on the doctrine of the Gospel, as if it were the ruin of the Law. True, he does not reason on this subject, but only points out briefly, that nothing has less influence over their minds than zeal for the law. “They pretend, that their hostility to me arises from their strong desire, that the law should not be violated. But their life makes it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17

Matthew 6:18 Having spoken of the ideal character of his disciples ( Matthew 6:3-10 ), and of their need of allowing that character to appear ( Matthew 6:11-16 ), our Lord turns to speak of the position that they should hold towards the religion of the day ( Matthew 6:17 - Matthew 6:18 ), of which the Law was the accepted standard. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17

Matthew only. Think not . Probably the tendency of his teaching was even already seen to be so different from that of the recognized authorities, that some had in consequence formed this opinion ( νομίζω ) of him which he now repudiates, and which was near akin to the basis of the charge formulated afterwards against St. Stephen ( Acts 6:14 ). In both cases the tendency of the new teaching ( Mark 1:27 ) to abolish temporary forms was perceived by at least those whose powers of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17

The true relations of the old and the new. "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." "As a Teacher, our Lord came to fill up what was lacking, to develop hints and germs of truth, to turn rules into principles." Phillips Brooks says, "When Jesus came into the world to establish the perfect religion, he found here an imperfect faith. How should he treat this partial, this imperfect faith, which was already on the ground? He might do either of two things. He might sweep it away, and begin... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17-18

Christ's treatment of the Old Testament. Here we see the attitude of our Lord towards the Old Testament. He did not come to destroy the ancient teaching, but to fulfil it. Christ's words show two positions—a negative and a positive. I. THE OLD TESTAMENT HAS A PLACE IN THE CHRISTIAN ECONOMY . The grounds on which this is established are worthy of consideration. 1 . Its origin. The Old Testament was inspired by God. It records his words spoken to Moses and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17-20

(1) With this aim he first states summarily and in nucleus the position that he himself holds towards the Law—a statement which was the more necessary as he had already ( Matthew 5:11 ) claimed to be the object of his disciples' devotion. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17-20

The veneration of Law and prophets. The caution which Jesus Christ now addresses to his disciples was very probably owing to many things wont to be said, though not recorded, in the nature of hasty and often malevolent forecasts, of his likely tendency to innovations. How many things had been conjectured, and most vainly, respecting him "that should come "! And now that he had come, those who yielded but a hesitating and grudging assent to his Messiahship, in that very proportion were... read more

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