Matthew 5:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:19

Matthew only. As Christ honoured the Law (verse 17) so are his disciples to honour it. Whosoever therefore . Seeing that every part of the Law is of permanent value. In this verse our Lord once for all declares his opposition to antinomianism. Every one of the commands in the Law is, in its true and ideal meaning, still binding. Shall break ( λύσῃ ). Not merely in contrast to "do" ( ποιήσῃ vide infra ) in the sense of "transgress" (Fritzsche), but "abrogate" (cf. Bishop... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:19

Whosoever therefore shall break - Shall violate or disobey.One of these least commandments - The Pharisees, it is probable, divided the precepts of the law into lesser and greater, teaching that they who violated the former were guilty of a trivial offence only. See Matthew 23:23. Christ teaches that in his kingdom they who make this distinction, or who taught that any laws of God might be violated with impunity, should be called least; while they should be held in high regard who observed all... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 5:19

Matthew 5:19. Whosoever therefore shall break Shall himself transgress in his practice, or pervert and weaken by his doctrine, one of these least commandments, and teach men so Shall direct or encourage men to do the same, or shall teach them, either by word or example, that the obligation of these commands is dissolved; he shall be called Or, shall be accounted one of the least, and unworthiest members in the kingdom of heaven Or, Church of the Messiah, and shall soon be... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:17-20

39. A right attitude to the law (Matthew 5:17-20)In a lengthy section that runs through to the end of the chapter, Jesus points out that it is not good enough merely to follow the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees. Realizing that people may think he is in some way opposed to the law of Moses, Jesus explains at the outset that this is not so. He does not abolish the Old Testament or overthrow its authority. On the contrary he gives it fuller meaning. He is its goal, and it finds its... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:19

Whosoever = every one that (with Greek. an. Supposing the case). See note on "Till", Matthew 5:18 . Note the Figure of speech Anaphora ( App-6 ). these least = these shortest. Referring not to what men might thus distinguish, but to the difference made by the Lord between the whole Law and its minutiae. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 5:19

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.In this verse, Christ plainly refers to his own commandments with the strong warning that men are under obligations to heed and observe the laws he gives. Today, there are some who speak of certain Scriptures as "mere command"! But Christ made his commandments to be of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 5:17-20

Matthew 5:17-20. Think not that I am come to destroy, &c.— Because the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ concerning happiness was contrary to that which the Jews were accustomed to hear, and which their preachers pretended to derive from the prophets, whose descriptions of the glory of the Messiah's kingdom they understood in a literal sense; also because he was about to give explications of the moral precepts, of very different tenor from those which the Scribes and Pharisees commonlygave,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:19

19. Whosoever therefore shall break—rather, "dissolve," "annul," or "make invalid." one of these least commandments—an expression equivalent to "one of the least of these commandments." and shall teach men so—referring to the Pharisees and their teaching, as is plain from Matthew 5:20, but of course embracing all similar schools and teaching in the Christian Church. he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven—As the thing spoken of is not the practical breaking, or disobeying, of the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus’ view of the Old Testament 5:17-20It was natural for Jesus to explain His view of the Old Testament since He would shortly proceed to interpret it to His hearers. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 5:17-48

Righteousness and the Scriptures 5:17-48In His discussion of righteousness (character and conduct that conforms to the will of God), Jesus went back to the revelation of God’s will, namely, God’s Word, the Old Testament. read more

Group of Brands