Matthew 5:21 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:21-26

The Christian type of a true fulfilling of the Law: Christ's first illustration. Had the scribes and Pharisees not adulterated in many ways the Law, their righteousness would still have been the observing of the letter of commandments of the old covenant. The greatness of the moral step in advance now promulgated by Christ is measured by the fact that he sets as a necessity before his freshest recruits, that they should see better and do better than the masters and veterans of that old... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:21-26

The stringency of the gospel Law. "Ye have heard ," etc. The people generally were acquainted with the Law chiefly through the teaching of the scribes; but the scribes so mixed the traditions of the elders with the Word of inspiration, that it was needful that the Source of inspiration should speak again. "I say unto you." I. HERE CHRIST OPENS THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE LAW . 1 . He does not release us from the letter. 2 . He enjoins the Law is its spirit. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:21-48

( a ) Our Lord is still concerned with the relation of himself and his followers to the religion of the day, of which the Old Testament ( Matthew 5:17 ), and more especially the Law ( Matthew 5:18 ), was the accepted standard. But after having spoken of the need of careful attention to ( Matthew 5:17 , Matthew 5:18 ), and observance of ( Matthew 5:19 ), even the least commands of the Law, he goes on to point out the far-reaching character of these commands, whether they are such... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:21

Ye have heard - Or, this is the common interpretation among the Jews. Jesus proceeds here to comment on some prevailing opinions among the Jews; to show that the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was defective; and that people needed a better righteousness, or they could not be saved. He illustrates what he meant by that better righteousness by showing that the common opinions of the scribes were erroneous.By them of old time - This might be translated to the ancients, referring to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 5:21-22

Matthew 5:21-22. Ye have heard Namely, from the scribes reciting the law, that it was said by them of old time, or to the ancients, as ερρεθη τιος αρχαιοις , might be properly rendered. Thou shalt not kill Words which they interpreted barely of the outward act of murder; and whosoever shall kill Or be guilty of that act, shall be in danger of, or, obnoxious to the judgment To understand this, it is necessary to observe, that the Jews had, in every city, a common court of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:21-48

40. Legal obedience is not enough (Matthew 5:21-48; Luke 6:27-36; Luke 12:57-59)After his explanation concerning right and wrong attitudes to the law, Jesus gives a number of examples. He introduces these examples with statements such as ‘You have heard that it was said in the past’. This is not the same as ‘It is written’. Jesus is not quoting from the Old Testament but from the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees. He is not contradicting the law but the interpretations of the law that the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:21

heard. In the public reading of the Law. it was said. Opposite to "I say". Compare Matthew 19:8 , Matthew 19:9 , where the "I" is not emphatic (as it is here). See Exodus 20:13 .Deuteronomy 5:17 . App-117 . by them = or to them. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 5:21

Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, THOU SHALT NOT KILL; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.THE REVISION OF THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT IN THE DECALOGUE (MATT. 5:21-26)This is a clear reference to the Decalogue (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18). What Christ did at this point in his teachings is bold, daring, and sensational beyond anything one could imagine today. Here was the case of a prophet, yet relatively unknown, placing himself squarely on record as... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 5:21

Matthew 5:21. It was said by them of old time— To them, &c. and so wherever it occurs. It was said to them of former time—But I say to you. So our Lord introduces his several improvements of the law under the different articles hereafter specified. Christ here distinguishes his doctrines from those which, in former times, had been publicly taught and enforced by theauthority of law; for as there is a gradual increase of knowledge in every man, who faithfully practises what he knows already;... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:21

21. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time—or, as in the Margin, "to them of old time." Which of these translations is the right one has been much controverted. Either of them is grammatically defensible, though the latter—"to the ancients"—is more consistent with New Testament usage (see the Greek of Romans 9:12; Romans 9:26; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 9:4); and most critics decide in favor of it. But it is not a question of Greek only. Nearly all who would translate "to the... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:21-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:21-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:21-48

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 5:21-22

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:21-48

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:21

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 5:21

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 5:21

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:21

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