Matthew 5:37-44 KJV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:43

Ye have heard that it hath been said ,.... By, or to them of old time. This law has been delivered to them, thou shalt love thy neighbour , with this appendage to it, or false gloss upon it, and hate thine enemy ; for the first of these only is the law of Moses, Leviticus 19:18 , the other is the addition, or wrong interpretation of the Scribes and Pharisees: wherefore the Jew F15 R. Isaac Chizuk Emunah, par. 2. c. 11. p. 402. has no reason to charge Christ, or the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:44

But I say unto you, love your enemies ,.... That is, as the Apostle Paul may be thought to interpret the words of Christ, Romans 12:20 . "If thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink": unless our Lord should be supposed rather to regard the internal affection of the mind; since outward expressions of love, by words and works, are urged in the following exhortations: the actions of a man may be hated, and just indignation be expressed against them, and yet his person be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:37

Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay - That is, a positive affirmation, or negation, according to your knowledge of the matter concerning which you are called to testify. Do not equivocate; mean what you assert, and adhere to your assertion. Hear what a heathen says on this subject: - Εχθρος γαρ μοι κεινος ὁμως αιδαο πυλησιν , Ος χ ' ετερον μεν κευθει ενι φρεσιν, αλλο δε βαζει . Hom. Il. ix. 312 read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:38

An eye for an eye - Our Lord refers here to the law of retaliation mentioned See Exodus 21:24 , (see the note there, and see Leviticus 24:20 ; (note)), which obliged the offender to suffer the same injury he had committed. The Greeks and Romans had the same law. So strictly was it attended to at Athens, that if a man put out the eye of another who had but one, the offender was condemned to lose both his eyes, as the loss of one would not be an equivalent misfortune. It seems that the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:39

Resist not evil - Or, the evil person. So, I am fully persuaded, τω πονηρω ought to be translated. Our Lord's meaning is, "Do not repel one outrage by another." He that does so makes himself precisely what the other is, a wicked person. Turn to him the other also - That is, rather than avenge thyself, be ready to suffer patiently a repetition of the same injury. But these exhortations belong to those principally who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Let such leave the judgment of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:40

And if any man will sue thee at the law - Every where our blessed Lord shows the utmost disapprobation of such litigations as tended to destroy brotherly kindness and charity. It is evident he would have his followers to suffer rather the loss of all their property than to have recourse to such modes of redress, at so great a risk. Having the mind averse from contentions, and preferring peace and concord to temporal advantages, is most solemnly recommended to all Christians. We are great... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:41

Shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. - αγγαρευσει . This word is said to be derived from the Persians, among whom the king's messengers, or posts, were called Αγγαποι , or angari . This definition is given both by Hesychius and Suidas. The Persian messengers had the royal authority for pressing horses, ships, and even men, to assist them in the business on which they were employed. These angari are now termed chappars , and serve to carry despatches between the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:42

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow - To give and lend freely to all who are in need, is a general precept from which we are only excused by our inability to perform it. Men are more or less obliged to it as they are more or less able, as the want is more or less pressing, as they are more or less burthened with common poor, or with necessitous relatives. In all these matters, both prudence and charity must be consulted. That God, who makes use of the beggar's hand... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:43

Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy - Instead of πλησιον neighbor, the Codex Graevii, a MS. of the eleventh century, reads φιλον friend. Thou shalt love thy friend, and hate thine enemy. This was certainly the meaning which the Jews put on it: for neighbor, with them, implied those of the Jewish race, and all others were, considered by them as natural enemies. Besides, it is evident that πλησιον , among the Hellenistic Jews, meant friend merely: Christ uses it precisely... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:44

Love your enemies - This is the most sublime piece of morality ever given to man. Has it appeared unreasonable and absurd to some? It has. And why? Because it is natural to man to avenge himself, and plague those who plague him; and he will ever find abundant excuse for his conduct, in the repeated evils he receives from others; for men are naturally hostile to each other. Jesus Christ design's to make men happy. Now he is necessarily miserable who hates another. Our Lord prohibits that only... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:43

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:44

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:37

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:38

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:39

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:40

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:41

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:42

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:43

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:44

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