Matthew 5:21-48

 

Contrasts between Jesus’ Ethical teaching and Jewish legalistic traditions

This is the first time I have  published all the verses in order to comment on them. These following verses hold a lot of Christ’s expectations. Many of these versus will be considered impossible for as a human to follow. We sin everyday that is why Christ died on the cross. He has given us a way to be forgiven by asking forgiveness and repenting of our sin. Keep that in your mind as you read these verses.

Mat 5:21 “You have heard that the ancients were' told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.

Jesus is referring to the rule of Mans law in this verse but he has a different Standard as we see in verse 5:22

Mat 5:22  "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell".

Mat 5:23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Mat 5:24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering".

Mat 5:25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison."

Mat 5:26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

Jesus has a completely different threshold for hate or ill feelings towards another. If you get angry settle with the person if possible and ask for forgiveness. If the person does not agree with you still ask for his or her forgiveness and then ask the Lord for forgiveness. You cannot control the other person but you can pray for them.

Mat 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';

Mat 5:28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart".

Remember this is also as sin. With television and internet these verses are extremely difficult We have Victoria's Secrets ads that would never have been allowed 20 years ago. You may want a blocker on the computer and change channels to keep yourself as pure as you can.  Regardless sometime in your day you will falter, again as above ask for forgiveness the way has been provided by Jesus.

Mat 5:29 “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell".

Mat 5:30 “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell".

 

Mat 5:31 “It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';

Mat 5:32  but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

For me that is a two way street, the same can be said if the make commits adultery

Mat 5:33  "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.'

Mat 5:34  "But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

Mat 5:35  or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING:.

Mat 5:36  "Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

Mat 5:37  "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.

Mat 5:38  "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.'

This verse us usually misquoted by the non Christians. For some reason that justifies the revenge they want to take. Somehow they forget to read the next verse.

 

Mat 5:39

  "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. "

 

Mat 5:40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also".

 

Mat 5:41  "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two".

Mat 5:42  "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you".

Mat 5:43  "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy."

Mat 5:44  "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Mat 5:45  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous".

 

This is a lot of hard difficult things put forth. Think about them and pray for guidance.