Jesus continues to contrast the behavior of citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and the accepted religious teachings of his day.
Matthew 5:27-32, Don't fantasize about evil
"You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
"It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
The quote in verse 27 is from the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:14; the quote in verse 31 is from Deuteronomy 24:1.
Matthew 5:27-32, Don't fantasize about evil
"You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
"It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
The quote in verse 27 is from the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:14; the quote in verse 31 is from Deuteronomy 24:1.
We humans rationalize our thoughts and actions by drawing artificial lines that we claim not to cross. But if we fantasize about sex with someone, but we don't act it out, we may indeed avoid external consequences, but we are making decisions that effect who we are and what desires we cater to.
Matthew 5:33-37, Do not swear by anything but speak simple honesty
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.
Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
"You have heard it said" is an introduction to an past instruction that has now been defeated by human legalism and rationalization. In this case, Jesus speaks of promises and oaths and returns to a simple principle, Be Honest. If you mean Yes then just say it; don't say it if you don't mean it. (The very emphasis on an oath indicates that there are times when one is dishonest....)
Matthew 5:38-42, Nonviolent submission
"You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
The quotes in verse 38 are from Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21. These are pretty cruel passages.
I struggle with this submissiveness, but I understand that in most cases we humans love to escalate conflict instead of de-escalate it. If that Roman soldier says, "You! Carry my load for a mile!" what response would there be if we smiled and said, "Sure! Indeed, may I carry it for two miles?" How strange. How unworldly.
Matthew 5:43-47, Love your enemy
"You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans
do that?
The quote in verse 43 is from Leviticus 19:18.
Jesus removes the calculations from "love". Most of us practice a basic computation: "I love those who reward my love; I punish those who don't." But the citizens of Heaven have a different view....
From the NIV Footnotes: in verse 44 some late manuscripts add "bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you", making clear the break from the standard earthly calculus.
Matthew 5:48, Be perfect!
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is a rather strong, demanding finish to these passages on living righteously! These instructions are indeed unworldly, distinct from the culture in which we are immersed.
I have come to the conclusion that this verse sums up the entire Old Testament. God's plan for humanity is a freely given perfect submission to His righteousness, acting with a heart in tune to God. The Old Testament shows that this is completely impossible for humans to accomplish and so the New Testament introduces the next stage, perfection offered through Christ's sacrifice, guided by the internal Holy Spirit.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This is a rather strong, demanding finish to these passages on living righteously! These instructions are indeed unworldly, distinct from the culture in which we are immersed.
I have come to the conclusion that this verse sums up the entire Old Testament. God's plan for humanity is a freely given perfect submission to His righteousness, acting with a heart in tune to God. The Old Testament shows that this is completely impossible for humans to accomplish and so the New Testament introduces the next stage, perfection offered through Christ's sacrifice, guided by the internal Holy Spirit.
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