Matthew 5:26

Thou shalt not come out from thence.

From the prison into which he is cast when the case before the judge has gone against him. After the debtor was cast into prison he was held until the debt was paid, and if it were not, he remained in prison until he died.

Farthing.

A small, insignificant copper coin. The meaning is until everything is paid. The warning against lawsuits is clear, but there is. higher idea still. The Lord would warn us to make everything right before it is too late. Before the judgment there is. chance; after it there is nothing but the payment of the debt. This is impossible to those who are bankrupted. Roman Catholic expositors understand this passage of purgatory; Universalists use it to support their doctrine of final restoration; but neither "prison" nor "till " point to final deliverance. Compare 2 Peter 2:4; Judges 1:6.-- Schaff.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

THE LEAST COMMANDMENTS.

Take from the harmony. single tone,. single tint from the iris-bow, And lo! what once was all is nothing, while Fails to the lovely whole one tint or tone.-- Schiller.

THE HEART.--As the state can only regard an overt act, Moses inquired into the motive only for the purpose of determining the criminality of that act when committed. Christ, laying down the law of individual character, forbids that anger of the heart which is ever the inspiration of. violent and and bloody hand.

HELL-FIRE.--The Gehenna of fire. This refers to the valley of Hinnom,. narrow ravine with steep and rocky sides, near Jerusalem on the south. In this valley the idolatrous Jews formerly conducted the worship of Moloch. Here infants were Sacrificed by being put into the arms of the idol,. brass image heated by. great fire within. After this practice ceased, the valley was made as filthy and vile as possible;. fire was kept constantly burning in order to consume the rubbish carried thither and it is said to have been made. place for the execution of criminals. Hence this place came to signify the place of the damned.-- Mede.

THE GIFT AT THE ALTAR.--Reconciliation with the aggrieved brother must come before worship but not take the place of it. Reconciliation does not render worship unnecessary. Discharge of duty to men does not absolve from duty to God. One truly reconciled to his brother is readiest to come to God in his appointed way.

J UDGE.--Any reasonable compromise is better than to go into the courts. Litigation is often ruin to both parties; especially can nothing be gained and everything be lost when the judgment would go against you. Be reconciled and keep out. Be reconciled to the Elder Brother that the decision of eternal judgment may not go against thee.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Point out that Jesus stands forth in this discourse as the Lawgiver of the Kingdom as Moses was of the Jewish commonwealth. 2. Bring out his relation to Moses and the prophets--not to destroy, not to defeat, or prevent one purpose of their utterances, but to fulfil, complete. In him every type and shadow met, and the prophets fulfilled; show how the end of the law was accomplished when his kingdom was established. 3. Bring out the error of dividing God's commands into least and greatest, essential and non-essential. 4. Show that there are degrees in the kingdom of heaven and upon what they are based. 5. Point to Christ legislating, his modification of the sixth commandment, what changes he made in it, the law of the kingdom that the heart shall be right. 6. Bring out the lesson that he only can offer acceptable worship who does his duty to his fellow-beings. 7. Note the lesson on civil differences, the warning against going into court, and its eternal application. 8. Note the lessons for you; keep the little commands and the great will be kept; keep the heart aright; keep the tongue from sin; keep from injury to thy brother; keep out of earthly courts; keep free from eternal judgment.