Sermon on the Mount It is instructive to find the Sermon on the Mount following close upon the works of mercy which would open men's hearts to receive the Saviour's words. It is a discourse about the changed life or _Metanoia_, showing its conditions; and about the Kingdom or _Basileia_, showing it... [ Continue Reading ]
_a mountain_ Accurately, THE mountain, the high land bordering on the Lake, behind Tell Hûm or Et Tabigah, which the inhabitants of those places would naturally call "the mountain" (see map). It was the Sinai of the New Law. Cp. Psalms 72:3. _he was set_ The usual position of a Jewish teacher. In t... [ Continue Reading ]
A. The Subjects of the Kingdom, Matthew 5:3-16. (1) Their character and privileges, Matthew 5:3-12. 3. _Blessed are the poor in spirit_ The beatitudes so called from the opening word "beati" (blessed), in the Vulgate. Mark the Christian growth step by step. First, spiritual poverty, the only charac... [ Continue Reading ]
_mourn_ Those who mourn for sin are primarily intended; but the secondary meaning, "those who are in suffering and distress," is not excluded. The first meaning is illustrated by 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world... [ Continue Reading ]
_the meek_ Psalms 37:11. "But the meek shall inherit the earth." See note Matthew 5:3. Meekness is mentioned with very faint praise by the greatest of heathen moralists, Aristotle. He calls it "a mean inclining to a defect." It is indeed essentially a Christian virtue.... [ Continue Reading ]
This longing for righteousness is God's gift to the meek.... [ Continue Reading ]
_they shall obtain mercy_ This principle in the divine Government that men shall be dealt with as they deal with their fellow-men is taught in the parable of the Unmerciful Servant, ch. 18, and underlies the fifth petition in the Lord's Prayer, ch. Matthew 6:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
_pure in heart_ Purity is a distinguishing virtue of Christianity. It finds no place even in the teaching of Socrates, or in the system of Aristotle. Pure _in heart_"non sufficit puritas ceremonialis." Bengel. _shall see God_ The Christian education is a gradual unveiling of God, all have glimpses... [ Continue Reading ]
_peacemakers_ not only in the sense of those who heal dissension. Peace is used in a deeper sense, "the peace of God," Philippians 4:7; "the peace of Christ," Colossians 3:15. _children of God_ These are most akin to the divine nature, perfect as their Father which is in heaven is perfect, Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
_for righteousness" sake.… for my sake_ Observe these limitations. The _cause_in which a man suffers is everything. Many Galilæan zealots who had been persecuted, reviled, traduced, when they rose against Herod or the Roman power had no share in this blessedness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_so persecuted they the prophets …_ Persecution is a test and token of true discipleship, that which naturally brings distress and despair to men will bring delight in the kingdom of God. The passion and death of Christ gave a fresh force to these words, see 1 Peter 4:13-14.... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) Their responsibility, Matthew 5:13-16. 13. _Ye are the salt of the earth_ Here the disciples and primarily the Apostles are addressed. Those who fulfil the condition of discipleship have a responsibility laid upon them. _have lost his savour_ i. e. become tasteless. Salt is essential to all or... [ Continue Reading ]
_the light of the world_ See John 8:12, where Jesus says of Himself "I am the light of the world." Cp. Philippians 2:15, "Ye shine as lights (rather -luminaries") in the world." _a city that is set on a hill_ Stanley remarks (_S. and P._337) that in Northern Palestine "the plain and mountain-sides... [ Continue Reading ]
_a bushel_ Rather, THE bushel, i. e. the common measure found in every Jewish house. Strictly speaking, the _modius_, translated "bushel," denoted a smaller measure equal to about two gallons. _candle … candlestick …_ Or rather, LAMP … LAMPSTAND. The lamp in a Jewish house was not set on a table, b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let your light so shine_ The word translated "shine" is rendered "giveth light" in the preceding verse. It would be better to use the same English word in both cases. _So_= "in like manner." _That_is final, not consecutive = -in order that.... [ Continue Reading ]
B. The Kingdom of Heaven is a fulfilment of the law, Matthew 5:17-48. Stated generally, Matthew 5:17-20. 17. _I am come_ Lit. I CAME.... [ Continue Reading ]
_verily_ The Hebr. _Amen_is retained in the Greek text. This particle is used (_a_) to confirm the truth of what has been said. (_b_) To affirm the truth of what is about to be said. The second (_b_) is a Syriac use, and therefore more usual in the N.T. than in the O.T. where the use is nearly limit... [ Continue Reading ]
Again addressed to the Apostles as teachers. The union of doing and teaching is essential. It was the grave sin of the Pharisees that they taught without doing. See ch. Matthew 23:2-3. This explains the _for_of next verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_scribes_ See note, ch. Matthew 7:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
(_a_) Instances from the Decalogue, Matthew 5:21-37. (_a_) Murder, Matthew 5:21-26. 21. _Ye have heard_ Rather, YE HEARD either in the service of the synagogue or in the teaching of the scribes. _by them of old time_ Better, to them of old time. _in danger of_ Lit. BOUND BY THEM, LIABLE, EXPOSED... [ Continue Reading ]
_I say_ A most emphatic formula, which implies the authority of a lawgiver. _without a cause_ The Greek word is omitted in the oldest MSS., and has probably been inserted by a copyist desirous of softening the expression. _the judgment_ = the local court: see next note. _Raca_ A word of contempt,... [ Continue Reading ]
_if thou bring thy gift to the altar_ i. e. THY OFFERING, such as a lamb or a pair of doves. _rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee_ that thy brother hath cause of complaint against thee, just or unjust, if the quarrel is still not made up.... [ Continue Reading ]
_before the altar_ Stay the sacrifice, though begun, for God will not accept it unless the heart be free from anger, and the conscience from offence. It is an application of the great principle summed up in "I will have mercy and not sacrifice." Cp. also Psalms 26:6, "I will wash my hands in innocen... [ Continue Reading ]
_Agree_ Lit. BE FRIENDLY WITH. The participle in the orig. conveys the idea of continuance. The thought of the preceding verse is extended and generalised. By the "adversary" are meant those against whom we harbour that resentment which keeps us from the kingdom of God. "While there is time in this... [ Continue Reading ]
(β) Adultery, 27 32. 28. _to lust after her_i. e. "with a view to lust after her." _in his heart_ Contrast with the pure _in heart, Matthew 5:8_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy right eye_ suggested by the preceding verse. The eye and the hand are not only in themselves good and serviceable, but _necessary_. Still they may become the occasion of sin to us. So pursuits and pleasures innocent in themselves may bring temptation, and involve us in sin. These must be resign... [ Continue Reading ]
_a writing of divorcement_ See note on ch. Matthew 1:19. The greatest abuses had arisen in regard to divorce, which was permitted on very trivial grounds. One Rabbinical saying was "If any man hate his wife, let him put her away." Copies of these bills of divorce are still preserved. The formula may... [ Continue Reading ]
_causeth her to commit adultery_ By adopting a slightly different reading in the original with Lachmann, Tischendorf, and Tregelles, the idea of wilful sin on the woman's part is removed. _that is divorced_ Lit. WHEN SHE HATH BEEN DIVORCED.... [ Continue Reading ]
(γ) Oaths, 33 37. 33. _Thou shalt not forswear thyself_ The special reference may be to the third commandment. Cp. also Leviticus 19:12, "Ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God." In the kingdom of God no external act or profession as distinct from the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Swear not at all_ The prohibition must be understood of rash and careless oaths in conversation, not of solemn asseveration in Courts of Justice. _for it is God's throne_ Such was the prevalent hypocrisy that the Jews of the day thought that they escaped the sin of perjury if in their oaths they a... [ Continue Reading ]
_by thy head_ A common form of oath in the ancient world: cp. "Per caput hoc juro per quod pater ante solebat." Verg. _Æn._... [ Continue Reading ]
(_b_) The law of retaliation, 38 42. 38. _An eye for an eye_ See Exodus 21:24. The Scribes draw a false inference from the letter of the law. As a legal remedy the _lex talionis_was probably the best possible in a rude state of society. The principle was admitted in all ancient nations. But the ret... [ Continue Reading ]
_resist not evil_ i. e. DO NOT SEEK TO RETALIATE EVIL. _turn to him the other also_ To be understood with the limitation imposed on the words by our Lord's personal example, John 18:22-23. The gradation of the examples given is from the greater to the less provocation.... [ Continue Reading ]
_coat_ Lit. TUNIC, the under garment. It had sleeves, and reached below the knees, somewhat like a modern shirt. _cloke_, the upper garment. A large square woollen robe, resembling the modern Arab _abba_or _abayeh_. The poorest people wore a tunic only. Among the richer people many wore two tunics b... [ Continue Reading ]
_compel thee to go a mile_ The Greek text has a Persian word here signifying "to press into service as a courier" for the royal post, then, generally, "to force to be a guide," "to requisition," men or cattle. This was one of the exactions which the Jews suffered under the Romans. Alford quotes Jose... [ Continue Reading ]
_from him that would borrow of thee_ Luke has "lend, hoping for nothing again." Forced loans have been a mode of oppression in every age, for which, perhaps, no people have suffered more than the Jews.... [ Continue Reading ]
(_c_) Love or Charity, 43 48. 43. _Thou shalt love thy neighbour_ Leviticus 19:18, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." The second clause does not occur in Levit., but was a Rabbinical inference. _Enemies_, all who are outside the chosen race, the etymological force of the Greek word. Heathe... [ Continue Reading ]
Several editors, with high MS. authority, omit the words "bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you," and "despitefully use you and." The omission, however, breaks the gradation and balance of the paragraph. The contrast between love and hate is exhibited in four degrees, the antithes... [ Continue Reading ]
_that ye may be the children of your Father_ See note on Matthew 5:9. To act thus would be to act like God, Who blesses those who curse Him and are His enemies, by the gifts of sun and rain. This is divine. Mere return of love for love is a human, even a heathen virtue.... [ Continue Reading ]
_publicans_ TAXGATHERERS; not collectors of a regular tax fixed by government as with us, but men who farmed or contracted for the _publicum_(state revenue), hence called Publicani. At Rome the equestrian order enjoyed almost exclusively the lucrative privilege of farming the state revenues. The pu... [ Continue Reading ]
_salute your brethren only_ See Matthew 5:43. The Hebrew salutation was _Shalom_(peace). The higher MS. authority gives "Gentiles" or "heathen," instead of "publicans.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be ye_ Lit. YE SHALL BE _perfect_. Either (1) in reference to a future state, "if ye have this true love or charity ye shall be perfect hereafter;" or (2) the future has an imperative force, and _perfect_is limited by the preceding words = perfect in respect of love, i. e. "love your enemies as wel... [ Continue Reading ]