27 Ye have hear that it was said by them of old time, Thous shalt not commit adultery.
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
COMMENTARY: Thou shalt not commit adultery was the demand of the Old Testament Law (Ex. 20:14), Jesus goes beyond this outward command to reveal that its act is the result of an inner attitude of lust. Whosoever looketh characterizes the man whose glance is not checked by holy restraint and results in an impure lusting after women. The act would follow if the opportunity were to occur. By taking His listener beyond the outward statement of the law to real intention, Jesus was trying to get the listener's attention off the physical and onto the spiritual.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Word For the Day Matthew 5:25-26 (KJV)
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
COMMENTARY: The savior then went on to say that even if thine adversary (an opponent at law) disagrees with you, it is to your advantage to be reconciled to him. Jesus exhortation here is to urge us to go out of our way to avoid legal conflicts before human judges (cf. v. 40). The payment of debt and the prison referred to here simply mean the normal legal process that one would encounter in a civil suit.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
COMMENTARY: The savior then went on to say that even if thine adversary (an opponent at law) disagrees with you, it is to your advantage to be reconciled to him. Jesus exhortation here is to urge us to go out of our way to avoid legal conflicts before human judges (cf. v. 40). The payment of debt and the prison referred to here simply mean the normal legal process that one would encounter in a civil suit.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Word For the Day MATTHEW 5:23-24 (KJV)
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
COMMENTARY: Having made a comparison between the command not to murder and the inner motive and heart intention of hatred, Jesus then illustrates the seriousness of this matter by referring to one who would attempt to buy off his conscience by giving something to God without clearing his conscience in regard to his offended brother. He reminded His listeners that if thou bring thy gift to the altar without reconciling with the offended party, God will not receive the intended gift. Bringing a gift to the altar refers to bringing it to the temple in order that it may be consecrated. To be reconciled means to be brought back into fellowship or favor with an offended party.
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
COMMENTARY: Having made a comparison between the command not to murder and the inner motive and heart intention of hatred, Jesus then illustrates the seriousness of this matter by referring to one who would attempt to buy off his conscience by giving something to God without clearing his conscience in regard to his offended brother. He reminded His listeners that if thou bring thy gift to the altar without reconciling with the offended party, God will not receive the intended gift. Bringing a gift to the altar refers to bringing it to the temple in order that it may be consecrated. To be reconciled means to be brought back into fellowship or favor with an offended party.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Word For the Day Matthew 5:21-22 (KJV)
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; an whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.
22 But i say unto you, That whatsoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
COMMENTARY: Christ begins this series of contrasts by quoting the statement of the law, Thou shalt not kill (Ex. 20:13). This reference to killing is clearly understood in its context in both the Old and New Testaments as referring to an act of murder. Jesus goes beyond this outward demand of the law by stating that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause is in just as great danger of judgment as a murderer, for anger is the emotion and inner intention that leads to murder. The term raca (meaning "vain fellow" or empty head") was a Hebrew or Aramaic expression of contempt (cf. 2 Samuel 6:20). The council is a reference to the Jewish religious council called the Sanhedrin. Thou fool (Greek moros) means "stupid." The English word moron comes from this term. Those using such a malicious expression would be in danger of hell fire. The idea seems to be that if one makes light of his fellowman, he will be in danger of slander. But if one makes bitter, damning statements with reference to hell toward his fellowman, he shall actually be in danger of hell himself. The term hell is Gehenna. It refers to the valley of Hinnon at Jerusalem, where fires provided a powerful and graphic picture of the ultimate destruction of hell and the lake of fire (Cf. 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles 28:3; Jeremiah 7:31).
22 But i say unto you, That whatsoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
COMMENTARY: Christ begins this series of contrasts by quoting the statement of the law, Thou shalt not kill (Ex. 20:13). This reference to killing is clearly understood in its context in both the Old and New Testaments as referring to an act of murder. Jesus goes beyond this outward demand of the law by stating that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause is in just as great danger of judgment as a murderer, for anger is the emotion and inner intention that leads to murder. The term raca (meaning "vain fellow" or empty head") was a Hebrew or Aramaic expression of contempt (cf. 2 Samuel 6:20). The council is a reference to the Jewish religious council called the Sanhedrin. Thou fool (Greek moros) means "stupid." The English word moron comes from this term. Those using such a malicious expression would be in danger of hell fire. The idea seems to be that if one makes light of his fellowman, he will be in danger of slander. But if one makes bitter, damning statements with reference to hell toward his fellowman, he shall actually be in danger of hell himself. The term hell is Gehenna. It refers to the valley of Hinnon at Jerusalem, where fires provided a powerful and graphic picture of the ultimate destruction of hell and the lake of fire (Cf. 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles 28:3; Jeremiah 7:31).
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Word For the Day Matthew 5:20
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
COMMENTARY: Because of the necessity of righteousness as a requirement to enter heaven. Jesus then declares that except their righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees they could not enter heaven. The significance of this is seen in the fact that the Jews of Jesus' day considered these people to be the most religious in all Israel. However, their religion was largely an outward show of self-righteousness. In communicating the depth of His message, Jesus used a series of contrasts between the outward behavior demanded by the law and the inner attitude of the heart desired by God. Here we discover the practical application of genuine Christian character to true spiritual living. Here we see the gospel in action.
COMMENTARY: Because of the necessity of righteousness as a requirement to enter heaven. Jesus then declares that except their righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees they could not enter heaven. The significance of this is seen in the fact that the Jews of Jesus' day considered these people to be the most religious in all Israel. However, their religion was largely an outward show of self-righteousness. In communicating the depth of His message, Jesus used a series of contrasts between the outward behavior demanded by the law and the inner attitude of the heart desired by God. Here we discover the practical application of genuine Christian character to true spiritual living. Here we see the gospel in action.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Word For the Day Matthew 5:19 (KJV)
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
COMMENTARY: Because of the seriousness of the law, Jesus emphasizes the importance of keeping even its smallest details. However, in the plan of God, the law was not to become an extra burden on the souls of men. Rather than pointing the way to salvation, the law convinced men of the need of the Savior. Therefore, whoever shall teach men so but shall not live what he teaches, he shall be made, least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever shall do and teach the principles and percepts of the law shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. This simply means that God will reward the faithfulness and effectiveness of our lives, and there will be varying degrees of blessing and reward in the kingdom.
COMMENTARY: Because of the seriousness of the law, Jesus emphasizes the importance of keeping even its smallest details. However, in the plan of God, the law was not to become an extra burden on the souls of men. Rather than pointing the way to salvation, the law convinced men of the need of the Savior. Therefore, whoever shall teach men so but shall not live what he teaches, he shall be made, least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever shall do and teach the principles and percepts of the law shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. This simply means that God will reward the faithfulness and effectiveness of our lives, and there will be varying degrees of blessing and reward in the kingdom.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Word For the Day MATTHEW 5:18 (KJV)
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
COMMENTARY: Verily I say is a unique form used by Jesus throughout His preaching to draw attention to the authority of His message. Verily (Greek amen) means "truly" or "certainly." It is used as a designation of authoritative teaching. One jot or one tittle refers to the most minute letter and marks of the Hebrew alphabet. He explained that even the smallest statement in the law must be fulfilled. A "jot" (yodh) is the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It functions as a Y in English and looks similar to an apostrophe. A tittle is a small projection on the edge of certain Hebrew letters to distinguish them from one another..
COMMENTARY: Verily I say is a unique form used by Jesus throughout His preaching to draw attention to the authority of His message. Verily (Greek amen) means "truly" or "certainly." It is used as a designation of authoritative teaching. One jot or one tittle refers to the most minute letter and marks of the Hebrew alphabet. He explained that even the smallest statement in the law must be fulfilled. A "jot" (yodh) is the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It functions as a Y in English and looks similar to an apostrophe. A tittle is a small projection on the edge of certain Hebrew letters to distinguish them from one another..
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