Matthew 5:33-48: Mouths, Meekness, and Malice

MATTHEW 5:33-48

1. Mouths (teaching on oaths) vv. 33-37

Foreswear thyself--commit perjury: Leviticus 19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Deuteronomy 23:23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

v. 35

Isaiah 66:1Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Pharisees had many ways to get around the laws (loopholes).

2. Meekness (teaching on forgiveness) vv. 38-42

It insured that punishment would fit the crime, not exceeding it in severity: "not a life for an eye, nor a limb for a tooth" (Matthew Henry), but rather fair punishment.

This is a higher law--the law of love that suffers wrong for the benefit of the one loved; "it is the second blow that makes the quarrel," (Matthew Henry).

Jesus, our Example, suffered blows without retaliation.

For this great Example, please note:

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Matthew 27:12–14 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Mark 14:61 But he held his peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

Mark 15:5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

Luke 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

John 19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

3. Malice (teaching on loving one’s enemies) vv. 43-48