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Matthew 5:21
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19 aWhoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds athe righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  

Murder Begins in the Heart

21 “You have heard that it was said to those1 of old, a‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’  
22 But I say to you that awhoever is angry with his brother1 without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, b‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says,3 ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of4 hell fire.  
23 Therefore aif you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,  
24 aleave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  
25 aAgree with your adversary quickly, bwhile you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.  
26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Adultery in the Heart

27 “You have heard that it was said1 to those of old, a‘You shall not commit adultery.’  
28 But I say to you that whoever alooks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  
29 aIf your right eye causes you to1 sin, bpluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  
30 And if your right hand causes you to1 sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  

Marriage Is Sacred and Binding

31 “Furthermore it has been said, a‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’  
32 But I say to you that awhoever divorces his wife for any reason except1 sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.  

Jesus Forbids Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that ait was said to those of old, b‘You shall not swear falsely, but cshall perform your oaths to the Lord.’  
34 But I say to you, ado not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is bGod’s throne;  
Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
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Matthew 5:21

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time - , to or by the ancients. By the ancients, we may understand those who lived before the law, and those who lived under it; for murder was, in the most solemn manner, forbidden before, as well as under, the law, Genesis 9:5, Genesis 9:6.

But it is very likely that our Lord refers here merely to traditions and glosses relative to the ancient Mosaic ordinance; and such as, by their operation, rendered the primitive command of little or no effect. Murder from the beginning has been punished with death; and it is, probably, the only crime that should be punished with death. There is much reason to doubt, whether the punishment of death, inflicted for any other crime, is not in itself murder, whatever the authority may be that has instituted it. God, and the greatest legislators that have ever been in the universe, are of the same opinion. See Montesquieu, Blackstone, and the Marquis Beccaria, and the arguments and testimonies lately produced by Sir Samuel Romilly, in his motion for the amendment of the criminal laws of this kingdom. It is very remarkable, that the criminal code published by Joseph II., late emperor of Germany, though it consists of seventy-one capital crimes, has not death attached to any of them. Even murder, with all intention to rob, is punished only with "imprisonment for thirty years, to lie on the floor, to have no nourishment but bread and water, to be closely chained, and to be publicly whipped once a year, with less than one hundred lashes." See Colquhoun on the Police of the City of London, p. 272.




Other Adam Clarke entries containing Matthew 5:21:

Matthew 5:22

 

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