Matthew 5:28

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;

35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of ^athe great King.

36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

37 ^aBut let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Go the Second Mile

38 “You have heard that it was said, ^a‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 ^aBut I tell you not to resist an evil person. ^bBut whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

41 And whoever ^acompels you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 Give to him who asks you, and ^afrom him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ^a‘You shall love your neighbor ^band hate your enemy.’

44 But I say to you, ^alove your enemies, bless those who curse you, ^bdo good to those who hate you, and pray ^cfor those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Matthew 5:28

Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her - , earnestly to covet her. The verb, , is undoubtedly used here by our Lord, in the sense of coveting through the influence of impure desire. The word is used in precisely the same sense, on the same subject, by Herodotus, book the first, near the end. I will give the passage, but I dare not translate it. To the learned reader it will justify my translation, and the unlearned must take my word. , , Raphelius, on this verse, says, hoc loco, est turpi cupiditate mulieris potiundae flagrare . In all these eases, our blessed Lord points out the spirituality of the law; which was a matter to which the Jews paid very little attention. Indeed it is the property of a Pharisee to abstain only from the outward crime. Men are very often less inquisitive to know how far the will of God extends, that they may please him in performing it, than they are to know how far they may satisfy their lusts without destroying their bodies and souls, utterly, by an open violation of his law.

Hath committed adultery with her already in his heart - It is the earnest wish or desire of the soul, which, in a variety of cases, constitutes the good or evil of an act. If a man earnestly wish to commit an evil, but cannot, because God puts time, place, and opportunity out of his power, he is fully chargeable with the iniquity of the act, by that God who searches and judges the heart. So, if a man earnestly wish to do some kindness, which it is out of his power to perform, the act is considered as his; because God, in this case, as in that above, takes the will for the deed. If voluntary and deliberate looks and desires make adulterers and adulteresses, how many persons are there whose whole life is one continued crime! whose eyes being full of adultery, they cannot cease from sin, II Peter 2:14. Many would abhor to commit one external act before the eyes of men, in a temple of stone; and yet they are not afraid to commit a multitude of such acts in the temple of their hearts, and in the sight of God!

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