Tag: New Testament

Scripture: Matthew 5: 31-44

Divorce

³¹ “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’^[f] 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.^[g]

Eye for Eye

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Scripture Commentary:

God intends that marriage be a lifetime commitment. In Matthew 5: 31-32, Jesus attacks those who purposefully abuse the marriage contract. We are not to use divorce to fulfill a lustful desire to marry someone else. Jesus said that divorce is not permissible, except for unfaithfulness. Keeping oaths and promises is important. It builds trust and makes committed human relationships.

In Matthew 5: 38-42, God provides an expression of mercy. “Make the punishment fit the crime” is not a guide for personal revenge. According to Jesus, it is more important to give justice and mercy than to receive it.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 5

Read the last three weeks of commentary on Matthew Chapter 5:

Jesus Didn’t Come to Undo the Law. He Fulfills It.

Let God Guide Your Moral Compass

We are All Subject to Judgment

Note: For the remainder of the summer, we will post once a week on Monday.

Scripture: Matthew 5: 22-30

²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister^[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’^[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’^[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Scripture Commentary:

Anger is a great sin. It violates God’s command to love. Broken relationships can hinder our relationship with God. In Jesus’ day, someone who couldn’t pay a debt was subject to judgment and thrown into prison until the debt was paid. We should resolve our differences before anger causes more trouble.

Acting out sinful desires is the beginning of rebellion against God. Sinful action is more dangerous than sinful desire. That is why desires shouldn’t be acted out. Jesus says to rid yourself of the body part that could cause you to sin. He is saying that it’s better to experience the pain of removal than to spend eternity in hell.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 5

Read the last two weeks of commentary on Matthew Chapter 5:

Jesus Didn’t Come to Undo the Law. He Fulfills It.

Let God Guide Your Moral Compass

Note: For the remainder of the summer, we will post once a week on Monday. Please join us next week as we explore more verses from Matthew Chapter 5.

Scripture: Matthew 5: 20-21

²⁰ “For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever murders shall be ^[g]guilty before the court.’

Scripture Commentary:

Our moral compass must be upright. We have so called experts today, as they did in the past, telling us what to do. However, they miss the central point of God’s law. Jesus made it clear that obeying God’s law is more important than explaining it.

It’s easier to study God’s law and tell others to obey it than it is to put it into practice.

Our weakness, like that of the Pharisees, is that we are content to obey the laws outwardly without allowing God to change our hearts. Jesus is saying that we need a different kind of righteousness altogether, not just a more intense version of the Pharisees’ righteousness with legal compliance. Our righteousness must come from God, not from ourselves.

Be God centered, not self centered.

Reverence God. Don’t look for approval from people. Go beyond keeping the law to living by the principles behind the law.

When Jesus said, “But I tell you,” He was not doing away with the law or adding His own beliefs. He was giving a fuller understanding of why God made the law in the first place.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 5

Re-read last week’s exploration of Matthew 5: 17-20

Jesus Didn’t Come to Undo the Law. He Fulfills It.

Note: For the remainder of the summer, we will post once a week on Monday. Please join us next week as we explore more verses from Matthew Chapter 5.

Scripture: Matthew 5: 17-20

“Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the ^[f]Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished. ¹⁹ So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

²⁰ “For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Commentary Note:

If Jesus did not come to undue the law, does that mean all of the Old Testament laws still apply to us today?

There are three categories of law in the Old Testament:

1. Ceremonial
2. Civil
3. Moral

Ceremonial law relates specifically to Israel’s worship. In Leviticus chapters 1 through 3, we see that the primary purpose is to point forward to Jesus Christ. These laws, therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus’s death and resurrection.

While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principles behind them – to worship and love God – still apply.

The civil law applies to daily living in Israel (see Deuteronomy 24: 10-11). As modern society and culture are so radically different from that time and setting, all of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. However, the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct.

The moral law is a direct command of God. It requires strict obedience (see Exodus 20: 13). The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today.

Read the Entire Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 5

Leviticus Chapter 1

Leviticus Chapter 2

Leviticus Chapter 3

Deuteronomy Chapter 24

Exodus Chapter 20

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

God’s People Are the Salt of the Earth

Jesus, Remember Me

Note: For the remainder of the summer, we will post once a week on Monday. Please join us next week as we explore more verses from Matthew Chapter 5.

Scripture: Matthew 26: 31-35

Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night [disillusioned about Me, confused, and some even ashamed of Me], for it is written [in the Scriptures], ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³² But after I am raised [to life], I will go ahead of you [leading the way] to Galilee.” ³³ Peter replied to Him, “Though they all fall away because of You [and doubt and disown You], I will never fall away!” ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this night, before a rooster crows, you will [completely] deny Me three times.” ³⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.

Scripture Commentary:

All the disciples declared that they would die before disowning Jesus. However, a few hours later, they all scattered. Talk is cheap. It’s easy to say we are devoted to Christ but our claims are meaningful only when they are tested in the crucible of persecution.

How strong is your faith?

Is it strong enough to stand up under intense trial? Jesus was in great anguish over His approaching physical pain, separation from the Father, and death for the sins of the world. The divine course was set, but He, in His human nature, still struggled.

Because of the anguish Jesus experienced, He can relate to our suffering.

Jesus’s strength to obey came from His relationship with God the Father. God the Father is also the source of our strength. The sinless Son of God took our sins upon Himself to save us from suffering and separation.

Jesus tells us to trust in the Lord, God the Father, the Creator of all.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 26

Read Other Commentary from the New Testament:

The Holy Spirit Will Guide You to Understanding

Let Christ Set You Free

Scripture: Matthew 10: 17-22

Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; ¹⁸ and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you within that [very] hour; ²⁰ for it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will rise up and rebel against their parents and cause them to be put death. ²² And you will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved.

Scripture Commentary: Do not worry; stand firm on God’s Word.

Jesus told the disciples that when they are arrested for preaching the gospel, they should not worry about what to say in their defense. God’s Spirit will speak through them. When people read this, some mistakenly think this means they don’t have to prepare to present the gospel. God will take care of everything.

You are to read the Word of God to be prepared at all times. Standing firm to the end is not a way to be saved but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus.

Persistence is not a means to earn salvation.

Persistence is a by-product of a truly devoted life. Because God places such value on us, we need never fear personal threats or difficult trials. These can’t shake God’s love or dislodge His Spirit from within you. God gave His Son to die for you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 10

Read Other Commentary from the New Testament:

God Never Abandons

Are You Confirming Scripture or Conforming It?

Scripture: Matthew 7: 15-23

“Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them [as false prophets].

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’

Scripture Commentary:

False prophets were common in Old Testament times. They prophesied only what the king and the people wanted to hear, claiming it was God’s message. False teachers are just as common today.

We should evaluate teachers’ words by examining their lives. Just as trees are consistent in the kind of fruit they produce, good teachers consistently exhibit good behavior and high moral character as they attempt to live out the truths of Scripture.

Jesus exposed the people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with Him. On “that day” (judgment day), only our relationship with Christ matters. Only our acceptance of Him and obedience to Him matters. In reality, faith in Christ is what will count at the judgment.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 7

Read Other Commentary from the New Testament:

Who is Weak in Faith, and Who is Strong?

Spiritual Wealth

Scripture: Matthew 8: 1-4

When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds ^[a]followed Him. ² And a leper came up to Him and bowed down before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You are able to make me clean (well).” ³ Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴ And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one [about this]; but go, show yourself to the priest [for inspection] and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony (evidence) to them [of your healing].”

Scripture Commentary:

Leprosy – like AIDS when it was first diagnosed, and COVID 19 today – was a terrifying disease because there was no known cure. In Jesus’ day, the Greek word for leprosy was used for a variety of similar diseases. Some of them were contagious.

If a person contracted the contagious type, a priest declared him a leper and banished him from his home and city. The leper was sent to live in a community with other lepers until s/he either got better or died. Yet when the leper begged Jesus to heal him, Jesus reached out and touched him even though his skin was covered with the dreaded disease.

Sin, like leprosy, is also an incurable disease.

We all have it. Only Christ’s healing touch can miraculously take away our sins and restore us to real living. But first, just like the leper, we must realize our inability to cure ourselves and ask for Jesus’ saving help.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 8

Read Other Commentary from the New Testament:

Recognize God’s Work in You

Don’t Be a Slave to Sin