Section 54e
Six contrasts in interpreting the law
Matthew 5:21-48 | Luke 6:27-30, 32-36 |
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21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and, ‘Whoever murders will be subject to judgment.’ [*] 22But I say to you that everyone who is rashly angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘You idiot,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. And whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be subject to the fires of hell. 23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Make friends with your adversary quickly while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the guard, and you be thrown into prison. 26Truly I say to you, you will certainly not come out of there until you have paid the last penny. 27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [*] 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29So if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to have one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to have one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 31“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ [*] 32But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, apart from a matter of fornication, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 33“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not break an oath, but shall keep your oaths to the Lord.’ [*] 34But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God0x3B 35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet0x3B nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. [*] 36Neither shall you swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’0x3B for whatever is more than these is from the evil one. 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ [*] 39But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. Rather, if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41And if anyone presses you into service for one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [*] | |
44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your friends, what are you doing that is out of the ordinary? Do not even the tax collectors do that? | 27“But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29If anyone strikes you on one cheek, offer him the other also. If anyone takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either. 30Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away your belongings, do not demand them back. |
32If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive something back, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners lend to other sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. | |
48You therefore shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. | 36Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. |
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Footnotes
Matthew 5,21
Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
Matthew 5,27
Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18
Matthew 5,31
Deuteronomy 24:1+3
Matthew 5,33
Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21
Matthew 5,35
Psalms 48:2
Matthew 5,38
Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
Matthew 5,43
Leviticus 19:18