52 – Sermon on the Mount Part 3; Matthew 5:21-48; Luke 6:27-30, 32-36

Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that [a]the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be [b]liable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be [c]guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[d]You good-for-nothing,’ shall be [e]guilty before [f]the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be [g]guilty enough to go into the [h]fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you are presenting your [i]offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [j]offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [k]offering. 25 Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last [l]cent.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye makes you [m]stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you [n]to lose one of the parts of your body, [o]than for your whole body to be thrown into [p]hell. 30 If your right hand makes you [q]stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you [r]to lose one of the parts of your body, [s]than for your whole body to go into [t]hell.

31 “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 but I say to you that everyone who [u]divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [v]divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again, you have heard that [w]the ancients were told, ‘[x]You shall not [y]make false vows, but shall fulfill your [z]vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or [aa]by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is [ab]of evil.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take your [ac]shirt, let him have your [ad]coat also. 41 Whoever [ae]forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give 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.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may [af]be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore [ag]you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Luke 6:27 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who [a]mistreat you. 29 Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your [b]coat, do not withhold your [c]shirt from him either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.

32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, [d]expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 [e]Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Footnotes (Matthew)

a. Matthew 5:21 Lit it was said to the ancients

b. Matthew 5:21 Or guilty before

c. Matthew 5:22 Or liable to

d. Matthew 5:22 Or empty-head; Gr Raka (Raca) fr Aram reqa

e. Matthew 5:22 Or liable to

f. Matthew 5:22 Lit the Sanhedrin

g. Matthew 5:22 Or liable to

h. Matthew 5:22 Lit Gehenna of fire

I. Matthew 5:23 Or gift

j. Matthew 5:24 Or gift

k. Matthew 5:24 Or gift

l. Matthew 5:26 Lit quadrans (equaling two mites); i.e. 1/64 of a daily wage

m. Matthew 5:29 I.e. sin

n. Matthew 5:29 Lit that one…be lost

o. Matthew 5:29 Lit not your whole body

p. Matthew 5:29 Gr Gehenna

q. Matthew 5:30 I.e. sin

r. Matthew 5:30 Lit that one…be lost

s. Matthew 5:30 Lit not your whole body

t. Matthew 5:30 Gr Gehenna

u. Matthew 5:32 Or sends away

v. Matthew 5:32 Or sent away

w. Matthew 5:33 Lit it was said to the ancients

x. Matthew 5:33 you and your are singular here

y. Matthew 5:33 Or break your vows

z. Matthew 5:33 Lit oaths

aa. Matthew 5:35 Or toward

ab. Matthew 5:37 Or from the evil one

ac. Matthew 5:40 Lit tunic; i.e. a garment worn next to the body

ad. Matthew 5:40 Lit cloak; i.e. an outer garment

ae. Matthew 5:41 Lit will force

af. Matthew 5:45 Or show yourselves to be

ag. Matthew 5:48 Lit you shall be

Footnotes (Luke)

a. Luke 6:28 Or revile

b. Luke 6:29 I.e. outer garment

c. Luke 6:29 Or tunic; i.e. garment worn next to body

d. Luke 6:35 Or not despairing at all

e. Luke 6:36 Or Become

Commentary

This passage is probably too long for one post, but I’m going with it. I’ll just make the notes on each section as brief as I can. My plan is to divide the comments into the individual topics Jesus addresses throughout this section of the teaching.

Murder

As we have discussed in the past several studies, Jesus does not eradicate any aspect of the law, but in fact extends the expectation of observance to the heart behind the behavior. He begins this section by equating hatred to murder. “The reference to killing is clearly understood in its context in both the Old Testament and New Testament as referring to an act of murder. It must be remembered that the God who commanded the children of Israel not to murder one another also commanded them at times to kill an enemy in order to defend their nation” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1177).

Calling a grown man insulting names was an expression of hatred during Jesus’s day, so even though these insults seem trivial to us today, they were very serious at the time. “The term raca (meaning “vain fellow” or “empty head”) was a Hebrew or Aramaic expression of contempt (cf. II Sam 6:20). …Thou fool, (Gr moros) means “stupid.” We have developed the English word moron from this term. Those using such a malicious expression would be in danger of hell fire. …The idea clearly seems to be that if one makes light of his fellow man he will be in danger of slander. But if one makes bitter, damning statements with reference to hell toward his fellow man, he shall actually be in danger of hell himself… The term hell (Gr geena) is Gehenna, which was the hellenized form of the name of the Valley of Hinnom at Jerusalem in which fires were constantly burning to consume the refuse of the city. This valley provided a powerful and graphic picture of the ultimate destruction of hell and the lake of fire” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1177).

Sacrifice with a Guilty Conscience

The reference Jesus makes when He says not to give an offering while angry with one’s brother is to the common practice of “buying off one’s conscience” with an offering. A guilt offering is therefore not a true offering to God, and He will not receive it as such; nor will it please Him or mitigate His anger over the sin toward a brother (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1178).

Adultery

With regard to plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand, Jesus is not suggesting literal castration or removal of any member of the body as some attempt to satisfy God. Jesus often uses hyperbole and metaphor to illustrate His points. The offending member is the heart, and the sinful nature therein should be dealt with in as extreme a manner as is possible (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1178).

Divorce

“The normal custom of the ancient Near East was for a man to verbally divorce his wife. The Arab custom was to say “I divorce you” three times and the divorce was consummated without any legal protection of any kind to the wife. In contrast, the ancient law of Israel insisted on a writing of divorcement or certificate of divorce. This written statement gave legal protection to both the wife and the husband” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1178-1179). One of the legal reasons for divorce at the time was infertility, and Jesus’s statement about divorce in the Sermon on the Mount makes it clear that barrenness is not a morally acceptable case for marital separation. Because Jesus expresses that the only legitimate reason for divorce is infidelity, He tells the men that divorcing their wives will make others suspicious of adultery (“makes her commit adultery”).

Oaths and Swearing

At this time in Jewish culture, it was very common to swear by God, the temple, the gold on the temple, etc, and the being or thing that was the subject of the oath carried more or less weight, giving the swearer more or less latitude to actually lie. Jesus asserts that if they will all get in the habit of telling the truth all the time, they will be rid of this elaborate farce that angers God, anyway.

Vengeance

Although “an eye for an eye” is a reference to Exodus 2:24, this original law had devolved into a law of vengeance for the Jewish people of Jesus’s day. “These passages alone do not mean that a man should not defend his family or his country, but rather that he should not attempt personal vengeance, even through the means of the law, to compensate for a personal injury” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1180). The Word in Life Study Bible says, “in vengeance one inflicts harm even though immediate danger is past… In the case of lawsuits… the Law permitted demanding a tunic (or shirt) in pledge for a loan, but prohibited taking a cloak (or coat) overnight, because it was needed for warmth (Ex 22:26-27). However, Jesus’ listeners commonly pressed for the cloak – for ruinous damages – almost literally “suing the pants off each other,” as we would say. But Christ’s point was that if lawsuits have to go to extremes, they ought to be in the extreme of charity” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1635).

Loving Enemies

Since the Jews were subjugated to Roman rule, a soldier could require a Jewish person to carry the soldier’s armor and gear for one mile (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1181). Additionally, some of Jesus’s audience would have been subject to ancient Persian law, which “permitted postal carriers to compel private citizens to help carry their loads” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1635). These people were the enemies of Jews, and one manner of making an impression on them would have been to delight in the work they were forced to do and to do more than what was required.

Loving thy neighbor was part of the original law in Leviticus 19:18-34, but by Jesus’s day, the cultural tag line to this law was to “hate thine enemy.” There would have been perceived enemies within that very audience; this may be the reason the author mentions people travelling to hear Jesus from Tyre and Sidon. We mentioned in a previous post that the cultural influences of Tyre and Sidon were in direct opposition to Jewish law and tradition. Jesus assaults the lines they have drawn between one another and encourages them to love each other.

Striving for Perfection

Jesus tells us to be perfect, just as God is perfect, but He knows we cannot be without sin. What He means here is that a man must be a Christian before he can exhibit Christian behavior. In Luke, “Jesus says to be merciful as your Father also is merciful. The fatherhood of God comes only by being born into His family by the new birth (Jn 3:3-7). Christ said that prior to that experience, men are naturally the children of the devil (Jn 8:44)” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1273).

“The key to understanding this section is to keep in mind the major thrust of [Jesus’s] teaching: good not evil, grace not vengeance, love not hatred. That is the morality of Christ” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1635).

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2020/03/13/sermon-on-the-mount-part-4/

Scripture Reference

Matthew 5:21

Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder.

Deuteronomy 5:17 You shall not murder.

Deuteronomy 16:18 You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

2 Chronicles 19:5 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

Matthew 5:22

Deuteronomy 16:18 You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

2 Chronicles 19:5 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

Matthew 18:9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.

Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

Mark 14:55 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.

Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

Luke 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

Luke 22:66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their council and said,

John 11:47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.

Acts 4:15 So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

Acts 5:21 At daybreak, the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived in the Council, they called together the full assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent to the jail for the apostles.

Acts 5:27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.

Acts 6:12 So they stirred up the people and elders and scribes. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

Acts 6:15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 22:30 The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

Acts 23:1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

Acts 24:20 Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

James 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Matthew 5:23

Mark 11:25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”

Matthew 5:24

Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Matthew 5:25

Proverbs 25:8 do not go out to argue in haste. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your opponent puts you to shame?

Matthew 26:58 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

Luke 12:58 Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

Matthew 5:26

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

Mark 12:42 Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.

Luke 12:58 Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

Luke 12:59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

Matthew 5:27

Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery.

Leviticus 18:20 You must not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.

Deuteronomy 5:18 You shall not commit adultery.

Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

Matthew 5:28

Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Leviticus 18:20 You must not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.

Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

2 Samuel 11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing–a very beautiful woman.

Job 31:1 I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?

Proverbs 6:25 Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

Ezekiel 23:16 At the sight of them she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

James 1:14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.

James 1:15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Matthew 5:29

Matthew 11:6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

Matthew 17:27 “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

Matthew 18:9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

Matthew 5:30

Matthew 17:27 “But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

Matthew 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Matthew 5:31

Deuteronomy 24:1 If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house.

Deuteronomy 24:3 and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies,

Jeremiah 3:1 “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers–and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.

Malachi 2:16 “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and I hate when a man covers himself and his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. Therefore guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

Matthew 19:3 Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

Matthew 19:7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

Mark 10:4 They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

Matthew 5:32

Jeremiah 3:9 Indifferent to her immorality, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.

Matthew 19:9 Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.”

Mark 10:11 So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.

Luke 16:18 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

1 Corinthians 7:10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

Matthew 5:33

Leviticus 19:12 You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Deuteronomy 5:11 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve Him, and take your oaths using only His name.

Deuteronomy 23:21 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Deuteronomy 23:23 Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Matthew 23:16 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’

1 Timothy 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

Matthew 5:34

Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.

Isaiah 66:1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

Matthew 23:22 And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it.

Acts 7:49 Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?

James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

Matthew 5:35

Psalm 48:2 Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphron is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.

Isaiah 66:1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be?

Acts 7:49 Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?

Matthew 5:37

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

John 17:15 I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

1 John 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

1 John 3:12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

Matthew 5:38

Exodus 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

Leviticus 24:20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Just as he injured the other person, the same must be inflicted on him.

Deuteronomy 19:21 You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.

Matthew 5:39

1 Kings 22:24 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak to you?”

Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will deliver you.

Proverbs 24:29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”

Luke 6:7 Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.

John 18:23 Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”

1 Corinthians 6:7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

Matthew 5:40

1 Corinthians 7:36 However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.

Matthew 5:41

Mark 15:21 Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.

Matthew 5:42

Deuteronomy 15:7 If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.

Deuteronomy 15:8 Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.

Proverbs 21:26 All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.

Ecclesiastes 11:2 Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

1 Timothy 6:18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,

Matthew 5:43

Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 23:3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation.

Matthew 5:21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

Matthew 5:27 You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’

1 John 4:21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

Matthew 5:44

1 Samuel 24:17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.

Proverbs 19:11 A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.

Acts 7:60 Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

Matthew 5:45

Jeremiah 5:24 They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Acts 14:17 Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

Matthew 5:46

Matthew 9:10 Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.

Matthew 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

Matthew 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Mark 2:15 While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples–for there were many who followed Him.

Mark 2:16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Luke 3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

Luke 5:29 Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.

Luke 5:30 But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Luke 7:29 All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.

Luke 7:34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!’

Luke 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.

Matthew 5:47

Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.

Colossians 4:15 Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.

Matthew 5:48

Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to the entire congregation of the Israelites and tell them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Deuteronomy 18:13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:15 All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.

Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

James 1:4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Luke 6:27

1 Kings 13:6 Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.

Romans 12:20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Luke 6:28

1 Kings 13:6 Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Luke 6:30

Ecclesiastes 11:2 Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

Luke 6:34

Deuteronomy 15:8 Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.

Luke 6:35

Psalm 58:11 Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

2 Timothy 3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Luke 6:36

Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Commentary

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Ex 22:26 If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about that when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for I am gracious.