JUDGE NOT ... - This command refers to rash, censorious, and unjust judgment. See Romans 2:1. Luke Luke 6:37 explains it in the sense of “condemning.” Christ does not condemn judging as a magistrate, for that, when according to justice, is lawful and necessary. Nor does he condemn our “forming an op... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH WHAT JUDGMENT ... - This was a proverb among the Jews. It expressed a truth; and Christ did not hesitate to adopt it as conveying his own sentiments. It refers no less to the way in which people will judge of us, than to the rule by which God will judge us. See 2 Samuel 22:27; Mark 4:24; James... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHY BEHOLDEST THOU THE MOTE ... - A mote signifies any “light substance,” as dry chaff, or fine spires of grass or grain. It probably most usually signified the small “spiculae” or “beards” on a head of barley or wheat. It is thus placed in opposition to the word “beam.” BEAM - The word used he... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HYPOCRITE, FIRST CAST OUT ... - Christ directs us to the proper way of forming an opinion of ethers, and of reproving and correcting them. By first amending our own faults, or casting the beam out of our eye, we can “consistently” advance to correct the faults of others. There will then be no h... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE NOT THAT WHICH IS HOLY ... - By some the word “holy” has been supposed to mean “flesh offered in sacrifice,” made holy, or separated to a sacred use; but it probably means here “anything connected with religion” - admonition, precept, or doctrine. Pearls are precious stones found in shell-fish,... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU ... - There are here three different forms presented of seeking the things which we need from God - asking, ‘seeking, and knocking. The latter is taken from the act of knocking at a door for admittance. See Luke 13:25; Revelation 3:20. The phrases signify to seek with... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER ... - This command has been usually called the “Saviour’s golden rule,” a name given to it on account of its great value. All that you “expect” or “desire” of others in similar circumstances, do to them. Act not from selfishness or injustice, but put yourself in the place of th... [ Continue Reading ]
ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE - Christ here compares the way to life to an entrance through a gate. The words “straight” and “strait” have very different meanings. The former means “not crooked;” the latter, “pent up, narrow, difficult to be entered.” This is the word used here, and it means that t... [ Continue Reading ]
FALSE PROPHETS - The word prophet originally means one who foretells future events. As prophets, however, were commonly regarded as public instructors on the subject of religion, the word came to denote all who were religious teachers. See the notes at Romans 12:6. In this sense it is probably used... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS - The Saviour gives the proper test of their character. People do not judge of a tree by its leaves, or bark, or flowers, but by the fruit which it bears. The flowers may be beautiful and fragrant, the foliage thick and green; but these are merely ornamental. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
A CORRUPT TREE - The word “corrupt” here does not signify, as our translation would seem to indicate, that the tree “had been” good, but had become “vitiated;” but that it was a tree of a useless character, of a nature that produced nothing beneficial.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAITH ... - The Saviour goes on to say that many, on the ground of a mere profession such as he had just referred to, would claim admittance into his kingdom. Many would plead that they had done miracles, and preached or prophesied much, and on the ground of that would demand an e... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY - That is, in the last day, the day of judgment; the time when the principles of all pretenders to prophecy and piety shall be tried.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROFESS UNTO THEM - Say unto them; plainly declare. I NEVER KNEW YOU - That is, I never approved of your conduct; never loved you; never regarded you as my friends. See Psalms 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Corinthians 8:3. This proves that, with all their pretensions, they had never been true followers of... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus closes the sermon on the mount by a beautiful comparison, illustrating the benefit of attending to his words. It was not sufficient to “hear” them; they must be “obeyed.” He compares the man who should hear and obey him to a man who built his house on a rock. Palestine was to a considerable ex... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS DOCTRINE - His teaching. AS ONE HAVING AUTHORITY, AND NOT AS THE SCRIBES - The scribes were the learned people and teachers of the Jewish nation, and were principally Pharisees. They taught chiefly the sentiments of their Rabbis, and the traditions which had been delivered; they consumed much of... [ Continue Reading ]